I found this very interesting 21 jewel 16 size Bunn Special listed on Ebay. At first glance you see absolutely nothing out of the ordinary that would lead you to believe there is anything unusual going on here.

But wait....I like collecting the older variants that have the "Temperature" spelled out which only had 7700 produced. The next release came out with "Temp" abbreviated and they made a gazillion of those (well actually 151,000+) and are all over Ebay.

I pretty much have the serial number ranges embossed on my brain so when I saw this starting with 3030 I had to do a "what the" and break out the book. This was in the last run of the 7700 "Temperature" variants but yet had the "Temp" signature. Obviously either a mistake in the production records or an early release of the new model. I don't have any others from that run to compare it with but at least it now means my others are of 7699 produced. Does that increase the value?

The last run of the 7700 was of 1000 and began at 3030001 and ran through 3031000. This may have been the real first run of the newer variant which actually started in 1916 instead of 1917. If this was the case, this would be one of the lowest numbered examples of these movements.
Steve

I wonder Steve if part way through the run they switched the Temperature to Temp. This watch was in the run 3030001-3031000, so I wonder if that run was mostly the new Temp. which would reduce the number made of the others by a good number.

Guess we need everyone to check theirs to see if they have one out of this run.

Tom

Tom,

That's what makes this somewhat of a dilemma. Being the serial number sequence being so low, 051, I would lean to the side that all were made of this configuration whereas if it was 501 I might have gone with a split run to some degree.

I agree, we need other samples to verify this. Regardless, it is one of the lowest numbered examples of this variant so I put a bid on it.
Steve

Steve

Here is another one in the same run with the Temp. marks.

Tom

Tom,

Amazing you found one so quickly. It is starting to look like it was a whole run of the newer model. That makes the earliar ones in a total run of 6700 and the later now 152,000+.

Steve

Steve,
How many variations of the bunn special markings are there. I have in my notes that there are at least 4 and maybe more:
temperature
temp
six
6

What I have but I am sure Steve can add more, for the 16s Bunn Specials 21 jewel
Model 9
1. Adjusted Temperature Six Positions D'BL Roller
2. Adjusted Temperature Six Positions Double Roller
3. Adjusted Temp. and Six Positions Double Roller

Model 8
1. Adjusted Temp.& Six Pos'ns Double Roller
2. Adj. Temp. & 6 Positions Double Roller
3. Adj. Temp. & 6 Pos'ns Double Roller

Model 14
1. Adjusted Temp. and Six Positions Double Roller Motor Barrel 60
2. Adjusted Temp. and Six Positions Double Roller Motor Barrel 60 Sixty Hour
3. Adjusted Temp. and Six Positions Double Roller Motor Barrel Sixty Hour

Next are the 161 & the Elinvar marked ones.

Tom

Thank you for this posting. I have a Bunn that I only thought was "early with a neat case", and now from your education I have learned that it is not only in very good shape but also a very desireable piece to keep and use.

These things are very beautiful to behold, especially when cared for as this one has been.

Yes David, it is a nice looking watch & case, that type of markings was made for 2 years for a total of 8,190.

Tom

But Tom,

The Meggers book says 7700 of these were made and you and I found that there was a run of 1000 of these that are most likely the "Temp" version reducing the total to 6700 of the "Temperature" version.

Were you adding in the "Bright Spot" and "Fish Scale" numbers in there as well? They also had "Temperature" but were of a different damaskeen pattern.

Dave, nice looking watch by the way. You just gotta love those straight line dials.

Steve

Hi Steve

Yes ignore my number, I did the wrong math, should always rely on the Bunn Expert.

Thanks
Tom

Well someone sniped this from me and I hope one of our members got it. It went for $281.00. I couldn't be at home for the final bidding so I left my highest bid and went to work. I was the next highest bidder so not to many people out there knew what this watch was. Hope it has found a good home and doesn't end up being sold as components as it looks to be all original.

Steve

Dave, Am glad that you posted some photos of your Bunn Sp. Thought that I remembered seeing one like it in my Illinois RR's. Found one only 126#'s from the one you showed. The # on mine is 2,875,356. Hang around you guys and learn something of value. Gotta love that case!!