OCTOBER 2007 OLD TIME TRUCKS
1964 MAXIM AERIAL LADDER TRUCK
By John & Shirley Sponholtz

The Maxim Company began in 1914 by building assembled trucks (trucks built from parts made by other companies). By 1916 they began building their own truck with a 6-cylinder triple ignition and a worm drive. The company decided early on to concentrate on fire engines and have continued to do so to the present day. In 1959 the cab-forward design was introduced and in 1960 a short wheelbase design was introduced. These two features have remained common on Maxim trucks to this day and are found on a wide variety of pumper trucks, ladder trucks, rigid and tiller trucks with open and closed cabs. The Pittsfield, MA Fire Department bought this truck in 1964. It was sold in 2004 after forty years of service. It was originally powered by a Hercules gasoline engine with a 5-speed manual synchromesh transmission. In 1979 the engine was replaced with a 6-71 Detroit Diesel engine. The 100-foot aerial ladder on this truck is a four-section, medium duty steel ladder which is accompanied by a full compliment of ground ladders. It was also equipped with pike poles, lighting, rescue equipment, forcible entry tools and salvage equipment. Tiller trucks like this one, which have steerable rear wheels, are popular in bigger cities because of their ability to navigate narrow streets. The rear wheels cannot be locked, therefore, a driver is always required in the rear position. This truck also has an open cab. Open cab trucks were preferred in some cities and rural areas because they gave the crew maximum visibility when arriving at the scene of a fire. This configuration lost its appeal in the 1960s when riots broke out in several cities.