Ross steering gear

[JGtools]

I thought the Ross steering gear on the 154 looked familiar. I have a Allis B tractor with a Ross steering gear, did not know that ross built for all makes of tractors. What makes of tractors can be found with Ross steering gears? thanks Jim

[Gary Dotson]

I don't know the answer to your question, but I suspect there were several. Ross supplied (and still does) steering gears to many manufacturers, especially heavy truck builders.

[JGtools]

Thanks Gary. I can see a similarity in the Ross gear on the allis B and the cub 154. Have a good day,Jim

[Jim Becker]

That is a lot like asking who used Guide headlights or Delco generators. Back in the day, a tractor company had essentially three choices. Buy steering gear from Ross or Saginaw, or build their own.

[George Willer]

I can't say for sure whether the A/C B uses the same Ross steering gear as the number series or not, but what I can say is be careful. The A/C B and C use a steering box that is outwardly identical, but the worms are backward. I remember seeing a B that someone had replaced the Ross box with one apparently from a C. It had to be exciting to drive. Turning the steering wheel to the right resulted in a left turn.

[JGtools]

George, I' will make sure not to make that mistake! I just never gave much thought to the steering gears before, and who manufactured them. fun to learn. I know the guide light was used by many. Some can be very valuable in original condition. thanks , Hope you have a good day,Jim

[Steve Butram]

Ross built steering gears for most of the tractor manufactures ranging from lawn tractors to Peterbuilt and Kenworth. Right here in Lafayette Indiana for over 90 Yrs.

[JGtools]

It would be fun to highlight a Company on the forum once a month , and give a little history to what the vendor manufactures, for what makes and models, and a brief paragraph on what impact the company had in the Tractor / Farming industry . Ross Company has 90 plus years and going Strong...... Jim

[tnestell]

My 54 Willys pickup has a Ross steering gear box.

[Dave Hull]

102 years to be exact- I work in the building- It has been owned bt TRW since the early 60's

Dave

[JGtools]

That's what I call American Pride. Some Individual 102 years ago started the process, and here it is today! Keeping America strong. Thanks Dave,JG

[BigBill]

My 54 Willys pickup has a Ross steering gear box.

I just changed my 55 willys jeep cj tractor over to a AMC 73 CJ newer frame and got rid of the ross setup and i'm using the newer saginaw setup that was on the 73 frame. Its a lot less turning of the steering wheel too.

I worked for the Bullard Machine Tool Company that was in business back in the 1850's if i remember correctly. I have all the old repair manuals from there very first vertical turret lathes all the way to the modern cnc lathes. These machines were once simple like our old cars. Bullard still had so many pattens on the design of there Multi-matic Chucker that no one could copy the designs too. He had mechanical chuckers too. These are multi spindle machines like lathes that could take in a raw casting of a trailer truck brake drum and machine it so when it comes out it can be put right on the truck. It cut it and drill the mounting holes too. The high interest rates back in 83 and the first recession ate them up and they went out of business. I've seen there VTL's hog steel making a 1/8" thick cut that was 1" wide on there horse power test cuts. These steel chips were giant curls and they hit the guards like machine gun bullets as they were cut. There are no machines manufactured today that can match them. These were the king when the castings were much larger than we see today and they needed to be cut down. Another machine tool company io worked for was the Farrel Coporation they manufactured Bambery mixers for the rubber industry and calendar rolls for the paper mills and the roll grinders to grind them plus one of a kind machinery for the world too. We made a rail road car axle manufacturing machine and another machine for the wheels. They too were from the 1800's. Otis Elevator is another one i worked for. Many yaesr ago they were in Yonkers,Ny in the 1800's also. They like the companies mentioned above made all there materials inhouse like there castiron founderies, brass and bronze foundery for gears/bearings too. I would say that 90% of there machines were made inhouse.
Now most companies have there parts made by vendors and there also manufactured in other countries. Otis has plants in just about every country with there world headquarters still here. Its a way of being able to cut costs to survive so ever company is doing that now. But sooner or later these companies from the 1800's are dying too. Otis has been the only one so far to survive but time will tell as the costs to operate get higher and there adaptablility to change with the times. Being competitive in the market has been getting harder to show a profit. These big companies don't think about breaking even and survival they want big profits. I would worry about breaking even and keeping americans working but its not so.
BB

[BigBill]

That's what I call American Pride. Some Individual 102 years ago started the process, and here it is today! Keeping America strong. Thanks Dave,JG

America strong? You haven't seen the devistation of the old factories that were once bussling with life back in the 70's that are now empty shells of what was once the manufacturing might of the northeast and the world. I think we lost the strength a few decades ago. We need to bring the work and the jobs back again to the USA, forget the free trade act its ruining our country. BB