Hi just purchased this off ebay. The seller did not have very much information. Any guess on what the illinois is?

http://i2.ebayimg.com/08/i/001/35/a7/e6ae_1.JPG

From the perspective it could be a 16 size, and the "faux(?)" double sunk Mintgomery Dial suggests that it can be RR grade. No telling til you get it tho. The hands look good for that fact too.

I'll say a 16 size with a Getty movement in it

That watch is what I call "A pig in a poke". I buy em all the time. Sometimes it works out good,sometimes bad. I bought a Rockford 16 size once,for $18 off Ebay. It looked awful bad,and the seller said he couldn't get the back off. It turned out to be a beautiful 21 jewel Rockford ,movement marked "RG",and the case even cleaned up great. I wish you the best with your "Pig in a poke".

Keith

I like auctions like that too. I have gotten lucky a few times & picked up some very nice watches. I also look forward to hearing & seeing what you got.

Tom

Keith,
Just wondering if you recieved your watch yet and what the surprise was

Ray

Watch arrived today!

Well it is a 21j Bunn Special #3951010. Nice doulbe sunk Montgomery Dial with one hairline at the 12. Hands are OK. The seller said it did not run but it is keeping good time. The trouble is it will not wind, the hands set when the lever is out. The case is very nice Keystone Jboss 10k gold filled.

Any help from you Illinois guys? Simple fix or major? Will post picture soon.

Keith,

It sounds like the main spring is broken. Chris or someone can repair it I'm sure. Sounds like you got a deal anyway.

Steve

Main spring is not broke as I have wound it by turning the ratchet wheel. I also tied the movement in other cases and the winding stems do not engage the winder, but will set the hands.

Keith

Great buy, who was it that guessed a Bunn?

Your watch was a run from 3951001-3953000 & should be a model 9 made between 1921 & 1922.

With the back off when you turn the stem are you saying it does not turn the winding wheels?

Tom

Keith, you already answered my question but I missed it. Could just need a cleaning, sometimes the gears under the dial that shift back & forth from setting to winding get gunked up & stick in one position or another. Just a guess without seeing anything.

Tom

Tom

Thats correct when the stem is turned it will not engage the winding wheels. If I turn the winding wheel by hand the crown will move around. I am thinking it is a spring that holds the setting stem open (ready to wind).

Maybe when we see a photo we can guess more, I am betting on a simple fix.

Tom

Tom

Thanks for the information on the date of the watch and will post pictures in the morning.

Keith

I thought of another thing, the winding stem may not be set far enough down in the case. Do you have a hand stem winder or a stem that is out of a case, if so you could see if when you push it in if it engages the gears.

Very nice find Keith, I think it was Lindell who nailed the Bunn Special down based on the dial and hands....Great job.

Pictures of the Bunn Special

Movement

Tom

I did try using a longer stem to wind but it would not engage. I still think it is a spring which holds tension on the gears which engages the winding gears.

Keith

Keith,

When you set the time, does it have any slip of the gears? If you remove the dial you can see a gear that moves up and down near the stem that engages the winding mechanism. It may be the clutch spring is broken. When you move the setting lever in and out does it snap back in or do you have to push it all the way?

Steve

Keith, This is a beauty, good dial good movement and well worth making right for any collection of RR watches. If the Screw holding the winding wheel is loose (it is a left-hand thread), it will not wind, but may do the other things you observed. If that screw is tight and it will not wind, have it cleaned and serviced because the problem is under the dial.