Vehicle Description
1920 Maxwell 1.5 Ton Truck
Benjamin Briscoe had started to finance Buick but gave that up in
1903 and then he decided to support Jonathan D. Maxwell and the
Maxwell-Briscoe Motor Company was established. The Maxwell was a
splendid little car with a two-cylinder water-cooled engine and it
sold well from the start with the first ten cars being produced in
1904. A four-cylinder model joined the line in 1906 and twins and
fours were produced through to 1913. New manufacturing facilities
were set up in several locations, as Maxwell sales continued to
grow. Delivery vans were made from 1905 to 1912 using the 20hp
passenger car chassis and a taxicab was offered in 1908.
Cadwallader Washburn Kelsey became sales manager and put the
Maxwell through a number of successful publicity stunts, including
being driven up the steps of buildings. Maxwell cars did well in
racing events in 1908 and in 1909 a group of ladies drove a Maxwell
from New York to San Francisco to great acclaim. In 1910 about
20,500 Maxwell cars were sold. But in 1910, Benjamin Briscoe
launched his United States Motor Company, combining Maxwell-Briscoe
and Columbia. Kelsey thought Briscoe was mad and left to produce a
car of his own. U. S. Motors collapsed in 1912 and Benjamin Briscoe
went off to try again with a car called the Briscoe and Jonathan
Maxwell picked up the pieces of Maxwell-Briscoe, reorganized as the
Maxwell Motor Company and moved to Detroit. There, Maxwell produced
four-cylinder cars in a range of horsepower sizes and body styles.
Six-cylinder models were built for the 1913 and 1914 model years
only. Sales were going well and in 1917 the 100,000th Maxwell was
built. Commercial vehicle production began again in 1917 with a
conventional 1-ton truck and a delivery van appeared in 1918.
Trucks, vans, fire engines and bus bodies were produced up to
1925.
When we say we never know what's going to come through the door of
our Hallowed Halls next, we really mean it. Case in point is this
example for consignment, a 1920 Maxwell 1.5 Ton "grain truck".
Although former registration paperwork shows this as being a 3-ton
truck, agreeing minds feel this is an error and 1.5 ton is the
actual designation. This truck, while being very rare in its own
right, has a bit of interesting celebrity history along with it. A
part of the former Harrah's collection until 1964, then carrying on
life in the Ponderosa Ranch theme park collection until that
facility closed in 2004. Now gracing our overstuffed mallways, and
prime for the picking, this fresh from storage early American
trucking example, now ready to become part of your collection.
Exterior
Black painted steel makes up the front of this truck, from the
center hinged cowled hood to the firewall, to the artistically
curved running fenders that melt down into short wooden running
boards. This all runs forward to meet a blacked out radiator
surround with a standard radiator cap atop. A single headlight
flanks each side and are electrically operated to turn them on.
Below is just exposed suspension and framing with no bumper to be
seen. Moving back from the firewall wood takes over and we are met
with a vertical dual paned windshield that provides the support for
the like new white canvas roofing. On the back is the long wood
bed. A wood floor and dark green wooden sides have been added to
the bed. Dressing this up is some red and beige highlighting along
with what appears to be wrought iron handles for side panel
removal. 34-inch wood spoked wheels are wrapped by 34x4.5 pneumatic
tires on the corners. A few areas of chipped paint and surface rust
are seen throughout the steel and wood body, however, no invasive
rust is noted.
Interior
About as simple and utilitarian as it gets with no doors, no side
glass and a simple but effective padded black vinyl over a wooden
bench. A near vertical steering column with a wood rimmed wheel
grows from the flooring along with the long shifter arm, parking
brake, and pedal assembly. All of this is fronting the wood and
steel dash that is devoid of gauges, knobs or pulls. A small clear
plastic oval rear window allows the driver to keep an eye on
whatever is in back while traveling down the dirt roads. Slightly
aged, but clean and concise are the best words for this
interior.
Drivetrain
Under the dual cowled hood sits a 185.9ci 4-cylinder engine topped
by a 1-barrel carburetor. This engine produces 25hp and with the
wheel design, could take you through the most challenging of dirt
roads with a 1.5-ton cargo loaded. A 3-speed manual gearbox is
attached and a 3.58 geared axle moves you down the road.
Undercarriage
Simple leaf spring suspension all around along with mechanical drum
brakes which are only seen on the rear wheels. This makes sense as
that is where the weight is.
Drive-Ability
While the drivetrain is complete and it does turn over with the
hand crank no attempt was made to start this truck.
Overall a complete example of the worker bee line with a bit of
celebrity history right out of 1920. A steel front end, wooden cab,
new canvas top, and a wood bed with added wood stake body sides.
Who says all trucks should have luxury...they're workers, just like
the men and women who used them. Time to put this one to work
winning some show awards!
NO TITLE-SOLD ON A BILL OF SALE ONLY
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our
showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just
1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The
website iswww.classicautomall.comand our phone number is (888)
227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to
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