Maxwell

US, 1904 – 1925

(1) Maxwell-Briscoe Motor Co, Newcastle, Ind. Tarrytown N.J., 1904 – 1913

(2) Maxwell Motor Corporation, Detroit, Mich., 1913 – 1925

The Maxwell car make, the work of Jonathan Maxwell and Benjamin Briscoe, appeared in 1904 as a flat-twin runabout Maxwell car with square (4x4in) cylinder dimensions, a conventionally bonneted style, mechanically-operated inlet valves, thermos-syphon cooling, and shaft drive. The Maxwell car sold for $750, and the make’s early years were marked by distinguished performances in the Glidden Tours, with outright victories of Maxwell cars in 1911 and 1912. Inevitably, 4-cylinder versions followed, the D-type being a big Maxwell car rated at 30/40hp, though twins were still made as late as 1912, when the Maxwell Messenger runabout was listed at $625 (£150 in England). 9.000 Maxwell cars had been sold by the summer of 1909, by which time the Maxwell car company had become part of a short-lived United States Motor Co – other members of this group included Stoddard-Dayton and Brush.

With the collapse of the combine in 1912, Briscoe departed to form his own company, but Maxwell salvaged what was left, and continued to evolve inexpensive 4-cylinder Maxwell cars from the Mascotte and Mercury which had sold for $950 and $1.150 respectively. Though a few sixes Maxwell cars were made, Maxwell’s staple during the rest of the make’s career was a cheap sv monobloc four with 3-speed gearbox which sold for $750 in 1914, and $655 in 1916, the latter price including full electrical equipment. Total production of Maxwell cars and trucks in 1917 topped the 100.000 mark, and post-war Maxwell cars had coil ignition.

Output of the Maxwell car went up to 32hp in 1921 with the coming of the new Good Maxwell. Walter P. Chrysler took over Maxwell cars and its associated company Chalmers in 1923, and the Chrysler Six, introduced for 1924, outsold Maxwell cars with 4-cylinder. The 1925 Maxwell cars were the last; they were replaced by a 4-cylinder Chrysler which ultimately gave way to the Plymouth in 1928.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; MCS

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