Hiram Maxim and His Machinegun

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NDIA International Small Arms Symposium, Exhibition &

Firing Demo

2008

“ Hiram Maxim and His Machinegun:

 A great force harnessed to a useful purpose”

By Stephen C. Small, Ph.D.as of 1500hrs – 13 May 08

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 Agenda

• The Early Years

• His Automatic Machinegun• Marketing the Maxim Machinegun

• Colonial Wars• Ordnance Department Tests

• 20th Century Warfare

• The Human Cost

• Summary

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The Early Years

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The Young Inventor at The

United States Electric Lighting Co.

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Embarks for Europe

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His Automatic Machinegun

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“Cannot this great force be harnessed

to a useful purpose?”

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1884: The Initial Attempt

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1885: The First Recoil-Operated

Machinegun

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The principle

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Marketing the Maxim Machinegun

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The U.S. Navy

 Adopts the Maxim “Pom-pom” Gun

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1893: Maxim sold his new weapon

to the British Army

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The Prince of Wales

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The Russian Army

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Kaiser William II

“This is the gun; there is no other!”

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 An International Best Seller 

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knighthood from Queen Victoria

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Colonial Wars and Insurgences

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1893: The Matabele War

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1898 - The Battle of Omdurman

1899 Phili i I ti

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1899 - Philippine Insurrection

Th O d D t T t

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The Ordnance Dept. Tests

Machineguns

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The U.S. Ordnance Dept. Tests

the Maxim Gun - Again

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John M. Browning

1909 Th B t M i

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1909: The Benet-Mercie

Machine-Rifle

1913 U S Arm Selects a

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1913: U.S. Army Selects a

Maxim “Vickers”

Platform Mounted Maxim

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Platform Mounted Maxim

Machinegun

Platform Mounted Maxim

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Platform Mounted Maxim

Machinegun

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20th Century Warfare

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1904-5: The Russo-Japanese War 

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World War I

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Strengthened Defense

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The Engineer’s War

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1917: America Enters

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1917: America Enters

World War I

Americans & The Chauchat

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 Americans & The Chauchat

Machinegun

Hotchkiss 8mm M1914

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Hotchkiss 8mm M1914

Machinegun

B i M1917 M hi

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Browning M1917 Machinegun

1917-18: American Machinegun

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g

Production

Th H C t

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The Human Cost

1916 Th B ttl f th S

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1916 – The Battle of the Somme

Summary

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Summary

Questions?

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Questions?