PHOTOS: The red paint of the 1923 Maxim fire engine glistened in the afternoon sunlight as it stood in front of the Northborough fire station.
“It’s more than just a truck. It’s more than just steel on wheels,” said Shay Bailey.
Members of the Northborough Firefighters Association are celebrating the engine’s 100th birthday.
“There’s a lot of pride in this truck,” said Paul Fiske.
Inside the hood ornament bears the name Maxim Motor Companies, which was headquartered in Middleborough, and from which the town purchased the engine in 1922.
According to David Hunt, at that time, the Northborough Fire Department was all-volunteer. The engine, which cost $8,000, was custom made by Maxim.
“We were a very big Maxim fire department, but this is the first and the best pump that they had at the time when they went to gasoline-powered equipment,” said Hunt.