1917 Maxwell model 25 Parts Interchange

[hddennis]

I'm trying to gather enough parts and information to put a 1917 Maxwell depot hack back together. I'm really shocked at the inability to find anyone that knows or cares to respond with any information on these cars. I'm 57 and got into this hobby when I was 12 because people who seemed to want to help me provided all kinds of info then. Today with all the mass media we have I can't even get people to answer an email. What has happened to this hobby? All I'm looking for is someone who knows who made the ignition, carb and rear axle and what years are interchangeable and where to get certain parts. Thanks, Howard Dennis

[jonengle]

Well I know the feeling!I restore antique rubber parts and these forums just dont seem to cut it.Too bad.

[Guest bsmith]

if your 17 is the same as my 18 your igniton should be attwater kent.there is a 15 parts manual available for download @ the maxwell messenger site it is different electtrical than my 18 but the chassis looks the same.for ignition parts try dave gurney @dave.gurney@sympatico.ca.he is also a great source of knowlege or c. bouteiller @ n.o.s. early ignition.ph# 352 793 9122 till april.then 413 528 2815. parts are not easy 2 find but are available. hbergh@aol.com also has a 17 model 25.maybe this can help you a bit and restore your faith in the community

bsmith ...tliner@bellnet.ca

2

[hddennis]

bsmith, thanks so much for taking the time to respond. That's exactly the kind of help I had hoped for. I just found it sad that two posts viewed 329 times on a single Marque forum only generated 3 responses. I commend you for making an effort to help a fellow restorer. It is greatly appreciated. I'll add these contacts to my list and get in touch as soon as I have possesion of this car.

Thanks, Howard Dennis

[HBergh]

Greetings from one Howard to another:

The 1917 model that I am connected to is actually located in a museum in Southern California. So, if you are anywhere near this area, you can see this car up close and touch it and take pictures of it for your reference. It's at the Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Museum in Vista, California. I realize this note doesn't help with finding parts, but hopefully you will add this info to your reference collection. If you are no where near Southern California and would like me to take a picture of a certain thing or area on this car, just drop me a line and let me know your interest. I've attached a picture I took last summer.

[hddennis]

Howard, Thanks for the info and photo. Unfortunately I'm in Georgia and my car is still in storage in NY. One thing that would help though is a photo of the dash, especially the metal dash panel with switch. And if the museum would allow it one with the fuse panel cover off showing the fuse arrangement. I bought an owners manual dated November 1916 that was supposed to be for 1916-7 Maxwells. Everything seems right except my car has "No" ammeter in the metal dash insert shown in the book nor can I find any factory literature that shows a dash or wiring diagram without an ammeter. Several days ago on the Maxwell Messenger site a 1917 wiring diagram was posted from an aftermarket source and it showed a dash panel with "No" ammeter identical to mine. Does anyone know if two dash panels were available in 1917? Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. I'm trying to educate myself on this crazy 6/12 volt electrical system which is strange enough without throwing in conflicting factory literature!

[HBergh]

Howard:

For starters, I have attached a picture of the 1917 Maxwell cockpit. I don't see an ammeter here either. I don't know if Maxwell had two dash panels in 1917. I too have located an owners manual for this year but I'm away from home at this time so I can't comment on what my manual shows.

[hddennis]

Howard, thanks again for that dash photo. Now I know there are at least two 1917 Maxwells that match the aftermarket wiring diagram and not the factory manual. At least I know my dash isn't cobbled from different years. It will be interesting to see the date of your manual and if your wiring diagram matches my manual OR my car.Hopefully I've attached a copy of the aftermarket diagram.

[hddennis]

Howard, now that I know how, here is a poor photo of my fuse panel showing two vertical fuses and one horizontal. If your museum car has this arrangement then it's a perfect match to my car.

[HBergh]

Howard:

Well, I found another picture I took of the 1917 Maxwell and it does appear to have a guage on the left side of the dash below the steering wheel that could be an ammeter. I'll have to get a better look to verify.

[hddennis]

Howard , thanks for keeping me in mind. I can't tell either from that last picture but it does add to my details information. Thank you, Howard Dennis

[HBergh]

Howard: To add to your reference pictures and possible confusion, I've attached a picture I found on the Internet of another 1917 Touring dash board. There is a guage on the left side that could be the ammeter you don't want to see. HB

[hddennis]

Howard, Thanks again for thinking of me and trying to help. Actually this is exactly like my dash in the center panel at least. I too wonder what the gauge on the left of the dash is? My center panel is like the one you posted. To the right of the key switch is a fuse panel with a metal cover. To the right of the metal cover is a slit with a charge indicator gauge. That is the exact place occupied by a round glass faced conventional ammeter on most manuals and factory literature I've found. I'm beginning to think my style dash was a short lived experiment or there was a supplier problem or customer resistance that changed it back to the normally found ammeter.I have a 1916 parts book that lists both with and without ammeter and no explanation as to why or when. I have since been given copies of the missing wiring diagrams and just as I suspected they are wired differently.

[HBergh]

Howard:

Well, I now know for sure what gauge is in front of the driver on the dash of the 1917 Maxwell. It is a gasoline gauge, not an ammeter. I'll be sending pictures to you via regular email.

HB

[hddennis]

Howard, that makes sense and I didn't think of it as my under dash tank is gone, having been replaced by a tank under the rear of the car much like many other old cars. I assume they must have used a vacumn tank fuel system. Does the fuel guage attach to the tank and protrude through the dashboard like the filler neck and cap on the passenger's side?

Thanks, Howard Dennis

[HBergh]

Hi Howard;

I haven't discovered how the gauge is connected to the under-the-dash gas tank yet, but the gauge does mount on the dash with four screws similar to the speedometer. Sorry, I didn't have my camera set for close-ups for this picture. The one major part I found missing is the speedometer cable and the associated mounting hardware on the right front wheel that includes the little cog that is driven by the larger one on the wheel. The large cog is present. So now I'm going to see if I can find this speedometer hardware. Have you seen any extras lying around??

HB

[hddennis]

Howard, I can't say if I have ANY of the speedometer system. I know it isn't presently mounted in the dash or on the front axle and since it's in NY I haven't had a chance to go through the boxes and cans of parts in the bed. I hope when I get it here in Georgia some parts not readily seen on my last inspection will be found hiding in those cans and boxes. Howard Dennis