This watch was found in my late Grandfathers box of "valuables". I acquired it about 30 years ago, played with it a little then put into my "box". For whatever reason I rediscovered it, admiring the workmanship and precision, I ventured into the world of Horology.

Movement #1376588

movement

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I don't know how my Grandfather acquired the watch. He was from Peoria, Il. and born in the early 1920's. The watchmaker is from Peoria as shown on the dial. Fred Enyatten shows up in the Peoria business directory in about 1870, and was an immigrant from Prussia. The demasceening (sp) is what caught my eye. The watch was serviced about 20 years ago and is running well keeping good time.

Anyway, I purchased some elgin 345's, some tools and am going to start exploring their innards.

Timothy, your Bunn special is part of an 1897 run of 600 Pieces listed as: "Chesepeak and Ohio Special".

This affords it considerable value. The puzzlement comes from the dial which seems to be a private label. I will leave the discussion to others about that detail but do suggest that you insure it for $2,000.00 minumum.

PLEASE DO NOT "EXPLORE THE INNARDS" OF THIS RARE WATCH! I will send you a nice 16s 7 Jewel movement FREE to "explore" if you promise to leave this one alone.

Timothy,

What a beauty! As a resident of Illinois and big fan of the 18sz Bunn. Plus, Peoria being a few hours North of the house, can only salivate at this point in time.

The two tone pattern on the movement plates are just so crisp and sharp. If the watch is running within a few minutes a day - please leave it alone.

Also, the reg is leaning more towards the slow, so you have some room to move it more towards the middle if she is running a tad slow.

V/r

Jon

Wouldn't it be fair to say that in this 1897 run of 600 pieces of which they were all "Bunn Special Grade",

That some of them were privately labeled as/to "Chesapeake & Ohio" ??

This watch appears to be a 21 Jewel Bunn Special, Gold Inlaid Circle, Third pattern, of which had a TP of 14,550 pieces.

I sold one on-site a couple months ago here, that is also one of the 14,550 produced.

It has no markings that say it is one of the fairly rare "Chesapeake & Ohio" watches that are so revered by RR collectors on the movement or on the dial.

It is a very nice looking piece.

regards,
bb

Regardeless of the database used, the watch remains a valuable and worthy example of the best of Illinois Watch Co.

Thank's for the reply's.
I want to assure you i won't fiddle with the Bunn Special. i bought some repair/part elgin 345 movements to explore (thanks for the offer though, David). took one apart last night and was extremely tired due the small and delicate nature. gives me a good appreciation for watchmakers skills. now lets see if i can get it back together.
I googled the Chesapeake & Ohio and the few examples that I found were signed as such. one example was a 24j sn 1399219 with a private label dial sold for $3,600 at auction in 2006.

That is a beautiful watch. I think Buster has a good point. I have had several 21j 18s Bunn Specials that came to me as Bunn Special types and had a private jewelers dial or in 1 case had a jewelers name on the dial and movement. It was an Iowa watch as I recall and definitely a Bunn Special but not so named. I am sure it would have exceeded railroad requirements when made since private labels were not prohibited until the 20th century if I understand that correctly.