Beginning in 1847 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, Allis-Chalmers originated as Reliance Works, a pioneer iron foundry and machine shop, that worked heavily in regional supply of milling equipment for the lumber and flour industries. The company was later purchased by Edward P. Allis in 1861, forming the Edward P. Allis & Company Reliance Works. The company extended its reach into mining and grain processing equipment, as well as about developing steam engines and rollers for the steel industry.

The name Allis-Chalmers Company was officially formed in 1901, through the merging of three other major machinery manufacturers. It extended into one of the most innovative companies in the world throughout the greater part of the 20th Century. Some notable products made by Allis-Chalmers include, steam-pumping and water-pumping machines, autogenous grinding mills, hydraulic and hydroelectric turbine equipment, gyratory crushers, multiple V-belt drives, and the first rubber-tired tractor.