The Maxim Motor Company was an American automaker headquartered in

Middleborough, Massachusetts Middleborough (frequently written as Middleboro) is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,245 at the 2020 census. History The town was first settled by Europeans in 1661 as Nemasket, later changed to M ...

, specializing in the manufacture of

firefighting apparatus A firefighting apparatus describes any vehicle that has been customized for use during firefighting operations. These vehicles are highly customized depending on their needs and the duty they will be performing. These duties can include firefighti ...

. From the time of its founding in 1920 to the end of operations in 1989, the company manufactured over 3,000 fire engines.Smith, Howard T.. Maxim Fire Apparatus Photo History. United States: Enthusiast Books, 2004.

History

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.History of Maxim Motors
/ref>Middleboro's Maxim Motor Company to celebrate 100th anniversary
/ref> By 1920 it was an established manufacturer of fire engines for towns in

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

. From the 1920s through the 1980s it expanded to small but reliable markets in the south, Midwest, west coast, and internationally. 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. The company became Maxim Motor Division of

Seagrave Fire Apparatus Seagrave Fire Apparatus LLC is an American fire apparatus manufacturer that specializes in pumper and rescue units, as well as aerial towers. In addition to manufacturing new equipment, they refurbish, repair and upgrade older Seagrave apparatu ...

on November 30, 1956, and operated as an independent corporation. It was known as Maxim Industries when bought by

North Street Associates North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography. Etymology The word ''north'' is ...

in 1975. The name was changed back to Maxim Motor Company when owned by David Deane, owner of

Springfield Fire Equipment Springfield may refer to: * Springfield (toponym), the place name in general Places and locations Australia * Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast) * Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council) * Springfield, Queensl ...

. 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. Lavalin was a Canadian civil engineering and construction firm based in Montreal, Quebec. After a major expansion program in the 1980s that led to financial difficulties, in 1991 Lavalin merged with its long-time competitor, Surveyer, Nenniger & Ch ...

, 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 The Ward LaFrance Truck Corporation was an American manufacturer of trucks and fire apparatus founded by Addison Ward LaFrance in 1916 in Elmira Heights, NY. The company ceased operations in 1979. LaFrance was a relative of Truckson LaFrance, th ...

who could sell a Fire pumper for US$50,000 less than the US$180,000 asking price for a Maxim pumper. In 2009 Maxim was re-established as a brand of custom fire apparatus by Greenwood Emergency Vehicles of

North Attleboro, Massachusetts North Attleborough, alternatively spelled North Attleboro, is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 30,834 at the 2020 United States Census. The villages of Attleboro Falls and North Attleborough Center are ...

Existing examples

The Middleborough Historical Museum exhibits a 1934 Maxim fire engine.MA Museum Displays 1934 Maxim Fire Pumper
Fire Apparatus, June 24, 20211

References

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External

Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1914 Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1989 Companies based in Plymouth County, Massachusetts Fire service vehicle manufacturers Defunct truck manufacturers of the United States Middleborough, Massachusetts Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States 1914 establishments in Massachusetts 1989 disestablishments in Massachusetts Defunct manufacturing companies based in Massachusetts