Bunn Special 161A in Hamilton cases

[Fred Hansen]

Most collectors are used to seeing the 60 hour Bunn Specials in marked Bunn Special model cases, but a fact probably not known to the majority of collectors is that some of the latest Bunn Specials (specifically some grade 161A) were actually originally sold in Hamilton factory cases.

Hamilton Watch Co. documents from the late 1940's discuss this casing of some grade 161A movements, and I believe the specific cases mentioned in these documents were the Hamilton case #'s 3 and 12.

I know that Don Dahlberg, Terry Hall, Robert Sweet, and others have discussed and posted some terrific info on these watches in a few previous threads on this board that were covering somewhat broader topics. But I thought it would be nice to put together a thread here focused specifically on these neat watches and trying to gather together the available data on them.

I'll add some pics in the next post of an example which I believe to be original and then would enjoy seeing any info, comments, pictures, etc. that anyone would like to add to this thread.

Fred

[Fred Hansen]

A grade 161A Bunn Special in Hamilton No. 3 case recently sold at Jones-Horan auction, and with permission here are their photos of this watch ...

http://www.jones-horan.com/0802/images/sj50_a.jpg

http://www.jones-horan.com/0802/images/sj50_b.jpg

http://www.jones-horan.com/0802/images/sj50_e.jpg

http://www.jones-horan.com/0802/images/sj50_d.jpg

Besides the case, other interesting features of this one are the dial and the white colored Elinvar hairspring. This movement is also from one of the later runs of grade 161A Bunn Special at the high 5.5 million serial number.

Fred

[Robert Sweet]

Fred,
Thanks for starting this interesting topic and posting the nice images.

I have a copy of a memo from the factory to the wholesalers which mentions the sale of the Bunn Special 161 in the Hamilton model 12 case that I will post later.

Below is a couple of handwritten notes that were placed in the top and side margin of a Hamilton Factory Price List dated Feb. 1, 1947.

Don Dahlberg scanned this particular “Price List” and others from factory records.

Evidently this price list and others were used at the Hamilton factory as rough copies to keep notes and etc. Several of these price lists have notes and typewritten inserts with new prices and introduction of new models.

Robert

[Robert Sweet]

Fred,
Thanks for starting this interesting topic and posting the nice images.

I have a copy of a memo from the factory to the wholesalers which mentions the sale of the Bunn Special 161 in the Hamilton model 12 case that I will post later.

Below is a couple of handwritten notes that were placed in the top and side margin of a Hamilton Factory Price List dated Feb. 1, 1947.

Don Dahlberg scanned this particular “Price List” and others from factory records.

Evidently this price list and others were used at the Hamilton factory as rough copies to keep notes and etc. Several of these price lists have notes and typewritten inserts with new prices and introduction of new models.

Robert

http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk403/rmsweet1/HamiltonBunnSpecial-Model-3-12.jpg

[Robert Sweet]

Below is the Hamilton memo to the wholesalers announcing the availability of the Bunn Special 161(A) in the Hamilton Model 12 case.

Robert

http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk403/rmsweet1/HamiltonBunnSpecial12-Hamilton-Case.jpg

[terry hall]

Thanks Fred for the posting...

Here is the dial blueprint...

[Robert Sweet]

Thanks Terry for sharing the Bunn Special dial.

For those not familiar with the movement posted by Fred, it's a Bunn Special 161A, Model 15, Type 2EP (EP=Elinvar engraved on Pillar Plate).

According to our very knowledgeable Bunn Special expert Mike Chamelin, there were approx. 10,050 of the 161A, type 2EP's produced.

Robert

[terry hall]

Thanks 'really' goes to Don Dahlberg and the NAWCC Library :clap: