In the time period this unit was built, A-C market share in the commerical market for engine powered equipment was in the 10-12% in addition, A-C secured 1/3 of all US government & Ford Motor Company purchases which were signifcant at that time. Their demise was when they changed from the AC built engines to the Continetal flat heads F163/227 & imposed a 6.5% surcharge on all back orders as directed by corporate headquarters, even on direct sales (National Accounts) customers during a time peiod when lead time on new productions was 52 weeks plus & the US was faced with double digit inflation thanks to the smooth talking peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia. The surcharge was a major reason for the drop in market share - e.g. A-C was the number 1 supplier to GoodyearTire & Rubber prior to the surcharge then dropped to last place in a matter of a couple months. By 1982 market share dropped to about 4.5% which was still larger than Bakers in engine powered equipment.
I was there from '67 - '82.
There was a company that provided service parts i nthe Kansas City area taht warehosued parts in an old mine. They distriputed parts to former A-C dealers after A-C clsoed their doors adn sold the assest to ACMH in Columbus, Ohio, them later became Kalmar A-C who was bought by Komatsu. At that time their were a few people that new the older A-C parts & sourcing. When Komatsu moved from Georgia to South Carolina those people were not transfered and Komatsu had no interest in pursuing the segment of their business. Kinda' like "dying the death of a rag doll" - one cotton ball at a time.