American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography, including The Larry Ness Collection of Native American Photography

Collection of more than 60 items, consisting primarily of photographs of brothers and inventors, Hiram and Hudson Maxim.

Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim was born in Sangerville, ME, on 5 February 1840. He was the eldest son of a mechanic. Apprenticed at fourteen to a carriage maker, he demonstrated a talent for invention at an early age. He obtained the first of his 271 patents at the age of 26 for a hair-curling iron, and is credited with a multitude of other inventions including a mousetrap, steam inhaler, carbon filaments for electric light bulbs, steam and gas engines, automated sprinkler system, an aerial torpedo gun, and the “Captive Flying Machine.”

It was following an 1881 move to England that Maxim designed his most famous invention, the Maxim Machine Gun. Legend holds that a friend exhorted Maxim to “Hang [your] chemistry and electricity! If you want to make a pile of money, invent something that will enable these Europeans to cut each others’ throats with greater facility.” This is exactly what Hiram Maxim accomplished with the Maxim Machine Gun.

The world’s truly first automatic weapon, the Maxim Gun harnessed the recoil power of each bullet which served to continuously operate the machine gun mechanism. He later developed his own smokeless powder which maximized the gun’s effectiveness. With the founding of the Maxim Gun Company to produce his new weapon, Maxim was able to produce and market his weapon throughout Europe and Russia. By the time World War I waged the Maxim Gun Company was absorbed into Vickers, Ltd., but Maxim’s weapon had become the standard issue weapon of its type in the British Army and irrevocably changed the nature of combat.

Hiram Maxim’s success was not without cost. Feuds with his brother Hudson Maxim (1853-1927), also an inventor, over the patent for smokeless powder and credit for the Maxim Gun created a permanent rift between them. In addition to smokeless gunpowder, Hudson Maxim invented a variety of explosives, and Thomas Edison referred to him as "the most versatile man in America." 

During Hiram Maxim’s later years, he focused his inventive talent on the creation of flying machines. Despite some success in this area, he remained most recognized for his Maxim Machine Gun. In 1901, Queen Victoria bestowed a knighthood upon Maxim. He died in London on 24 November 1916, at the age of 76.

The collection is highlighted by more than 50 photographs featuring Hiram and Hudson Maxim as well as family and associates. Images of note include: 8 photographs of Hiram Maxim, at least four of which show Maxim with his machine gun, ranging in size from 2 x 3 in. to 6 x 8 in. Also enclosed is a formal portrait of Hiram Maxim wearing medals on his chest with his signature below. -- Approx. 35 photographs of Hudson Maxim, comprised of a combination of formal studio portraits, press photographs, and candid scenes of Hudson posed with individuals, some identified, and inventions, ranging in size from 3 1/4 x 3 1/4 in. to 9 1/2 x 7 1/2 in. Two formal photographs appear to have been signed by Hudson Maxim, one of which is personally inscribed to his son Hudson Day Maxim.

The following items are also enclosed: 3 original pen and ink caricatures of Hiram Maxim drawn by George A. Stevens, each with the artist's initials, approx. 12 x 8 in. or smaller. -- 3 printed patent drawings, 10 x 14 1/4 in. or smaller. -- 2 partially printed certificates issued to Hudson Maxim, the first from the Military Service Institution for the Hunt Prize for an essay entitled "Maximite," signed by Thomas H. Ruger, dated 1 September 1902. The second is from the US Department of the Navy, expressing appreciation to Hudson Maxim of the Naval Consulting Board of the United States for his Loyalty and Patriotism during World War I, signed by Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, dated 1920. -- Autograph note signed by Hudson Maxim, addressed to Robert J. Aarons, dated 21 April 1924. -- MCCALLUM, Iain. Blood Brothers: Hiram and Hudson Maxim - Pioneers of Modern Warfare. London: Chatham Publishing, 1999.

Together, more than 60 items related to Hiram and Hudson Maxim.