Sounds like the story of IH.
I pick up as many books on IH and Cub Cadet as I can. I've read (own) Barbara Marsh's book,
A Corporate Tragedy , and recently picked up
Red Combines, by Lee Klancher. Both paint this story of pioneering and "true grit" by the guys at Harvester, only to fail from within. The story of IH is truly saddening as they were such an awesome company in the pioneering they did. Reading now how the Axial Flow was developed is just mind boggling. I had no idea it took them nearly 30 years to design and perfect it, or that the engineering department hid their work from corporate by using money designated as "miscellaneous", until they nearly perfected it. Some of the "engineers" weren't even trained engineers. They apprenticed under good ones, and they gave them the title of "engineer" while working for IH.
I've read books on Chrysler, Ford, and GM. My favorite one was Lee Iacocca's
Where Have All the Leaders Gone. It's just amazing where he came from: His history at Ford, and what he did with Chrysler. If you haven't read any of these books, take the time. They are really good.
Sorry. This doesn't answer any of your questions, but I "feel your pain". It is so sad that IH failed in such a big way, when they pioneered so much. The McCormick family was beyond wealthy in their day. Millionaires when that term was unheard of.
