Internet Horology Club 185
Waltham's Riverside Grade
May 18, 2005, 00:53
Jerry TreimanWaltham's Riverside Grade
There is one Waltham grade that was produced in more sizes and models than any other -- the Riverside. I tally the following 25 models:
18-size model 1892*
16-size models 1872*, 1888**, 1899** and 1908*
14-size models 1874**, 1884**, 1895* and 1897*
Colonial Series*
Colonial models 14A* and 10-A*
Colonial B*
12-size model of 1894 (3/4-plate** and semi-bridge*)
6/8-size models 1873* and 1890
1-size*
0-size models 1891*, 1900* and 1907
3/0*
6/0 models of 1898* and 1912*
10-ligne*
7-1/4 ligne rectangular*
Also, within each size/model category are usually several varieties (various finishes, setting, jeweling and htg/OF configurations). The top Riverside, of course, is the "Riverside Maximus" and a crowning piece to any Riverside collection. In light of the range and quality of the movements, the Riverside can be considered Waltham's standard bearer. The variety, as well as affordability, makes the Riverside grade very well-suited for the focus of a marvelous collection.
Here are the largest and the smallest. I invite others to post pictures of their Riverside movements.
[I will add an * to each model above as pictures get posted]
May 18, 2005, 02:10
Jerry TreimanHere is another, even smaller, that I missed in the list above (now added). It is a 21-jewel 7-1/4 ligne rectangular wristwatch movement. If you think of any other missing models, let me know and I will add them.
May 18, 2005, 02:53
Jerry TreimanHere is an ad from 1897
May 18, 2005, 03:01
Jerry TreimanHere is a National Geographic ad from 1912. This ad (and many others) refers to their free Riverside booklet. I have never been able to find one of these booklets and would love to purchase a photocopy, if anyone has one.
May 18, 2005, 21:54
Tom SeymourHere is my only Riverside...
Tom
May 18, 2005, 22:34
Kevin PestorTom, I love to seeing your Riverside.

May 18, 2005, 23:34
Jerry TreimanHere is an '88 model Riverside...
May 19, 2005, 21:00
Tom HuberHi Tom, I have a model 88 tu-tone like yours. My SN is very close to yours--SN 9,173,413.
Tom
May 19, 2005, 23:26
Jerry TreimanHere is an earlier 16-size Riverside - an 1872 model in gilt. These were also made with nickel plates.
May 19, 2005, 23:34
Phil DellingerThe only Riverside model in my collection. Housed in a 14K hunter case.
May 20, 2005, 00:43
Jerry TreimanPhil - if you are only going to have one, that is a good one to have. My best estimate is that there were 2300 hunting movements and 1900 open-face.
Tom - thanks for posting the picture of your two-tone. Those are really nice and almost always distinguished by the hand carving around the balance jewel.
May 20, 2005, 02:10
___________If no one minds repeats, here are a pair I let go of in the IHC "For Sale" forum last year ...
An open-face Non-Magnetic marked 88 model and a hunting case 92 model (with somewhat different winding wheels than those above).
Fred
May 20, 2005, 09:55
Kevin PestorTom S i see your Riverside now.All examples here are very nice and the pictures are great.I don,t have on e in my collection, but i hope to one day.
Thanks to all for sharing.
May 20, 2005, 15:22
Frank KusumotoJerry,
Here's an excerpt from a trade book dated 1896:
May 20, 2005, 16:34
Frank KusumotoAnd Price list:
May 20, 2005, 16:35
Frank KusumotoAnd the rest of the price list:
May 22, 2005, 00:53
Jerry TreimanWorking our way up from the smallest, the next one on the list is the 6/0 or Jewel Series movement. Here are an 1898-model hunting movement (on the left, from a cushion wristwatch)and a 1912-model open-face movement (on the right, from an Opera Watch).
May 23, 2005, 01:44
Jerry TreimanNext in line is the 0-size. I am afraid the only examples I have are the Riverside Maximus -- here are the 1891 model (on the left) and the 1900 model on the right.
May 23, 2005, 01:50
Jerry TreimanHere is a photo of a standard Riverside-grade 1900 model (snagged from eBay). One interesting thing about this one is that it is from a listed run of 1500 Riverside Maximus (17-19j). Obviously the 17j part of the run (perhaps most of them) is Riverside and this could considerably reduce the reported production for the Riverside Maximus.
Does anyone else have any of these smaller Riversides to show?
I skipped over the 3/0 (as I don't have one). Next on the schedule is the 1-size. I have a rather dull-looking example (that I won't post unless no one else shows one). So, start looking for your Riverside-grade ladies watches (up to 8-size) and wristwatches and post your examples.
May 23, 2005, 23:33
Jerry TreimanHere is the 1-size. My example has a very plain frosted finish, but some had much nicer damasceening. If you have a nice example, please post.
May 25, 2005, 23:54
Jerry TreimanI guess no one gets too excited about those smaller Riversides, so I'll go back to the 16-size. This is an early 1899 model with only 17 jewels. The earlier ones have a more ornate damasceening pattern, and this also has the gold star-wheel regulator typical of the '99 model Riverside. As with many Riversides it has a gold center wheel, gold jewel settings, gold timing screws and a steel escape wheel.
May 25, 2005, 23:56
Jerry Treiman... and here is the 1908 model with the Ohlson's regulator and 19 jewels. Note that both have the chain pattern on the winding wheels, typical of this grade. The damasceening, however, is a simpler broad circular pattern. The lever-set open-face Riversides were railroad grade.