Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Kapka · 2025-02-15T03:05:04-0600

I think that I just entered the pocket watch rabbit hole 😀 Must be those damn Peaky blinders.

Anyways, I just bought my first real pocket watch and honestly I got it just because it looked like a beautiful piece. There were no movement info or pictures so it was kind of a shot in the dark. (Not that I know so much about pocket watch movements anyway) It arrived yesterday and I did some research. It seems to be quite good movement and it is sooo good looking 😎. According to pocket watch data base it is Illinois Special Bunn model 11 manufactured in 1918.

Let me know what you think.
I payed 150 EUR fot the notice.

This is exciting 😁
Cheers, Kapka

ghce · 2025-02-15T05:05:04-0600

Kapka
I think that I just entered the pocket watch rabbit hole 😀 Must be those damn Peaky blinders.

Anyways, I just bought my first real pocket watch and honestly I got it just because it looked like a beautiful piece. There were no movement info or pictures so it was kind of a shot in the dark. (Not that I know so much about pocket watch movements anyway) It arrived yesterday and I did some research. It seems to be quite good movement and it is sooo good looking 😎. According to pocket watch data base it is Illinois Special Bunn model 11 manufactured in 1918.

Let me know what you think.
I payed 150 EUR fot the notice.

This is exciting 😁
Cheers, Kapka

That was a good deal!

Simply a beautiful movement

Canuck · 2025-02-15T05:36:10-0600

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/illinois/3385147

The pocketwatchdatabase listing for that outstanding watch! Your Illinois checks all the boxes for even a knowledgeable, experienced collector! And buying it virtually blind, no less! That watch might be a grail watch for even an ardent Illinois collector. Well done!

Kapka · 2025-02-15T07:13:44-0600

Canuck
https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/illinois/3385147

The pocketwatchdatabase listing for that outstanding watch! Your Illinois checks all the boxes for even a knowledgeable, experienced collector! And buying it virtually blind, no less! That watch might be a grail watch for even an ardent Illinois collector. Well done!

Seriously 😳 I hit the random jackpot lol 😂. That's first time ever. Maybe I should collect pocket watches instead. Thanks a lot for the clarification. What makes this model so special besides "special" name? The production run is not that rare or? Is this possibly first batch of motor barrel? Found some interesting reading here https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8881029912/m/5301099323

It's a bit confusing because all 3 types described seems to be 60hrs version but mine is 48h according to specs you sent.

I'm sold 😀

Canuck · 2025-02-15T07:20:05-0600

The sixty-hour version has the movement clearly engraved as Sixty Hour as in the photo attached. Mine is the 21-jewel version. The word “Special” I suspect applied to all Bunn railroad grade pocket watch movements. Yours is from the 5th run of this model Illinois grade.

DaveK · 2025-02-15T09:07:21-0600

Kapka
Seriously 😳 I hit the random jackpot lol 😂. That's first time ever. Maybe I should collect pocket watches instead. Thanks a lot for the clarification. What makes this model so special besides "special" name? The production run is not that rare or? Is this possibly first batch of motor barrel? Found some interesting reading here https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8881029912/m/5301099323

It's a bit confusing because all 3 types described seems to be 60hrs version but mine is 48h according to specs you sent.

I'm sold 😀

Welcome to the club 😎

Canuck · 2025-02-15T10:48:21-0600

Kapka
Seriously 😳 I hit the random jackpot lol 😂. That's first time ever. Maybe I should collect pocket watches instead. Thanks a lot for the clarification. What makes this model so special besides "special" name? The production run is not that rare or? Is this possibly first batch of motor barrel? Found some interesting reading here https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8881029912/m/5301099323

It's a bit confusing because all 3 types described seems to be 60hrs version but mine is 48h according to specs you sent.

I'm sold 😀

The pocketwatchdatabase listing calls it 48 hour model. I see no confusion there.

Kapka · 2025-02-15T12:22:00-0600

Canuck
The sixty-hour version has the movement clearly engraved as Sixty Hour as in the photo attached. Mine is the 21-jewel version. The word “Special” I suspect applied to all Bunn railroad grade pocket watch movements. Yours is from the 5th run of this model Illinois grade.

I get it now, thanks a lot. So the 60h version is kind of next generation.

There is so much to read about these lovely watches. I'm just so stunned how beautiful this movement looks . The details are just incredible.
Final question?? Why is the case double signed Illinois & Elgin? Were they cooperating at that time? I know that Hamilton bought Illinois, but that was at the later stage.

Thanks, Kapka

Kapka · 2025-02-15T12:22:34-0600

DaveK
Welcome to the club 😎

Tha k you buddy, this might be just a begging 😀

Canuck · 2025-02-15T13:13:11-0600

The Illinois Watch Case Co. was not part of the Illinois Watch Co. The Elgin Watch Case Co. was not part of the Elgin Watch Co. Were they the same company with a name change? Or was your case made BY the Elgin Watch case company, but labelled FOR the Illinois Watch Co.? There’s only one place name for both……Elgin, Illinois. In short, your watch case was made by the Illinois Watch Case Co. (Elgin, Illinois), NOT the Illinois Watch Co. of Springfield, Ill.

From Warren Neibling’s book on American watch case makers, here is the trade mark for the Illinois Watch Case Co.