Including Illinois Watch Serial Numbers and Production Dates
- Illinois Bunn Special Pocket Watch Serial Numbers
- Illinois Bunn Special Pocket Watch
- Illinois Watch Bunn Special Serial Numbers
- Illinois Watch Bunn Special
Springfield, Illinois
1869 - 1927
Look up your Illinois Pocket Watch Serial Number Here. And this company has made a special effort in this direction by furnishing the 'Sangamo' and the 'Bunn', 'Bunn Special', and 'A. Lincoln' movements in 18 size, for the use of railroad men, so that to-day these movements are known wherever railroads are operated, and are the recognized. Jan 15, 2013 At one time it was thought that, because the Bunn Special 161B movements had the highest serial numbers used on Bunn Specials, that they were the watches made in 1948 at Hamilton in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, about 14 or 15 years after the Illinois factory was shut down. The Bunn family surname was used on Illinois’ most famous railroad watch grades, starting with the first 18-size, 15-jewel, adjusted Illinois Bunn movements introduced with serial number 201. The 18-size, 15-jewel, full plate, key wind, adjusted Millermovements were also advertised as having “a good reputation with Railroad Men”.
The Illinois Springfield Watch Company was organized in 1869 primarily through the efforts of J. C. Adams. The first company Directors were J. T. Stuart, W. B. Miller, John Williams, John W. Bunn, George Black and George Passfield.
John Stuart was a Springfield lawyer and former partner of Abraham Lincoln. John Williams was president of the First National bank of Springfield. William B. Miller was a local merchant. John B. Bunn owned a grocery business.
Though the first movements were produced in 1872, the company really didn't achieve full production until 1875. By serial number, the first watch made was the 'Stuart' model, followed in order by the 'Mason,' Bunn,' 'Miller,' and finally the 'Currier. The first stem-wind watch was produced in 1875. The early Illinois models were key-wound and key-set and are quite collectible today. Illinois later produced an extensive line of extremely fine and accurate Railroad-grade pocket watches like the 'Sangamo Special,' 'Bunn Special' and 'Santa Fe Special' (just to name a few).
Illinois: A Great American Watch Since 1870 Honolulu drivers license road test.
In 1879, due to financial difficulties, the company was reorganized and the name changed to the Illinois Springfield Watch Company. By 1885 the company name was changed yet again to the Illinois Watch Company.
Purchased by Hamilton
The Illinois Watch Company was purchased by Hamilton Watch Company in 1927, but continued to produce Illinois watches under Hamilton management until 1932 (the year the last 'true' Illinois watch was made). Hamilton continued producing Illinois watches in the Hamilton factory until 1939.
Illinois Bunn Special Pocket Watch Serial Numbers
The Illinois Watch Company produced watches under contract for several different brands, including Burlington Watch Company (Chicago, Illinois) which operated primarily as a mail-order business, and Santa Fe Watch Company (Topeka, Kansas). There is some question as to whether Burlington was actually a subsidiary of Illinois. Watches produced under the Burlington name include some very fine (including some railroad grade) watches, which are nearly identical to Illinois movements. Illinois also produced watches for the Plymouth Watch Company (Sears Roebuck) and the Washington Watch Company (Montgomery Ward).
Illinois Watch Case Company
NOTE: The Illinois Watch Company should not be confused with the Illinois Watch Case Company of Elgin, Illinois. The Illinois Watch Case Company was a major manufacture in the city of Elgin, Illinois. It manufactured watch cases under many brands, such as 'Elgin Giant,' 'Elgin Pride,' 'Tivoli,' 'Spartan,' and 'Elgin Commander.' The use of the name 'Elgin' in their brand names, or marking the cases with 'Elgin USA' often leads people to believe that a watch was made by the Elgin National Watch Company when it was actually made by another manufacturer, or to think that a watch no longer has its original case because it is 'now in an Elgin case.'
Illinois Watch Company
![Illinois Illinois](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/14/1e/18/141e18c52cfdbd9951c90aa24c2006b0--mens-watches-pocket-watches.jpg)
Total Production: Approx. 5.7 Million Watches
Year | S/N |
---|---|
1872 | 5000 |
1873 | 20,000 |
1874 | 50,000 |
1875 | 75,000 |
1876 | 100,000 |
1877 | 145,000 |
1878 | 210,000 |
1879 | 250,000 |
1880 | 300,000 |
1881 | 350,000 |
1882 | 400,000 |
1883 | 450,000 |
1884 | 500,000 |
1885 | 550,000 |
1886 | 600,000 |
1887 | 700,000 |
1888 | 800,000 |
1889 | 900,000 |
1890 | 1,000,000 |
1891 | 1,040,000 |
1892 | 1,080,000 |
Year | S/N |
---|---|
1893 | 1,120,000 |
1894 | 1,160,000 |
1895 | 1,220,000 |
1896 | 1,250,000 |
1897 | 1,290,000 |
1898 | 1,330,000 |
1899 | 1,370,000 |
1900 | 1,410,000 |
1901 | 1,450,000 |
1902 | 1,500,000 |
1903 | 1,650,000 |
1904 | 1,700,000 |
1905 | 1,800,000 |
1906 | 1,840,000 |
1907 | 1,900,000 |
1908 | 2,100,000 |
1909 | 2,150,000 |
1910 | 2,200,000 |
1911 | 2,300,000 |
1912 | 2,400,000 |
1913 | 2,500,000 |
Illinois Bunn Special Pocket Watch
Year | S/N |
---|---|
1914 | 2,600,000 |
1915 | 2,700,000 |
1916 | 2,800,000 |
1917 | 3,000,000 |
1918 | 3,200,000 |
1919 | 3,400,000 |
1920 | 3,600,000 |
1921 | 3,750,000 |
1922 | 3,900,000 |
1923 | 4,000,000 |
1924 | 4,500,000 |
1925 | 4,700,000 |
1926 | 4,800,000 |
1927 | 5,000,000 |
- Sold to Hamilton - | |
1928 | 5,100,000 |
1929 | 5,200,000 |
1931 | 5,400,000 |
1934 | 5,500,000 |
1948 | 5,600,000 |
- | - |
Be sure to use the serial number on the movement (the works) of the watch. Do not use the serial number from the watch case.
Can’t find your serial number in the table? Click here for an explanation and example of how to use our serial number tables.
Illinois Watch Bunn Special Serial Numbers
Need help finding the serial number on your watch? Click here for instructions on how to identify and open most common case types.
Illinois Watch Bunn Special
At Renaissance Watch Repair, we are experts in the repair and restoration of Illinois watches. We are also always looking for Illinois Watches to purchase. Please contact us if you have any questions about the repair of your vintage Illinois watch.