Mack's Swell Car Was a Maxwell!

Country roads... take me home!

I've been going down memory lane a lot lately... seems only fitting that it should be in a vehicle of the appropriate age!

So... in honor of Grand-daddy- here is a 1910 Maxwell. This image is actually from a Revel model kit; but, will suffice until the actual 1908 model is restored and ready for pictures! I'm putting together quite a collection of photographs and articles dedicated to the project.

A few interesting tidbits about the Maxwell Motor Company.

It was started by Jonathon Dixon Maxwell. Would love to know the genealogy behind his middle name! Maybe I'll chase that rabbit later.

Maxwell automobiles were considered to be among the best racing machines of the era. In 1916, a Maxwell touring car set a coast-to-coast record, speeding from New Jersey to California in just ten days and sixteen hours!

One of the most famous non-owners was Jack Benny! While he and his sidekick, Rochester, routinely made reference to his old Maxwell; and it was often-time heard- it was actually Mel Blanc (the legendary voice of Bugs Bunny, etc) that made the engine sounds! In the comedy gag- tightfisted Benny would never "upgrade" his old jalopy and at one time during the War effort he contributed it to the scapmetal drive, thus creating a whole 'nother bogus myth. Many pilots would claim that their aircraft was sputtering or worse and blame it on Benny's Maxwell having been part of the recycled material in their craft until finally it had to be revealed on the show that it had never actually existed.

There was a popular song around the 1910's titled "Mack's Swell Car Was a Maxwell". I wish I had a copy of that sheet-music! Bet it's a delight! Or even better an Edison copy. haha.

One of the advertisements for it claims "only costs 29 cents a day to run this Maxwell 100 miles a week" WOW! Sure wish it were true today! I'm sure it's gonnaa cost a whole lot more than gasoline just to get it up and running!

But, for a labor of love- it'll be worth it. I just wish Grand-daddy were here to enjoy it.