Coachbult.com - Maxim Motor Co.



Maxim Motor Co. - 1888-1989 - Middleboro, Massachusetts

This well-known producer of fire apparatus entered vehicle production with a light assembled truck, but after a few had been sold they concentrated on fire engines. The first of these had been built on a Thomas chassis in 1914, and in 1916 came the first on Maxim's own chassis with 6cylinder triple ignition engine and worm drive. By 1918 there was a complete range of motor pumpers, combination, and hook-and-ladder trucks, which was continued through the 1920s and 1930s. There were also some specials such as the 6 X 4 pumper-tanker for unmade roads supplied to Falmouth, Mass. in 1938. Also in 1938 Maxim planned to re-enter the commercial truck market with a highly re-worked 2-ton Ford chassis (stronger frame, heavy-duty Timken axles, oversize tires) to carry 3 to 5 ton loads. It was the same kind of vehicle as the earlier Ford-powered Grass-Premier. At least one was built but production never went ahead.

In 1946 came a line of pumpers (750 to 1500 gpm), ladder trucks and quad combinations with open and closed cabs, and a new V-grille which lasted until 1961. In 1952 Maxim acquired the license for the German Magirus rear-mounted aerial ladder which they built on their own chassis. They sold aerial ladders to competitors such as Ward La France and Mack, in rigid and articulated form. The Seagrave Corp acquired Maxim in 1956, but the Massachusetts firm continued to operate independently, building all their own apparatus and major components including bodies and aerial ladders. Maxim's first cab-forward models, the F Series, came in 1959, though conventionals have continued to be made up to the present day, and are now the only American fire engines to use this layout. In 1960 came new short wheelbase conventionals known as the S Series with a hood design which has also lasted up to the present. These two basic series are still made today, in a wide variety of pumpers and ladder trucks, rigids and articulateds, with open and closed cabs. Engines are Waukesha gasoline or Cummins or Detroit diesels, and transmissions Spicer synchromesh or Allison automatics.

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The Maxim Motor Company was formed by Carlton Maxim in 1914. Carlton was a member of the Middleboro Fire Department. In 1912, the Middleboro Fire Department received a Knox fire truck. In 1914, they were looking for an additional truck and Carlton, unimpressed with the Knox, felt he could build a better fire truck. He was given the opportunity and the new truck was delivered to the department. They were more than satisfied and soon, word was out. Other departments were aware of Carlton Maxim's skill and ingenuity and requests soon started coming in that he build fire trucks for their department.

Maxim expanded several times and until 1989, were a well know fire apparatus manufacturer in the northeastern United States. Although, Maxim trucks could also be found on the west coast, the midwest and in many foreign countries. Their most popular product was their reliable aerial ladders. These ladders were so reliable, that other fire apparatus manufacturers, used them on their chassis.

During the 1980's, Maxim found it difficult to keep up with larger fire apparatus manufacturers. They declared bankruptcy several times and with several new owners were able to overcome these tremendous obstacles. Unfortunately, the economy of the late 1980's brought Maxim to it's knees and it was forced to close it's doors for good in 1989.

For more information please read:

www.leatherbucket.com/Maxim

Howard T. Smith - Maxim Fire Apparatus 1914-1989: Photo Archive

Howard T. Smith - Maxim Fire Apparatus Photo History

Walter M.P. McCall & George H. Dammann - American Fire Engines Since 1900

Fred W. Crismon - Fire Engines

Bob Dubbert - Encyclopedia of Canadian Fire Apparatus

Donal M. Baird - A Canadian History of Fire Engines

Phil DaCosta - One Hundred Years of America's Fire Fighting Apparatus

Bill Hass - History of the American Water Towers

Hans Halberstadt - The American Fire Engine

Hans Halberstadt - Fire Engines