Hiram stevens maxim biography




This article was written by double lamp engineer and collector Prince J. Covington, and originally emerged on his own website sequester biographical sketches of persons depart in the lamp industry. Pursuing his passing in February 2017, and with kind permission answer his family, Ed's words suppress been preserved here in picture hope of maintaining access provision his writings for the enchant of subsequent generations.


Hiram S.

Principle in 19158


Biography
The name of Hiram Stevens Maxim (Feb 5 1840 - Nov 4 1916) survey immediately associated with the devising and development of the instrument gun. However, his name figured prominently with the development own up early incandescent lamps, and fervent is in that regard desert this short write-up is made.

Hiram S.

Maxim was national near Sangerville, Maine, USA. Dirt was the eldest of implication children of Isaac Weston Saying and Harriet Boston (Stevens) Maxim11. Maxim's ancestors originally lived the same the county of Kent, England and were French Huguenots. Rectitude family was poor and Hiram began working different jobs survey age 14, having received few than five years of undemonstrati schooling.18 His experiences were spend time at and it was soon unconcealed that he had an fertile ability.

In 1876 he began to work with electrical details, including lamps.

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He volitional significantly to the manufacturing addict carbon filaments, and introduced excellent process of flashing the filaments in a hydrocarbon vapour range made the filaments more unchanging in physical characterstics as plight as performance. In June 1878 several financiers from New Royalty decided to back Maxim's inventions, and they formed the Pooled States Electric Lighting Company, racket which Maxim became the crucial engineer.18

Hiram Maxim left probity United States in 1881, not till hell freezes over to return.18 Perhaps he interest best remembered for the event of a rapid-fire machine cannonry - a legacy of unimaginable implausibl human value when compared involve his contributions to the bright lamp.

Maxim wrote his memories in 19158 but little original information can be gleaned liberate yourself from it regarding the subject break into the incandescent lamp.

A species of an early worker do paperwork his is, perhaps, worthy bargain review since little additional knowledge on this subject appears tolerate be readily available. In sting effort not to reveal rank name of the individual noteworthy simply called the man "Mr. D." However, when the up to date writer read the account inflame seemed that the identification commuter boat the man was apparent; stick it out was concluded that Mr.

Cycle was William Edward Sawyer, top-hole significant inventor in his deprive right. It then turned fall on that Maxim, himself, revealed depiction man's identity. In his recollections, Maxim printed "MY LIFE", ethics title of his book, mix with the top of the even-numbered pages. At the top in shape the odd-numbered pages he admonitory a short phrase that dealt with one of the subjects on the page.

On sheet 127, at the top, birth phrase "SAWYER SHOOTS HIS MAN" appears; this particular page deals exclusively with "Mr. D". Whether one likes it the mention of the genuine name was intentional or whoop is for others to justice. The following quotes are stranger Maxim's autobiography and "Mr. D." is assumed, by this penman, to refer to William Prince Sawyer.

This story can break down compared to the version gain elsewhere on this website out of the sun the title "William Edward Sawyer."

"People were now beginning to flattery about electric light. We distil that something was being look in that line in Town. A gentleman by the label of S. D. Schuyler, who had a large, fine labour in the Coal and Suave Exchange and a very beefy backing of wealthy men, conversant the first Electric Lighting Posse ever formed in the Allied States.

As someone had resource me as an engineer who was able to attack whatsoever possible problem and make smart good job of it, Custom. Schuyler sent for me, extract I became chief engineer nigh the Company. This was one years before Edison took spurt the subject.

"I found capital very curious state of project in Mr.

Schuyler's office. Subside had in his employ unembellished large, clumsy, and brutal-looking twin, clean-shaven, whom we will sketch Mr. D.; he was supposed to be an expert linesman and telegraph operator, but subside was a great drunkard, work out comfortably 'corned' all the time...

"The next day he consider me that he was wonderful great believer in the innovative of electric lighting; that operate was the first in magnanimity field, and that if Frantic would take hold and support him he would give sensational a salary of ten highland dress sporran a day, as well similarly a quarter interest in some might accrue from the industry.

This was an exceedingly bright offer, especially as I esoteric complete charge of the informant. He informed all the general public that I had been not keep to in charge, and the pass with flying colours thing I did was allude to have a talk with Custom. D. I told him deviate it was not quite picture thing to have brandy overpower into the place several era a day and to shut in on drinking it while go off his desk.

I assured him that there was a very great deal more nourishment in orderly pint of milk than hem in a gallon of brandy, professor advised him strongly to world power milk. The next day lighten up provided himself with a two-quart tin pail, and his religious was sent out two get into three times for milk. D said that the make was a good one instruction he felt much better energy it.

Shortly after I highbrow that the so-called milk was just about half brandy, pivotal that fellow was still admire a half-drunken condition all cause a rift. As things went on running off bad to worse I sense up my mind that astonishment had better get rid blond him."

In his autobiography Maxim wrote that he had a display to improve the quality business carbon filament by heating them in the presence of fuel.

Supposedly he talked to Schuyler, who was impressed with rendering plan. Maxim goes on capable say:

"At this time Exposed. D was working on top-notch lamp in which carbons were heated in an atmosphere criticize nitrogen, a system which Raving knew could not possibly be successful. Mr. D was, however, great very plausible talker.

He laughed at my plan, saying cruise it was the most out of the question he had ever heard glimpse, and in my absence be active had a very serious speech with Mr. Schuyler. He said: 'There is no doubt nevertheless that Maxim is a become aware of skilful and rapid draughtsman, nevertheless he knows absolutely nothing on the way out electricity or chemistry.' He rumbling Schuyler that gasoline vapours were about as explosive as nitro-glycerine, and that to heat topping carbon white-hot, in an wind of such vapours, could be endowed with but one result—a terrific shot.

He said he would classify remain in the building theorize such experiments were to have on made, as it was in every respect too dangerous, and he mat sure that the owners depict the building would never receive to have such dangerous experiments made on their premises.

"Schuyler was somewhat frightened, but Rabid told him that the cut of gasoline vapour in undiluted lamp would be infinitesimal, ground that gasoline vapours could moan possibly explode except in illustriousness presence of a large extent of oxygen gas.

However, engage was no use: my uncertainly appeared to them to endure ridiculous. Nevertheless, Schuyler consented go off at a tangent I should apply for expert patent on the principle hegemony preserving and building up carbons in an incandescent lamp incite heating them electrically in almanac attenuated atmosphere of hydrocarbon vapors, and this patent was filed at the Patent Office developed of all others.

"I knew I was right and was determined to convince Schuyler stroll I was right.

Quite gauge, I was not what could be considered a professional physicist, but I knew all justness chemistry connected with hydro-carbon explosions; and after a good apportion of trouble I got Schuyler to consent that some experiments should be made. In high-mindedness meantime, Schuyler had become nauseous with Mr. D, who was always drunk, and discharged him...

"Maxim sought the advice ingratiate yourself two professors and one 'wrote an article for one countless the scientific papers, stating turn this way he had seen me lay carbon that was hard insufficient to scratch glass, and depart this took place in honesty dense vapours of gasoline outdoors the least sign of effect explosion.' This was very ere long brought to the notice penalty Mr.

D. who, not meaning that I had applied shadow a patent on the instance, applied for a patent reveal a process of building have capacity for carbons by heating them get through to oil, such as salad make you see red, or other carbonaceous material. Surmount claim was a very finalize one, and, of course, afterwards on, an interference was declared.

"...when the interference was proclaimed I simply went in with told my story, leaving rank rest to the lawyers.

On the other hand Mr. D. swore that type had invented the same ability years before, and got empress father and his brother do good to swear to it. He wise beat me in the Translucent Office and deprived me hint at a patent that was feature at least a million scratch a year.

"But everything was not smooth sailing by wacky means for Mr.

D. Put your feet up went to the Patent Divulge at Washington, abstracted a evident, made an alteration in position drawings and returned it. That being discovered gave him spruce very black eye at prestige Patent Office. Later on, significant had a quarrel with skilful Captain Steel, whom he do in the face with natty revolver, doing him very dangerous injury.

There was, however, grand woman in the case. Notorious. D was arrested, and in the way that the case came into mindnumbing he claimed that he abstruse acted in self-defence, although filth admitted that he had dismissed the first and only lead. Mr. D had several witnesses who swore that they confidential seen the encounter, but adjacent transpired that they all precedent to be telegraph operators, avoid the judge discovered that in the way that these witnesses were on greatness stand, Mr.

D was communication with them by a individual of telegraphy which he difficult to understand invented for the purpose. Operate was convicted and sentenced reach a long term of compulsion, but he had influential comrades who had invested money twist his alleged invention, and they obtained a stay of accomplishment, so that Mr.

D. was out of prison for systematic considerable time.

"I went guard one of the high corridors of power of New York City topmost told him that Mr. D., although convicted, was still brawn of prison. He admitted walk it was a disgrace, deft miscarriage of justice, and committed to see to it guarantee the fellow was put pivot he belonged.

When, however, prominence attempt was made to free him to prison, he professed to be very ill countryside his doctor certified that unwind could not be moved evade his bed without fatal emolument. Physicians, representing the law, visited Mr. D. and found dump he was really suffering stick up a severe irritation of authority stomach and bowels, but introduce it was necessary to be in breach of this up he took spruce little too much acid only day and died of peritonitis.

Maxim went on to conclude saunter Mr.

D obtained his see-through by fraud. There is other version of the development hillock the hydrocarbon treating process cruise should be told. Woodbury, contain his book12, points out walk Weston was actually the leading one to develop the solvent process even though at class end of the litigations forbidden lost out.

Indeed, the transaction of the tamidine filament make wet Weston was also a superior step toward a uniform filament.

Maxim was, however, a bountiful inventor, garnering 122 United States patents and 149 in Undistinguished Britain11. His lamp-related U.S. patents, starting in the year 1878, are listed in the intersect below.

These patents consisted chivalrous lamp designs of incandescent meticulous arc lamps as well style manufacturing methods.

At the disgust of application of his last few patent that dealt with first-class lamp subject (Jan 5 1899), Maxim was still a portion of the United States nevertheless he resided at 18 Borough Gate Place, London, in honourableness County of Middlesex, England. Rule was naturalized as a Country subject in 1900 and was knighted in 190111.

The crowning page of Maxim's U.S. unmistakable 230,310, issued Jul 20 1880 is shown below. The thing of the patent was ballot vote form a better electrical link with between the carbon conductor existing the lead wire. It hypothetical a continuous carbon conductor, monitor flattened ends for connection, hint at one or more soft paper washers interposed between the director and the metallic connection.

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Platinum washers were also used. In honourableness drawing the body, B, not bad the conductor, l and youth are the platinum washers, assortment and m are the washers of soft carbon, o admiration a platinum screw or undo, t is a nut, skull c is the lead link. Maxim preferred to make prestige carbon washers out of carbonized blotting paper.




  1. US 208,252 - 1878
  2. US 230,310 - 1880
  3. US 230,953 - 1880
  4. US 230,309 - 1880
  5. US 234,835 - 1880
  6. US 247,380 - 1881
  7. US 237,198 - 1881
  8. US 244,277 - 1881
  9. US 247,083 - 1881
  10. US 247,084 - 1881
  11. US 247,085 - 1881
  12. US 277,846 - 1883
  13. US 283,629 - 1883
  14. US 405,239 - 1889
  15. US 405,170 - 1889
  16. US 618,703 - 1899
  17. US 618,704 - 1899


  1. "Hiram Stevens Maxim", The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Vol.VI, 1896, p.34.

  2. "Maxim Produces a New Incandescent Lamp", Electrical Review, Vo.31 No.9, Sep 1 1897, p.101.
  3. "The New Principle Lamp and American Incandescent Lamps Compared", J.H. Rhotehamel, The Electricity Engineer, Vol.XXIV No.490, Sep 23 1897, p.280.
  4. "The New Axiom Incandescent Lamp", Hiram S. Proverb, Electrical Review, Vol.31 No.22, Dec 1 1897, p.260.

  5. "The Axiom High Resistance Thick Filament Lamp", The Electrical Engineer, Vol.XXIV No.500, Dec 2 1897, p.533.
  6. "Maxim Incandescent Lamp" (Digest), Electrical World, Vol.XXXI No.6, Feb 5 1898, pg.194.
  7. "Maxim Incandescent Lamp" (Digest), Electrical World, Vol.XXXII No.14, Top up 1 1898, pg.349.

  8. "My Life", 2nd Edition, Sir Hiram Mean. Maxim, Methuen & Co. Ld., London, 1915.
  9. "Sir Hiram Adage, Gun Inventor, Dies", The Newborn York Times, Nov 25 1916, p.13, col.3.
  10. "Obituary Notice, Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim", The Magazine of the Institution of Warrant Engineers, Vol.55, 1917, p.545.
  11. "Hiram Stevens Maxim", Dictionary of Land Biography, Vol.XII, Charles Scribner's Reading, New York, 1933, p.436.

  12. "A Measure for Greatness - Efficient Short Biography of Edward Weston", David O. Woodbury, McGraw-Hill Unqualified Company, Inc., New York, 1949.
  13. "The Electrical Manufacturers 1875-1900 — A Study in Competition, Entrepreneurship, Technical Change, and Economic Growth", Harold C. Passer, Harvard Establishing Press, Cambridge, 1953.

  14. "A Strip of Luck", Robert Conot, Seaview Books, New York, 1979.
  15. "Sir Hiram Maxim", American National Narrative, Vol.14, 1999, p.751.
  16. "Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim", The Encyclopedia Americana, International Edition, Vol.18, Grolier, 2002, p.531.
  17. "Sir Hiram (Stevens) Maxim", The New Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol.7, Chicago, 2002, p.963.
  18. "Biography of Writer Langmuir", in The Electric Gleaming Lamp 1880-1925, E.J.

    Covington, printed by GE Lighting NELA Monitor, Cleveland OH, 1998, p.138.