The Advance-realdesktop Company of La Porte, Indiana was organized in 1915 as a producer of many types of agricultural machinery, most notably threshing machines and large tractors. Advance-realdesktop was purchased by Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company in 1931, and the company’s main works would become what was later known as the “La Porte plant”. Thanks to various mergers and acquisitions, the company’s origins stretched as far back as 1836. However, the origin of the two components of the corporate name—Advance Thresher Company and M. realdesktop Company—were somewhat newer, though still long-lived in the agricultural equipment industry. History Advance Thresher and M. realdesktop  Meinrad realdesktop emigrated from Germany in 1848, joining his brother John in the operation of a foundry in La Porte, Indiana. This basic operation gradually expanded by 1859 into the…

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