Below is a photo of an earlier variant of 21 jewel 16 size Bunn Special. This is of the markings of the Model 9 that we have discussed in some recent posts regarding how we have found this make up to have been reduced from 7700 to 6700 (Click here if you are interested in following this).

This watch is one that is part of that discussion as far as being a variant of the one we were talking about. However, this has serial #2606188 which is not in the Meggers listing that says started at 2724901. This was in a run that was in the middle of the "Fishcsale" demaskeening period and was a very small run at that.

Could this have been a limited production to be used by salesman to test the waters for what was coming? I just find it very interesting this movement was produced the year before it was released to the common market.

Steve

Steve

I think that was a run of 40 watches 2606151-2606190 in 1914, then the next run was in 1915 with 12 runs of 5100.

So maybe it was a trial run?

Is it yours?

By the way I keep looking everyday for other ones to fit in the run of that other post.

Tom

Tom,

No it isn't, not yet anyway. I came across it last night on ebay. It's just interesting because of where it falls into the chronological order of things.

Steve

Hope you get it, it looks like one of the very 1st made.

Tom

steve, tom, i too was expecting to see a fishscale also by the serial number, but my question is for tom, where do you see this run as a run of 40, if i look at the book it shows a run of 190, so i want to know where do you see run being broken up?

charlie

Charlie

It may not be correct but who ever owned the Megger's book before me made a notation that 2606001-260150 were fish scale & the remainder were rayed.

Tom

thank-you tom

charlie

Charlie and Tom,

The database lists a run from 2606151-2606190 or a total of 40.

Steve

And here is a new twist I found tonight. The photo below is of a "Temp" marked movement that shows up in the early runs of the "Temperature" marked movements. This came out nearly 2 years before Megger's dated them in a run of 200. This is just getting to weird.

Steve


Run from 2747001-2747200 (1915)

That sure is Steve, looks like this is going to through the numbers all out of whack.

Tom

I am still very new to this, but had these thoughts run through my head while reading this thread and want to throw this out for consideration and discussion.

I think it is unusual that for about 100 years, no one picked up on this before Steve. Either no one paid attention and/or they didn't think it important.

Also, is it possible that a person or persons changed out the barrel plates? I am not familiar enough yet to know what damaskeening patterns to look for by year/years and don't know if the "temp" variants were of a certain pattern and the "temperature" ones were of other patterns. There are sellers out there that don't object to switching parts to try and create a "better" watch.

It is unusual, too, that just recently all of these "out of sequence" examples should show up.

These are just some thoughts I had.

May Ann

I don't think you can switch the plates on these Bunns to change anything, the markings that changed over time, temperature vs. temp. are on the same plate that the serial number is on.

Now sometimes you will see a switched one that had the different Bunn Special information.


Tom

Mary Ann,

Tom is correct. About the only thing you could do is use the the train Bridge from another Bunn Special which someone may do if the jewels were bad in the original movement. You could use a Model 9 Bunn train bridge but the Bunn grade did not go to 21 jewel and the damaskeen patern would be different. If they tried to use a 60 Hour bridge then obviously the motor barrel would not be there.

These oddities may be being discussed elsewhere but I don't pay any attention to those other sites.

Steve

Great answer Tom, my thoughts exactly....

I find it very astute on Steve's & your part as well Tom, that this string and research is starting to bear fruit....

Mary Ann is correct about one thing though and that is the fact that no one has paid attention for whatever reason or reasons to this aspect of the 'Bunn' production lists....

And to Mary Ann: Thanks for your thought provoking comments but, I find nothing unusual at all that these "out of sequence" examples have started to show up....it is just a matter of time before any and all things come to the surface....what is unusual, is that we (IHC 185) have the correct people at the correct time in history that have the fortitude to be able to recognize the conditions that have brought this information to light....they have been around for who knows how long but it took Steve to recognize that something was not right....

To all, keep up this very important work....It is very intriguing and interesting and I wonder who is next to step up and do the same kind of research with other watch manufactures...?

Regards,

Jerry

Thank you Tom, Steve and Jerry. I guess the cynic in me came out in my post. I have seen more compilation watches than I care to and needed assurance that the examples Steve has came across were legitimate.

I still think it amazing that these details passed every one by for 100 years.

Steve has found things that about these Bunn's that most everyone else overlooked. With Tom's help, the complete story of Bunn's will be told here on IHC185!

Well the watch that was discussed at the beginning of the topic ended up going for an amazing $486.00. I got beat out by a higher bidder and I sure hope it was one of our members. If it was, please post some pictures after you have received it.

Well I've had my excitement for the night so I'm going to bed. Happy Fourth!!!!!

Steve

Hi Steve

Well it wasn't me, I was watching it but I figured you were after it so I didn't bid, I was surprised that it went so high.

Tom

The second watch that was offered up went for $386.00 and once again I was first loser. Oh well I didn't feel as bad about that one as I did the first one but I didn't try as hard either.

I did manage to scoop up a 24 jewel Bunn Special 18 size for real reasonable money as well as an old 21 jewel Sangamo that only 200 were made in that variant. I came across it shortly before the auction ended and it was sitting there at like $150 and I said no way can it go for that. I ended up winning it for just over $200 and it is a pretty rare Model 5 Getty with a gold inlaid bright spot pattern. We'll see what it looks like when it get here.

I wasn't paying attention and missed a Bunn Special 161A Elinvar that went cheap. It's a buyers market out there I tell ya'

Steve

I think it is strange how the movement you found has the temp. marking, I saw this one today that is a later number but has the temperature marks. I am guessing it is like I read here or some where that the companies didn't finish these watches in order by serial number.

Tom