Lot 105
[Maxim Machine Gun] Hiram S. Maxim (1896-1936) Inventor of the Maxim machine gun. Typed letter signed, 1 page, 7¾ x 9¾ in., London, 15 March 1916. To the Rev. Cyrus Townsend Brady in Yonkers, NY, about Maxim's brother. In part: "…I would say that Hudson Maxim is unfortunately a brother of mine and without a single exception he is the greatest liar and the most contemptible scoundrel I have ever known….I have recently seen articles in the American newspaper written by this fellow in which he says that I never did anything in smokeless powder, he attributes the whole of it to himself. The truth is that I did everything necessary to produce smokeless powder, in fact, I left nothing of any value for anyone else to patent. The Courts of England and also Parliament have decided that I, Hiram Stevens Maxim am the original inventor and patentee of smokeless powder. For a long time he claimed to be the inventor of the Maxim gun although it was in the Service before he ever heard of it." Large, bold signature.
Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,250
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