Internet Horology Club 185
Private-label Riverside Maximus

This topic can be found at:
https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/5656047761/m/820102215

September 09, 2004, 03:05
Jerry Treiman
Private-label Riverside Maximus
I recently acquired this one -- a 19-jewel ladies 0-size Riverside Maximus. It has a gold gear train, diamond endstone on the balance wheel and a simple finish for this private-label watch. Bigelow Kennard & Co., a high-end Boston jeweler, also specified a whiplash regulator and their own patented recoiling click.


September 09, 2004, 03:05
Jerry Treiman
This is what the watch looks like from the front. The 14K case is marked for the jeweler.


September 09, 2004, 21:40
R. J. Lucke
Jerry,

Nice example of a rarely seen private label. Thanks for posting the pictures.

Rhett


Rhett Lucke

September 09, 2004, 22:26
Larry Soucheck
Or, in my case, never seen example. Smile Super watch Jerry

Larry
September 09, 2004, 23:38
Jerry Treiman
Another point of interest about this watch:
The patent for the recoiling click is a British patent from 1904 assigned to Bigelow Kennard & Co. For several years these private label watches (12-size and smaller) were the only Walthams with a recoiling click until Waltham developed their own recoiling click in 1909. I plan to publish a short article for the Bulletin on this topic.


September 10, 2004, 08:17
R. J. Lucke
Jerry,

Bill Tapp had 1 or 2 examples with the subject click on display at the Denver regional.

Rhett


Rhett Lucke

September 10, 2004, 10:55
Jerry Treiman
Yes, Bill has shared pictures of his examples with me - an 0-size and a 12-size Riverside Maximus. I will post a picture of a 12-size later this evening.
September 10, 2004, 11:19
Jim McKinney
Here's my Colonial Series, 12s with "Waltham Recoiling Click" - circa 1908 . . . note serial number in ad vs. my example.

My Colonial Series

September 11, 2004, 03:29
Jerry Treiman
Here is a 12-size 23-jewel Riverside Maximus for Bigelow Kennard & Co. I would love to hear about examples of this private label that anyone else has come across, with particular attention to the case.


September 12, 2004, 13:54
Jerry Treiman
This is another private-label 0-size Riverside Maximus that was on eBay a few years ago. It retains the Riverside Maximus label, in addition to the jewelers name. Note that, although the serial number is a couple-million higher than the Bigelow Kennard version, this still has a non-recoiling click.