When did the Illinois watch company go out of business?
The Illinois Watch Company was founded on December 23, 1870, in Springfield, Illinois, by John C. Adams, John Whitfield Bunn (1831–1920), and various additional financiers. Twenty years later, Jacob Bunn Jr., (1864–1926) took over and ran the company until his death in 1926.
What kind of Watch is an Illinois Bunn Special?
It is an Illinois Bunn Special Model 9 with an open face with a plastic screw-on cover for front and screw-on case back. The watch is 50 mm wide and was worn on the end of a chain. A wonderful enamel dial with printed numbers, a gorgeous set of blued hands and a sculpted dial with 2 recesses are extremely legible.
What’s the price of a Bunn RR grade watch?
So I understand why a Bunn Special RR grade watch would sell for a lot more than a “typical” Illinois watch, such as the one I’ve got.
What was the name of the Illinois Watch Company?
Illinois later produced an extensive line of extremely fine and accurate Railroad-grade pocket watches like the “Sangamo Special,” “Bunn Special” and “Santa Fe Special” (just to name a few). In 1879, due to financial difficulties, the company was reorganized and the name changed to the Illinois Springfield Watch Company.
What is the serial number on a 1924 Bunn watch?
However, the age is generally determined by the number on the movement itself, 4532481, which dates this to 1924. The case’s serial number is 6230686 so no match. This is not uncommon because movements were switched in and out of different cases all the time. Just a couple of screws held the movement into the case.
What’s the serial number on an Illinois Bunn watch?
However, the age is generally determined by the number on the movement itself, 4532481, which dates this to 1924. The Illinois movement serial number The case’s serial number is 6230686 so no match. This is not uncommon because movements were switched in and out of different cases all the time.
What kind of Watch is the Bunn Special?
Below, you can read “Bunn Special. Illinois Watch Company. Springfield.” Bunn Special. Illinois Watch Company. Springfield. Look at the rubies and ray pattern decoration on the bridge. The hair spring appears to be blued too. Bluing is accomplished by heating steel to a certain temperature.
So I understand why a Bunn Special RR grade watch would sell for a lot more than a “typical” Illinois watch, such as the one I’ve got.
What was the first watch made in Illinois?
The first group of 100 watches produced were 18-size, 15-jewel, full plate, key wind, adjusted Stuart railroad grade watches in 1872. The Bunn family surname was used on Illinois’ most famous railroad watch grades, starting with the first 18-size, 15-jewel, adjusted Illinois Bunn movements introduced with serial number 201.
