The Maxim Motor Company was an American automaker headquartered in Middleborough, Massachusetts, specializing in the manufacture of firefighting apparatus. From the time of its founding in 1920 to the end of operations in 1989, the company manufactured over 3,000 fire engines.[1]
The company was founded in 1914 by Middleborough Fire Chief Carlton Maxim, who felt that he could make a better fire engine than the town's recent purchase.[2][3] By 1920 it was an established manufacturer of fire engines for towns in Massachusetts. From the 1920s through the 1980s it expanded to small but reliable markets in the south, Midwest, west coast, and internationally.[1] In the late 1950s, Maxim, along with Mack and Seagrave, began to build Cab-forward fire trucks, which had originated with the American LaFrance 700 series.[4][5] The company became Maxim Motor Division of Seagrave Fire Apparatus on November 30, 1956, and operated as an independent corporation.[6][7] It was known as Maxim Industries when bought by North Street Associates in 1975. The name was changed back to Maxim Motor Company when owned by David Deane, owner of Springfield Fire Equipment. It was acquired by Harvey Waite in 1985 and company changed to Maxim Incorporated. Waite took on a partner in the form of Urban Transportation Development Company (UTDC), a subsidiary of Lavalin Ltd., a worldwide engineering company. UTDC bought Waite out in 1988.
On December 9, 1989, it ceased operation due to heavy competition. The main competitor was Ward LaFrance who could sell a Fire pumper for US$50,000 less than the US$180,000 asking price for a Maxim pumper.[3]
^ abMiddleboro's Maxim Motor Company to celebrate 100th anniversary
^Pumpers : Workhorse Fire Engines. N.p.: MotorBooks International, (n.d.).
^Parrish, Kent. Evolution of the Cab-Forward Fire Truck. United States: Enthusiast Books, 2010.
^Stanley, Richard A.. Custom Built by McFarlan: A History of the Carriage and Automobile Manufacturer, 1856-1928. United States: McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2012.
^Moody's Industrials. United States: Moody's Investors Service, 1956.
^Maxim Fire Apparatus Makes a Comeback Firefighter Nation, December 1, 2009. Clarion Fire & Rescue Group Fair Lawn, New Jersey
^MA Museum Displays 1934 Maxim Fire Pumper Fire Apparatus, June 24, 20211
Externaledit
Photographs of Maxim equipment
December 18, 2023
maxim, motors, maxim, motor, company, american, automaker, headquartered, middleborough, massachusetts, specializing, manufacture, firefighting, apparatus, from, time, founding, 1920, operations, 1989, company, manufactured, over, fire, engines, industryautomo. The Maxim Motor Company was an American automaker headquartered in Middleborough Massachusetts specializing in the manufacture of firefighting apparatus From the time of its founding in 1920 to the end of operations in 1989 the company manufactured over 3 000 fire engines 1 Maxim MotorsIndustryAutomotiveFounded1914FounderCarlton MaximDefunct1989HeadquartersMiddleborough Mass U S ProductsFirefighting apparatus Contents 1 History 2 Existing examples 3 References 4 ExternalHistory editThe company was founded in 1914 by Middleborough Fire Chief Carlton Maxim who felt that he could make a better fire engine than the town s recent purchase 2 3 By 1920 it was an established manufacturer of fire engines for towns in Massachusetts From the 1920s through the 1980s it expanded to small but reliable markets in the south Midwest west coast and internationally 1 In the late 1950s Maxim along with Mack and Seagrave began to build Cab forward fire trucks which had originated with the American LaFrance 700 series 4 5 The company became Maxim Motor Division of Seagrave Fire Apparatus on November 30 1956 and operated as an independent corporation 6 7 It was known as Maxim Industries when bought by North Street Associates in 1975 The name was changed back to Maxim Motor Company when owned by David Deane owner of Springfield Fire Equipment It was acquired by Harvey Waite in 1985 and company changed to Maxim Incorporated Waite took on a partner in the form of Urban Transportation Development Company UTDC a subsidiary of Lavalin Ltd a worldwide engineering company UTDC bought Waite out in 1988 On December 9 1989 it ceased operation due to heavy competition The main competitor was Ward LaFrance who could sell a Fire pumper for US 50 000 less than the US 180 000 asking price for a Maxim pumper 3 In 2009 Maxim was re established as a brand of custom fire apparatus by Greenwood Emergency Vehicles of North Attleboro Massachusetts 8 9 Existing examples editThe Middleborough Historical Museum exhibits a 1934 Maxim fire engine 10 References edit a b Smith Howard T Maxim Fire Apparatus Photo History United States Enthusiast Books 2004 History of Maxim Motors a b Middleboro s Maxim Motor Company to celebrate 100th anniversary Pumpers Workhorse Fire Engines N p MotorBooks International n d Parrish Kent Evolution of the Cab Forward Fire Truck United States Enthusiast Books 2010 Stanley Richard A Custom Built by McFarlan A History of the Carriage and Automobile Manufacturer 1856 1928 United States McFarland Incorporated Publishers 2012 Moody s Industrials United States Moody s Investors Service 1956 Maxim Fire Apparatus Makes a Comeback Firefighter Nation December 1 2009 Clarion Fire amp Rescue Group Fair Lawn New Jersey Custom Pumpers Greenwood Emergency Vehicles MA Museum Displays 1934 Maxim Fire Pumper Fire Apparatus June 24 20211External editPhotographs of Maxim equipment Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maxim Motors amp oldid 1116344051, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
