1976 Maxim S Model

The Maxim Motor Company (1914-1989) produced fire apparatus in Massachusetts that served many New England departments through the years. This site will document one truck that served the town of Adams from 1976 to 2006.

The Adams Fire District received a new Maxim 1000 gallon pumper in 1976. Interestingly, the Maxim was not the apparatus the district originally wanted. In fact, the district had contracted with Seagrave in 1974 to build a new pumper but by April of 1976, the truck was almost one year past due and a $150,000 lawsuit was pursued against Seagrave and the bonding agent. The disposition of that lawsuit is lost to history but the Maxim, with its distinctive 2-stroke Detroit Diesel was well used and loved by the department's firefighters up until its retirement in 2006 when the first E-One engine was purchased. In 2021, the department started work on replacing the KME and ended up working with E-One sale representative Mike Nugai to build the department's next engine. Perhaps it was serendipity, but either way,  it was discovered that the old Maxim was back in Adams, although in a bad state after an attempt to rehab it was left unfinished but available via the New England Museum of Firefighting. In 2025, the Alert Hose Company backed an effort put forth by a group of its members to bring the truck back to service as a rolling anniversary memorial to all past members. The truck arrived in 1976, the company's 100th anniversary year and the hope is to have it at least presentable for the company's 150th anniversary celebration next year when the truck will be 50 years old.

This site will post pictures of the process of getting this well-loved former apparatus back proudly representing the Alert Hose Company and its dedicated members.