early Bunn

[pwrudy]

Dear friends,
german collectors are not as knowledgeable regarding american PWs as americans (what a surprise). Because of that fact I could acquire a Bunn, second run, serial # 2357, marked Currier's Patent, dial has Springfield Watch Co on it, orig. hands and a very nice contemporary coin silver hunter case. The movement is in almost mint condition, blued steel screws without scratches, nicely strong and flat running balance.
Any ideas how many of those early Bunns were produced / survived? Was it regarded as Ill.'s best grade at that time? Was it a RR grade watch?

Of course, you now will cry out: send us pictures!! My problem is: my Minolta digital camera was stolen (no kidding), but I will try to send you pics at a later date. If you like, I can give you more details.
All the best, Rudolf

[pwrudy]

Dear friends,
german collectors are not as knowledgeable regarding american PWs as americans (what a surprise). Because of that fact I could acquire a Bunn, second run, serial # 2357, marked Currier's Patent, dial has Springfield Watch Co on it, orig. hands and a very nice contemporary coin silver hunter case. The movement is in almost mint condition, blued steel screws without scratches, nicely strong and flat running balance.
Any ideas how many of those early Bunns were produced / survived? Was it regarded as Ill.'s best grade at that time? Was it a RR grade watch?

Of course, you now will cry out: send us pictures!! My problem is: my Minolta digital camera was stolen (no kidding), but I will try to send you pics at a later date. If you like, I can give you more details.
All the best, Rudolf

[Fred Hansen]

Rudolf -

Great watch and I hope to see the pics when you are able. The Bunn was Illinois second highest grade to the Stuart at the time. Your watch is from the second run of Bunn production, and there are four marking variations found in this run. Those marked Currier's Patent are scarce, with a total production of around 300. If your watch is also marked "Adjusted" it is one of about 50.

The "Springfield" dial is also correct to your watch and was only used for a very short time by the Illinois company.

All in all a great watch you found and congrats are in order.

Fred

[Russ Snyder]

Rudolf,

I have a little bit different information than Fred provided, but he's right on target. Here is the production information I have for early Bunn Grade watches:

201 - 300 = First Run (Currier's Pat. / not adjusted)
2033 - 2040 = (Patent Pinion / not adjusted)
2218 - 2218 = (Patent Pinion / not adjusted)
2221 - 2230 = (Patent Pinion / not adjusted)
2301 - 2417 = (Currier's Pat. / not adjusted)
2418 - 2430 = (Currier's Pat. / marked "Adjusted")
2431 - 2460 = (Currier's Pat. / not adjusted)
2461 - 2500 = (Currier's Pat. / marked "Adjusted")

This suggest that some sequences of serial numbers were "back-filled" after new features/markings were introduced. It also means that serial numbers are NOT in chronological order. Your watch actually falls in the 2nd Run historically. In all liklihood it is NOT marked "Adjusted" on the balance arm.

A great find, in any event!

Russ

[pwrudy]

Dear Russ and Fred,
I thank you so much for this most valuable information. I did not know that there were so many veriations of this second run Bunn. I thought they were all alike (more or less).
Now, I checked the balance cock (I think that's what you mean, Russ) and FOUND THE WORD ADJUSTED!!! This proves your theory that the sequences of serial numbers in the list were back-filled.
My watch is kind of rare, am I right? It does not seem to match with your list.
I will send you pictures, as soon as I have found a place to host them (any hints?) and a camera with the right focus.

Thanks again to you all!

[Russ Snyder]

Rudolf,

The fact that your watch is marked "Adjusted" on the balance cock (and assuming that this piece is stamped with a serial number on the back that is also 2357) means that your watch is, indeed, rare. Based on the listings I provided, there were only 53 movements thought to be marked like yours. One more (=yours) doesn't make it any less rare. The only Bunn Grade watches more illusive than yours are from the First Run (201 - 300).

Definitely a keeper! Would love to see a photo of the movement when you have one. (You can send a digital image to me and I will post it for you, if you want.)

Russ

[IMHO]

Errr ... BTW ... Rudolph, let me know if you decide to pass on that one!

I'm sure Fred and Russ would be honored to allow me to have 2nd right of refusal ... :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

[Fred Hansen]

Russ -

I do have another in this run that doesn't match to the sequence. #2445 is marked "Adjusted" and "Currier's Patent". There is a photo on page 36 of Ehrhardt's 1980 Indicator ... and when I get the chance I'll send you a better image of it.

I was lucky enough to obtain this watch from the late Bill Meggers about ten years ago and I am very glad I still have it.

Fred

[Russ Snyder]

Rudolf ("pwrudy") sent me some photos of his watch to post for the rest of you to see. S/N 2357 is marked "Adjusted", so the original assumptions Meggers made about which ones from these early runs were "upgraded" and marked "Adjusted" may need additional revision.

Here are the photos:

Bunn mvt. #1 (http://db2.cic.uiuc.edu/2357-mvt.jpg)

Bunn mvt. #2 (http://db2.cic.uiuc.edu/2357a-mvt.jpg)

Bunn dial (http://db2.cic.uiuc.edu/2357-dial.jpg)

Bunn case (http://db2.cic.uiuc.edu/2357-case.jpg)

Rudolf indicated in private correspondence that the both the case and dial appear to be original. I would naturally assume that a watch early enough to be marked "Currier's Patent" would also have a dial marked "Springfield Watch Co.". It is POSSIBLE, however, that since the movement was upgraded at the factory when it didn't sell in 1872, it COULD have been sold late enough to have the dial shown be appropriate. No way to know for sure.

Thanks to Rudolf for sharing these photos of his watch.

Russ

[pwrudy]

Deat ttown,
could you possibly tell me how your dial is signed? What kind of hands is the watch supplied with?
Thanks a lot,
Rudolf

[Russ Snyder]

ttown,

Is your watch marked "Currier's Patent" or "Patent Pinion" on the works?

My guess is the latter.

Russ