18 Size Bunn Special 23 Jewel HC watch

July 19, 2006, 13:30

Jeffrey Tibbs

Just wanted to ask the Bunn Special Experts of the correct Dial and case for this watch. SN 2502456, 18 SZ Bunn Special 23 Jewel pic of the Dial in first post

Anyone have production numbers, varieties ect
that would help me evaluate this watch

Thanks to all

Jeff

July 19, 2006, 17:38

Jeffrey Tibbs

And the case Pic

Thanks

July 19, 2006, 19:06

Lindell V. Riddle

The dial looks right to me. Most of the the ones in my collection are earlier which can account for legitimate differences in design that took place over the years. With the bezel off it would be easy to confirm that the dial is indeed porcelain-enamel. One minor point, of course the seconds hand from a Waltham is wrong.

Meggers tells us on page 87 of his Illinois Encyclpoedia to expect a "Double-Sunk glass enamel bold Gothic style Arabic numeral dial marked 'Illinois Watch Co.' in Old English. That is in fact the design you have on your watch. Your dial is probably correct.

The case looks entirely proper for the 1913 time frame when that movement was produced. At that time the buyer chose a case from those in the selling retail jeweler's inventory.

About your movement, it would be a Model 5 from as mentioned previously 1913 production. It should be marked as... "Bunn Special, Springfield, Ill., 23 Ruby Jewels, Adjusted to Temerature, 6 Positions, Isochronism, Double Roller, Jeweled Barrel." You have a rare variant movement that apparently only 300 were produced. Please share a picture when you have a chance.

Congratulations, you have a great watch there!

July 19, 2006, 19:27

Jeffrey Tibbs

Thanks for the info. This does have all the markings , 6 pos, iso, jeweled barrel, 23 ruby jewels, Bunn Special

Best

Jeff

July 19, 2006, 21:26

Lindell V. Riddle

Outstanding example Jeff, thanks for sharing it.

Lindell

July 20, 2006, 10:12

C. Keith Johnson

In regard to the dial. The repo dials I have seen are press-sunk not true double sunk. This picture with the bezel and crystal in place make it hard to determine but the "sunk" areas look suspicious to me.............Keith

July 21, 2006, 10:48

Frank Wilson

Illinois 18s hunter movements do not have a whip spring that is one of the ways you can spot the difference.
Frank

July 21, 2006, 11:58

Tom McIntyre

It is an interesting movement. The regulator omits the spring because there is no room for it. The balance cock position would make it interfere with the back cover.

I have always thought this was a fun sort of "oops" by the engineering department at Illinois.

July 29, 2006, 19:10

Jeffrey Tibbs

Thanks to all for your input and expertise. Now a technical question about the whip spring. Obviously the 18 sz Bunn Hunter omited the whip spring. Did this downgrade it's timekeeping ability. I guess the more approriate question is what difference would the whip make if the case allowed room for it on this model?

Again a big thanks to all for the information you share. That makes this place the best!

Jeff

July 29, 2006, 19:35

John Pavlik

Jeff,

I do not think it would have any bearing on the watches time keeping ability.. On both models the regulator is moved by turning the adjusting screw left and right. The whip spring holds the regualtor against the adjusting screw..On yours, the regulator has a threaded piece that the adjusting screw goes through.. So it is a direct adjustment by the threads on the screw..No spring needed .. Confused yet?? Both were factory designs and I am sure were tested for time keeping accuracy...........