Gleaner Manufacturing Company

**1. History and Evolution of Gleaner Manufacturing Company:**
– Gleaner Combine production started in 1922 with various models like Gleaner Six – S Pull Type Combine and Gleaner Model E Pull-Type Combine.
– Gleaner’s inspiration from The Gleaners painting and the act of gleaning in fields.
– Initial design mounted on a Fordson Model F with a retail price of USD $950.
– Production of pull-type combine harvesters from 1928 to 1954, using Ford Model A engines and galvanized sheet metal for weather resistance.
– Ownership changes, including Allis-Chalmers acquisition in 1955 and production in Independence, Missouri.
– Introduction of the first rotary combine, the N6, in 1979, and ownership changes leading to AGCO moving manufacturing to Hesston, Kansas in 2000.

**2. Gleaner Combine Models and Features:**
– Gleaner combines are currently produced under AGCO and marketed in North America, South America, and Australia.
– Current models include S96, S97, and S98, released in 2016, with Class VI, VII, and VIII combines.
– Features like the transverse rotor introduced in 1979, firsts in technology like augers and electro-hydraulic controls, and innovations like the 12-row corn head and rock door.

**3. Special Commemoration and Milestones:**
– AGCO celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Gleaner combine in 2023 with a special centennial edition paint scheme and badging for S9 combines.
– The celebration took place at the Hesston, Kansas plant, featuring the Gleaner Model A Combine and showcasing at the Farm Progress Show 2007.
– Continuation of self-propelled models from 1951 to the present, including the move to Class 8 in 2013 and the release of the S9 Series combines in 2016.

**4. Production Details and Technical Information:**
– Information on years made and grain tank sizes for Gleaner Combine models.
– Legal citations, historical articles, and references providing insights into the company’s history and product development.
– The memoir ‘Plow Peddler’ by Walter M. Buescher detailing experiences at Allis-Chalmers and the advancements in comfort and productivity in the S9 Series.

**5. Market Share and Ownership Changes:**
– Gleaner faced market share challenges between 1985-2000 but continued production despite ownership changes.
– Allis-Chalmers sold their farm machinery business in 1985, leading to the Gleaner brand’s continuation.
– Challenger and Massey Ferguson machines ceased production in 2017, with Gleaner’s A series production ending after 2010.