Recently our new member Dave Turner asked me about an eBay listing. It looked to me like someone was cleaning their drawers or something. But . . . then I saw a D.S. dial in the mish-mash and suggested to Dave there was something there worth a small (under 100 bucks) gamble. Dave "took the bait" and won the stuff for under a hundred bucks.

When Dave received the watches he wrote; "Dave,
I've been carrying the Illinois for a couple of days now and it keeps almost dead accurate time. Might be 5 or 10 seconds slow in 24 hours. I notice when I wind it it's easy to wind for the first 13 - 15 turns, then gets real hard to wind. So, it only runs for about 12 - 15 hours."

and I replied;
"Dave, Your 19J Bunn is a 17 Jewel top quality Bunn movement with 2 more major jewels added to the motor (Mainpring). This was a sign of an extraordinarily high end watch fitted and finished well above the later generic "Bunn Special" which are in their own right great timepieces. The 19 Jewel Bunn movement says it all. Making a Jewelled Motor Barrel watch tells the story of the intent to make it the best watch possible. Other "Bunn Specials" that reached the base of this pinnacle of quality were 23 Jewel models with the Jewelled Motor added to "21 Jewel" Bunn special movements that had 4 more meaningless "cap" jewels added to a 17 jewel movement to raise the jewel count to the 21 expected of 1920's and up RR watch standards.

Dave sent me the watch for a service and "Tuneup". Through what was an obvious full lifetime of running railroads, it was so well maintained that even the Mainspring was in near NOS condition.

Now it is serviced and back up and running on my timing bench . . .

A well used case enclosing a repaired dial that still proudly shows who made it and tells time with all original Illinois Plum Steel Hands . . .

Servicing this watch showed proof of an extremely well used AND Maintained watch. The quality of the movement and the smooth running perfectly jeweled 5 position accuracy it still enjoys today after service would easily bring tears to the eyes of the Railroader who bought it "new" Ninety Years ago . . .

Lord knows how many tens of thousands of trains were started by this watch. But I can say for SURE this was an IMPORTANT contributor to where we are today. All the bits and pieces continue to honor tha skills of the AMERICANs who built, serviced, and used this rare 19 Jewel Bunn that is only 1 (one) out of every Eleven (11) 21+ Jewel Bunn 16s movements Illinois/Hamilton Made! (totals all variants; 22,600 19J Bunn - 254,000 21+J Bunn Sp.)

Dave Turner hits one out of the park. Nice story. Happy endings make me cry.

That Bunn is looking good! Can't wait to get it back.

By the way, those other two watches in that group purchase are now running too.
The Ingraham St. Regis:
The balance wheel was floating loose in the frame.
The Ingersoll Junior:
Had one pin missing in the pallet fork. And Jack Marsh graciously sent me a replacement fork. I broke the hairspring in the process of repairing it, but now it's ticking away, (runs a little fast because of the short hairspring, but I think I can adjust that out with the regulator).

Thanks to all of you for your help.

Usually the 19j Bunn tends to be pricey, I have the 21 and 17j version but I am missing the one in the middle.

David Abbe,
Would you extend your following comment to include Elgin Model 8 B. W. Raymonds? These were 3/4 plate, 18s, 19j watches with jeweled motor barrels.

quote:

and I replied;
"Dave, Your 19J Bunn is a 17 Jewel top quality Bunn movement with 2 more major jewels added to the motor (Mainpring). This was a sign of an extraordinarily high end watch fitted and finished well above the later generic "Bunn Special" which are in their own right great timepieces. The 19 Jewel Bunn movement says it all. Making a Jewelled Motor Barrel watch tells the story of the intent to make it the best watch possible.

Chris I have made many posts praising (for the same reasons) the incomparable 19J Model 8, 18s Elgin B.W. Raymond probably beginning with this post on a couple of them 5 years ago;
https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/f...631058592#6631058592

I will comment that that not only has Dave commented on the BWR 19 jewel versions Dave has also heaped praise upon the 19j Hampden model 5, along with the Waltham 19j 16s variants. Hopefully eventually I will end up finding a decent Bunn 19j to my collection.

Just received the Illinois Bunn back from Dave Abbe.

Man, was I surprised! What a transition, can't believe it's the same watch. This is my first Illinois!

Thanks Dave!