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The Illinois Watch Company, founded in 1869, in Springfield, Illinois, began by manufacturing the larger 18 size hunter cased (as opposed to the open face -- the Hunter Cases are those cases where there are metal covers on the watch, often on both the face and back of the watch, the coversopeningon hinges at the bottom or side of the watch). The front cover usually snaps open with a spring, while the back cases, usually two, an outer cover and an inner cover that covers the movement, are opened with a watch opening tool. However, RR Grade pocketwatches in hunter cases never had a cover over the dial of the watch, the specifications for RR Grade forbid it.
The Bunn Special was named for John W. Bunn, one of the founders of the company, and it is his signature that is engraved on the movements of all Bunn Special watches.
Illinois manufactured pocketwatches of all sizes and grades until late 1927 when the company wasbought by the Hamilton Watch Company of Lancaster, PA. However, Hamilton, while infusing some of their designs, movement additions and modifications, essentially allowed Illinois to continue manufacturing some of their own models in Springfield, under the Illinois name until 1933, when Hamilton closed the Springfield factory and moved all Illinois operations to Pennsylvania, where Hamilton manufactured the Illinois brand watches in their own factory in Lancaster. The Illinois brand name was discontinued by Hamiltonmany yearsbefore Hamilton ceased operations in 1970.
The Illinois Bunn Specials are claimedto be some of the most collected of all RR Grade Pocketwatches, and any Bunn Special model continues to be one of the most desired RR Grade PW of all brands. The original 18 size watches came in 20 variations, while the RR Grade 16 size came in 22.
The Bunn Specials were graded by number, that number being the model number of the watch, and engraved on the movement. The choice movements, in decending order were the Illinois 163A (the most expensive and top Illinois PW, and one of the more expensive watches to collect), followed by the Illinois 163, 161A, 161, and then the Illinois 60 hour models. However, all models 163A, 163, 161A and 161 were 60 hour mainspring watches.There were numerous other Bunn Special models, but these were the top grades and the most expensive to purchase. The Illinois 163A is considered equal in collectability and value to the rare Model 13 Illinois Sangamo Special (a 17 size RR Grade PW that I featured in a separate post here on WF).
This first picture is of the four Bunn Specials that I have selected from my collection to display --- top center is a white gold 163A, left is a 161 with the Montgomery dial, right is a 60-hour, and bottom is a 161A:
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Taking these four watches, one by one, the pics begin with the top Illinois RR Grade 163A. The dial is one of the more rare Bunn Special dials in that almost all 163A dials did not state both 23J at the top plus 60 hour 6 positions at the bottom. The crown and bow are sharp and tight, indicating little or no carrying of this watch.
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This next photo is of the back of the pristine case -- no stains, corrosion, scratches, dents, dings or other imperfections are present on this case:
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This photo is the movement alongside the inside of the case back. The Bunn signature can be seen engraved on both the movement and inside the case back. This case serial number is original to the watch and is traceable to this particular watch. There are no service markings found on either the case or the watch movement. This watch keeps near perfect time.
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This photo is of the beautiful fishscale damaskeened (the fishscale damaskeening was a trademark of the Bunn Special movements) movement of the 163A. Note the movement grade, 163A engraved between the winding wheels. The serial number on the movement, 5457831 indicates this watch was manufactured in 1932, after Illinois was purchased by Hamilton, making this watch 77 years old. .
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This photo is a model 161 with the Montgomery dial:
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The case back of the 161:
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The movement and inside case of the 161:
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The movement of the 161 -- the serial number on the movement, 5441886 indicates manufacture in 1932. This movement, while very nice, is not perfect in that some of the black paint inside the engraving has faded, and there is evidence of service markings on the movement and in the screw heads. The movement runs perfectly and keeps excellent time and is considered a movement in fine condition.
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A beautiful60-hour Bunn Special --- the case, dial, hands are in exceptional condition for a 60 hour Bunn Special.
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The beautiful high-polish case back of the 60-hour housed in the Classic Case:
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The movement and inside the case back of the 60-hour --- please note that the serial number on the case back is not the serial number of the watch and does not determine when the watch was manufactured. The serial number on the watch movement is the manufacturing serial:
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The movement of the 60-hour. The serial number on the movement, 5022409 indicates that this watch was manufactured in 1927, the last year that Illinois was a private watch company. Shortly after Illinois was purchased by Hamilton:
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The face and dial of a beautiful 161A:
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The high polished case back of the 161A:
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The movement and inside case back of the 161A:
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And finally, the movement of the 161A, serial number 5481743, indicating manufacture in 1933.
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Thank you for your time in viewing this long post.
The Illinois Watch Company, founded in 1869, in Springfield, Illinois, began by manufacturing the larger 18 size hunter cased (as opposed to the open face -- the Hunter Cases are those cases where there are metal covers on the watch, often on both the face and back of the watch, the coversopeningon hinges at the bottom or side of the watch). The front cover usually snaps open with a spring, while the back cases, usually two, an outer cover and an inner cover that covers the movement, are opened with a watch opening tool. However, RR Grade pocketwatches in hunter cases never had a cover over the dial of the watch, the specifications for RR Grade forbid it.
The Bunn Special was named for John W. Bunn, one of the founders of the company, and it is his signature that is engraved on the movements of all Bunn Special watches.
Illinois manufactured pocketwatches of all sizes and grades until late 1927 when the company wasbought by the Hamilton Watch Company of Lancaster, PA. However, Hamilton, while infusing some of their designs, movement additions and modifications, essentially allowed Illinois to continue manufacturing some of their own models in Springfield, under the Illinois name until 1933, when Hamilton closed the Springfield factory and moved all Illinois operations to Pennsylvania, where Hamilton manufactured the Illinois brand watches in their own factory in Lancaster. The Illinois brand name was discontinued by Hamiltonmany yearsbefore Hamilton ceased operations in 1970.
The Illinois Bunn Specials are claimedto be some of the most collected of all RR Grade Pocketwatches, and any Bunn Special model continues to be one of the most desired RR Grade PW of all brands. The original 18 size watches came in 20 variations, while the RR Grade 16 size came in 22.
The Bunn Specials were graded by number, that number being the model number of the watch, and engraved on the movement. The choice movements, in decending order were the Illinois 163A (the most expensive and top Illinois PW, and one of the more expensive watches to collect), followed by the Illinois 163, 161A, 161, and then the Illinois 60 hour models. However, all models 163A, 163, 161A and 161 were 60 hour mainspring watches.There were numerous other Bunn Special models, but these were the top grades and the most expensive to purchase. The Illinois 163A is considered equal in collectability and value to the rare Model 13 Illinois Sangamo Special (a 17 size RR Grade PW that I featured in a separate post here on WF).
This first picture is of the four Bunn Specials that I have selected from my collection to display --- top center is a white gold 163A, left is a 161 with the Montgomery dial, right is a 60-hour, and bottom is a 161A:
Taking these four watches, one by one, the pics begin with the top Illinois RR Grade 163A. The dial is one of the more rare Bunn Special dials in that almost all 163A dials did not state both 23J at the top plus 60 hour 6 positions at the bottom. The crown and bow are sharp and tight, indicating little or no carrying of this watch.
This next photo is of the back of the pristine case -- no stains, corrosion, scratches, dents, dings or other imperfections are present on this case:
This photo is the movement alongside the inside of the case back. The Bunn signature can be seen engraved on both the movement and inside the case back. This case serial number is original to the watch and is traceable to this particular watch. There are no service markings found on either the case or the watch movement. This watch keeps near perfect time.
This photo is of the beautiful fishscale damaskeened (the fishscale damaskeening was a trademark of the Bunn Special movements) movement of the 163A. Note the movement grade, 163A engraved between the winding wheels. The serial number on the movement, 5457831 indicates this watch was manufactured in 1932, after Illinois was purchased by Hamilton, making this watch 77 years old. .
This photo is a model 161 with the Montgomery dial:
The case back of the 161:
The movement and inside case of the 161:
The movement of the 161 -- the serial number on the movement, 5441886 indicates manufacture in 1932. This movement, while very nice, is not perfect in that some of the black paint inside the engraving has faded, and there is evidence of service markings on the movement and in the screw heads. The movement runs perfectly and keeps excellent time and is considered a movement in fine condition.
A beautiful60-hour Bunn Special --- the case, dial, hands are in exceptional condition for a 60 hour Bunn Special.
The beautiful high-polish case back of the 60-hour housed in the Classic Case:
The movement and inside the case back of the 60-hour --- please note that the serial number on the case back is not the serial number of the watch and does not determine when the watch was manufactured. The serial number on the watch movement is the manufacturing serial:
The movement of the 60-hour. The serial number on the movement, 5022409 indicates that this watch was manufactured in 1927, the last year that Illinois was a private watch company. Shortly after Illinois was purchased by Hamilton:
The face and dial of a beautiful 161A:
The high polished case back of the 161A:
The movement and inside case back of the 161A:
And finally, the movement of the 161A, serial number 5481743, indicating manufacture in 1933.
Thank you for your time in viewing this long post.
