Rivett 2C on ebay uk

Rivett model 2C Watchmaking Lathe with original roll-top by J.H Rosberg MFG. CO. | eBay

Too rich for my blood but a lovely thing by any standard

Billtodd said:

Rivett model 2C Watchmaking Lathe with original roll-top by J.H Rosberg MFG. CO. | eBay

Too rich for my blood but a lovely thing by any standard

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That's freeking beautiful! For that money it will end up in caring hands

For that money it will end up in caring hands

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Or it won't sell at all because it's crazy expensive. That's close to $17,000 US. Are there people spending that kind of money for toy sized lathes?

Not mentioned in the description, so probably discarded long ago, was whatever drove the lathe. The large door at the lower left of the bench concealed a compartment for a big cast iron foot-operated driving wheel. There is a big opening from that compartment into the foot well for the pedal. The catch tray should probably have a canvas stretched across the frame instead of a wood board. The hole at the right and below the catch tray is for powdered chalk, which was used with a soft brush to clean watch parts. Here are pictures from a circa 1905 catalog.

I have had opportunities to buy foot wheels, but never wanted to haul one home. The catalog shows typical total weights of 65-70 pounds.

Rivett made very fine watch lathes. A singular feature of the last models of the early 20th century was that the beds were steel instead of cast iron. He had some unusual and clever design features. But a Rivett lathe cost $35 when an American Watch Tool Webster-Whitcomb lathe cost $29, a serious difference in those days. Eventually, his watch lathes were discontinued and the business concentrated on bench lathes and engine lathes. After WWII, Rivett took another crack at making watch lathes, which also failed to become popular. I have one of the circa 1900 Rivett lathes and two of the circa 1946-50 1R lathes.

Rivett Watchmakers' Lathes

Larry

Quade said:

Or it won't sell at all because it's crazy expensive. That's close to $17,000 US. Are there people spending that kind of money for toy sized lathes?

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There are some big money collectors out there. As for the lathe it is sure enough no toy, and to have the collets chucks and all the other odds and ends is rare. And there are damned few around on the original woodwork. as those lathes went out of use they would get binned and the bench re purposed.

Quade said:

Or it won't sell at all because it's crazy expensive. That's close to $17,000 US. Are there people spending that kind of money for toy sized lathes?

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I think there was, but he died.

Theodore Crom Obituary - Melrose, FL | Gainesville Sun

https://www.practicalmachinist.com/...and-history/ted-croms-estate-all-sold-204714/

Larry