Internet Horology Club 185
Bunn Special 163, 163-E and 163-A "THE SEVEN STARS" Database

This topic can be found at:
https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8881029912/m/6961075071

March 31, 2006, 18:18
___________
Bunn Special 163, 163-E and 163-A "THE SEVEN STARS" Database

• Bunn Special 163, 163-E and 163-A "THE SEVEN STARS" Database

Our goal here is to openly share information about how many of each variant are found in the various production runs, and with this compilation of data further refine the estimates of production for each of the 7 variants in this series.

The following 7 posts in this topic will identify each of the different variants and contain the data on observed movement numbers for each variant. As additional movement numbers are confirmed we will periodically update the information contained in those 7 posts. Along with the details and data on each variant, I will post a movement photo from my collection. Any accurately confirmed additions would be great, you may send them to our ihc185@roadrunner.com eMail address.

• CORRECT DIALS: "FIVE GENUINE ILLINOIS 161 AND 163 VARIANT DIALS INCLUDING "23J" DIALS IN DETAIL"

Lindell

Wink

March 31, 2006, 18:19
___________

163 Type I
("3,800" produced)

"Sixty Hour" above "Bunn Special" markings on train bridge. Marked "Motor Barrel" and "23 Jewels" on the barrel bridge with grade number "163" to the right, directly below center, not an Elinvar movement.

Confirmed movement numbers...

5334106
5334129
5334152
5334208
5334254 (Shown below, Lindell V. Riddle collection)
5334229
5334239
5334261
5334294
5334308
5334324
5334328 (Boxed example)
5334335
5334351
5334361
5334413
5334419
5334427
5334489
5334515
5334564
5334571
5334587
5334610
5334645
5334653
5334681
5334693
5334779
5334789
5334814
5334833
5334847
5334878 (EP/LVR)
5334990
5334995

5375005 -
5375037 -
5375079
5375178
5375228
5375259
5375291
5375299
5375326
5375369
5375373
5375389
5375443
5375468
5375538
5375558
5375569
5375630
5375645
5375688
5375717
5375779
5375782
5375789
5375845
5375930
5375941

5390018
5390030
---------- 5390040 (Falsely Sold as Type I E in October 2010)
5390075
5390152
5390173
5390194
5390226
5390260
5390272
5390343
5390355
5390378
5390474
5390513
5390534
5390571
5390573
5390578
5390620
5390689
5390716
5390730
5390755
5390823
5390835
5390867

5420045
5420099
5420139
5420960
5420045
5420050
5420076
5420093
5420264
5420321
5420357
5420386
5420447
5420569
5420570
5420595
5420596
5420636
5420683
5420729
5420761
5420768
5420859
5420897
5420910
5420957
5420958
5420988

5421044
5421121
5421135
5421154
5421170
5421202
5421207
5421236
5421287
5421333
5421352
5421361
5421395
5421410
5421439
5421462
5421470
5421476
5421504
5421538


March 31, 2006, 18:19
___________

163 Type I R
("850" produced)

"Sixty Hour" above "Bunn Special" markings on train bridge. Marked "Motor Barrel" and "23 Jewels" on the barrel bridge with grade number "163" to the LEFT, rather than the center area, not an Elinvar movement.

Confirmed movement numbers...

5321151
5321261
5321265
5321275
5321280
5321299
5321305
5321309
5321367
5321420 (EP/LVR)
5321440
5321450
5321469
5321475
5321488 (Shown below, Lindell V. Rddle collection)
5321497
5321499
5321585 (LVR)
5321602
5321625
5321630
5321644
5321661
5321664
5321712
5321716
5321742
5321755
5321775
5321782
5321800
5321815
5321828
5321839
5321903
5321930
5321954
5321978 (Tom Dunn)
5321994


March 31, 2006, 18:19
___________

163 Type II
("50" produced)

Marked "Motor Barrel" and "Sixty Hour" on the barrel bridge with grade number 163 to the right, this is not an Elinvar movement. Notice "23-Jewels" at an angle on right edge of the train bridge.

Confirmed movement numbers and sales...

5421625 (Sold in July 2014)
5421640 (Shown below, Lindell V. Riddle collection) Wink
5421672 (Sold for $18,256.00 on eBay September 2010) Wink

5421710 (Confirmed Private Sale for $28,000.00 in November 2006) Smile
5421771 (CW)

5421802 (February 2022)

5421943 (J&H Auction for $27,000.00 with cracked dial and worn case November 2006) Eek
5421981 (October 2021)

5448032 (Shown in Illinois Book page 127)
5448054 (Sold for $16,386.00 on eBay in October 2010)

5448142 (November 2018)
5448151 (October 2012)
5448161 (Resold February 2008)
5448165 (September 2011 to Lindell V. Riddle collection) Wink
5448179 (SM)

5448222
5448261 (Seller stopped eBay auction for a low-ball $7,500.00 offer in May 2009)
5448264 (Sold for $15,600.64 in November of 2008 then resold for $22,322.22 in December 2009)


March 31, 2006, 18:19
___________

163 Type I E
("900" produced)

Marked "Motor Barrel" and "23 Jewels" on the barrel bridge with grade number "163" to the right, marked "Elinvar" at edge of balance bridge and "Sixty Hour" on train bridge above the Bunn Special marking.

Confirmed movement numbers...

5420034
5420175
5420235
5420264
5420379
5420388 (Shown below, Lindell V. Riddle collection)
5420396
5420403
5420578
5420713
5420714
5420722
5420743
5420778
5420804

5421055
5421220 (EP/LVR)
5421289
5421333
5421340
5421063
5421223
5421259 (Double-Boxed Set with Card in YGF 118 Case)
5421365
5421404
5421564


March 31, 2006, 18:19
___________

163 Type II E
("300" produced)

Marked "Motor Barrel" and "Sixty Hour" on the barrel bridge with grade number 163 to the right, marked "Elinvar" on edge of balance bridge. Notice "23-Jewels" on right edge of train bridge.

Confirmed movement numbers...

5421606 (Shown below, Lindell V. Riddle collection)
5421617
5421628
5421664
5421705
5421712
5421723
5421760
5421768 (EP/LVR)
5421793
5421808 (Boxed Set with Case 118)
5421830
5421837
5421839
5421872
5421884
5421888
5421897
5421932
5421969
5421975
5421977
5421979
5421984

5448018
5448028
5448043
5448045
5448087
5448094
5448103
5448184
5448185
5448186
5448203
5448205
5448210
5448239
5448247
5448252 (Boxed example)
5448569


March 31, 2006, 18:19
___________

163A Type II B
("1,800" produced)

Marked "Motor Barrel" and "Sixty Hour" on the barrel bridge with grade number 163A to the right, marked "Elinvar" on the upper edge of train bridge above the "Bunn Special" marking and "23 Jewels" on right edge of train bridge.

Confirmed movement numbers...

5448331
5448377
5448397
5448408
5448419
5448424
5448437
5448461
5448463
5448473
5448496
5448513
5448531 (EP/LVR)
5448569
5448572
5448619
5448639
5448660
5448678
5448727 (Complete Double-Boxed Set with Card in YGF 107 Case / LVR Collection)
5448732
5448764
5448776
5448782
5448803
5448817
5448833
5448835
5448872
5448873
5448905
5448927
5448944
5448946
5448957
5448991

5456005
5456080
5456110
5456125
5456135
5456137 (Boxed Set)
5456154
5456180
5456187
5456194
5456215
5456233
5456235 (Boxed Set)
5456282
5456293
5456300
5456319
5456332
5456365
5456405
5456406
5456427 (Boxes only, originally YGF Model 107 Case)
5456447
5456460
5456484 (Shown below, Lindell V. Riddle collection)
5456544
5456569
5456594
5456596
5456599 (CAUTION! Click these words to read previous "Pitfalls" discussion!)
5456643
5456648 (CAUTION! This watch has incorrect components! -- including INCORRECT NON-ELINVAR BALANCE assembly).
5456651
5456734
5456736
5456747
5456731 (Star YGF 118 Case, inner box, card, no outer box)
5456779
5456845
5456848
5456881
5456904
5456943
5456945
5456959
5456969

5457027
5457036
5457093
5457174
5457200


March 31, 2006, 18:19
___________

163A Type II P
("1,300" produced)

Marked "Motor Barrel" and "Sixty Hour" on the barrel bridge with grade number 163A to the right, marked "Elinvar" on pillar plate which is below the balance wheel.

Confirmed movement numbers...

5457228
5457245
5457251
5457274
5457276
5457363
5457366
5457384
5457387
5457438
5457521
5457529
5457532
5457567
5457573
5457605
5457606
5457659
5457700
5457768
5457798
5457799
5457806
5457809
5457827
5457836
5457840
5457852
5457861
5457873
5457903
5457928
5457938
5457956
5457970
5457984
5457995

5563018
5563020
5563035
5563037
5563042
5563064 (EP/LVR)
5563079
5563169
5563257
5563261
5563264
5563265
5563266
5563281
5563284
5563303
5563321
5563348 (Shown below, Lindell V. Riddle collection)
5563374
5563398


March 31, 2006, 19:12
Lindell V. Riddle

I began dropping in images of examples from my collection.

And now we watch the numbers grow.

Wink

April 01, 2006, 01:52
Mike Camelin
Great Thread!... I plan on contributing the numbers of every example I have recorded on these variants...........
Happy "Numbers" Hunting!
April 01, 2006, 11:12
Jerry Freedman
I have:

163 Type IR 5321440
163A Type IIP 5457245
April 01, 2006, 19:56
Charles R. Sides
Mine are both are 163 type I

5,375,178
5,375,326
April 01, 2006, 20:34
Peter S. Balkan
Mine is a 163 IE

5421340
April 01, 2006, 21:02
Lindell V. Riddle

This is all good. Big Grin

Wink

April 01, 2006, 22:50
Julian J. Smith
I have Series 1 Ser No 5375468
J Smith
April 08, 2006, 15:51
Fred R. Hougham
Heres three you can add to the list:
Type I # 5421352
Type IIB # 5456845
Type IIB # 5448678
Regards
Fred
April 10, 2006, 20:49
Lindell V. Riddle

Today I finally put in the last images, so we now have an example of each of the "Seven Stars" for comparison.

Keep those numbers coming.

Wink

April 27, 2006, 16:04
Charles R. Sides
Ok, ok, just don't tell the wife.

163 type 1 5420093
163 type IIB 5456080

Charlie
June 03, 2006, 11:46
Nathan Semel
Here's mine,

163A Type IIB 5448419 (looks to be the earliest IIB movement number so far)

Nathan
June 03, 2006, 12:54
Ron Birchall
I have 5,375,688, a type 1 with "23-J" variant dial.

Ron
August 25, 2006, 23:50
Weldon Hopkins
I have a Type ll P Serial #5457276 with a 23 J Variant Dial. In a WGF #206 Case.
Weldon
April 11, 2007, 20:51
John J. Flahive III
I have a Type I with serial # 5334072. The watch is in a Model 173 case with dial marked "Illinois Bunn Special" and "23 Jewel 60 Hour" above the seconds area.

John III
April 13, 2007, 18:08
Lindell V. Riddle

This is coming together nicely. Smile

Keep sharing those numbers, we are very grateful for your help!

Wink

April 15, 2007, 19:31
John J. Flahive III
Three more,

163 Type I: 5334351 and 5334427
163A Type IIP: 5457809
163A Type IIB: 5456110

These are from a friend who shared their Illinois collection with me.

John III
January 22, 2010, 15:05
Robert J. Gilmore
Lindell,
163 Type I: 5334564 23Jewel60 Hour dial
model 206 two tone

Bob
January 29, 2010, 19:55
Lindell V. Riddle

Thanks Bob,

Sounds like a beautiful watch!

Lindell

Wink

May 17, 2010, 08:44
Dave Rodgers
And I have 5563169
J dial pointed bow Star case.
Dave
May 17, 2010, 16:36
Lindell V. Riddle

Thanks Dave, sounds like a late Type II P in a 118 case which is a great combination.

We'll add 5563169 to the database!

Lindell

Wink

May 19, 2010, 10:01
Wayne R. Sime
I see your info on Bunn Special's and checked one I have to see which series mine fell into. It looks like mine is a 163 type II E, by the serial numbers. Mine is serial number 5448205 in a Bunn Special 181 case, Dial is marked Illinois Bunn Special and 23 jewel 60 hour above the seconds dial. Also double sunk and in mint condition as is the movement and case. Just thought I would pass this on to add to your list.
Thanks,
May 23, 2010, 13:07
Lindell V. Riddle

Thanks Wayne, your movement and dial are a prize Cool and the 181 case can be a difficult one to find. Yours is now on the list. Interestingly we have 5448203 previously recorded which makes me wonder if the one in between is out there... somewhere!

Lindell

Wink

June 09, 2010, 14:29
John C. Petty
Lindell,

163 Type I: 5421236 with a 23Jewel, 60 Hour Bunn Special Dial
Model 173 white gold filled case


J. C. Petty
June 10, 2010, 07:53
Lindell V. Riddle

Thanks John, yours is added to the listing.

Your Case 173 in White Gold-Filled is one of my favorites.

Lindell

Wink

October 06, 2010, 22:25
Edward L. Parsons, Jr.
I put the production estimates for the seven variants into Excel and made a pie chart that illustrates their relative scarcity.