The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-05-15
MAXWELL, OF AUTO
FAME, ISPROMOTED
Inventor and Manufacturer at
Last Becomes Head of His
Own Company.
HOW HE ROSE I'M LIFE.
BEGAN AS MACHINIST, BUT
WAS VERY AMBITIOUS.
HOW He ROSE IN LIFE


the automobile industry. backed by sew
erai preceding years of practical mo-
chahlcal experience. J. D. Maxwell. who
mas been vice president and general
superintendent of the MaxwelI-Briscoe
MoIor company, has at last come into
ms own and is now president of his
company. having been elected to thar
position Following the resignation Of
PRESIDENT Benjamin Briscoe. who has
assumed the presidency of the Tinted
states Motor company.
Inere Is probably no man connected
with the motor car industry whose
name Is more favorably known wher-
ever automobiles are in use. For seven
years the name of Maxwell has been
FAMILIAR to those interested in autornc-
oilng, and J. D. Maxwell has been
looked upon as a pioneer and designer
Of exceptional ability.
mere Is no better Illustration of a
man coming into his own" than that
or Mr.. Maxwell Love for his worl,
mas Kept him. to certain extent. in
the background so far as the active
administrative affairs of the COMPANY
are concerned. While in the past he
mas. OF course, taken a decided inter-
est IN the business end of the organf-
cation, his main work has been the
general designing of the product. So.
after years of mechanical endeavors
and invention, J. D. Maxwell is now
at the head of his own organization
and mighty organization at that,
Becomes Master Mechanic.
Born In Kokomo. Ind. he showed at
an early age that his mind leaned
toward things mechanical, and upon
leaving school when quite Young. he
served as an apprentice at the machfn-
list trade, as well as at pattern max
ing While following this business for
a number of years as journeyman
workman in several of the largest of
the best known shops of the day, in
Guiding a large number of railroad
shops, he took up the subject of draft
ing and mechanical engineering, which
was studied at such times as he could
devote out OF the working hours, with
the result that he was rapidly pro-
NOTED to the various positions and to
that Of master mechanic In the lat
ter capacity he gave special attention
to designing and building steam and
gas engines for portable and station
airy work.
1t was back in 1894, when Mr.. Max
well and Mr.. Elmer Apperson were
joint proprtetors of a machine shop in
Ind, that his attentions were
focused On the "hOrseless carriage"
At that time E1wood Haynes, maker OF
the car which now bears his name, was
in charge of the gas works of Kokomo
and one day talked with Messrs. Max
well and Apperson on the possibilities |
Of the automobile. with the result that |
the HayneS-ApperSon concern was /
formed. The first car developed by /
these men was entered in the Chicago 1
race, the first automobile |
event held in this country. and was
awarded a prize for the best balanced /
motor in the contest.
Following that event Mr. Maxwell |
became associated with Mr.. r. E. Olds
in the development of the Oldsmobile, |
the well remembered curved dash car
bearing Mr.. Odds name. During 1902 |
Mr.. Maxwell left Mr.. Olds and formed
the Northern Automobile Co. at Detroit,
which car met with remarkable success
until its absorption by another con-
Germ.
Three Important Inventions.
During 1903 Mr.. Maxwell had built |
and designed an automobile of simple
and approached Mr.. Ben
jamin BriScoe, then president of the
Briscoe Manufacturing company of De-
.roit and persuaded Mr. Briscoe to en-
Ter into partnership, and the MAXWELL
Briscoe Motor company was the result.
From that time Mr.. Maxwell began
10 imprint his name upon the Industry \
with rapid succession of inventions, Il
which have now been adopted by the 4
leading makers of the United States
md foreign countries Prominent II
among his pioneer inventions are the II
init power plant, multiple-disc clutch
and thermo- syphOn system of cooling
with the radiator in front of the en- II
yine. Today these mechanical devices
ire standard and are found on ninety
DER cent of motor cars
If nothing else, these three inven-
ions stamp Mr. Maxwell as a man of
wonderful mechanical intellect His
.ngine construction has also brought n
lin fame because of its extreme sim
,licity, durability and sturdiness- There
5 probably no man in the industry
whose ideas have been so extensively
opied, and competitors have constant
V made him flattering offers to BECOME
llied with them.
AS a man-not mechanical genius
ie is simple in tastes, unassuming,
democratic and above all. has a lovable
which endears him to all
Who come in contact with him. He Is
ond of outdoor sports. especially mo-
or boating. enjoys travelling, is read
T of heavy books" and a home-Iover-
RIITTE RIVERS IKE LOTS, II