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$ Illinois Bunn Hunter - Burlington Watch Co

DaveyG

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Mar 21, 2005
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The Illinois Watch Database (Dr Snyder) indicates that there were only 100 of these 19 jewel Bunn Hunters made; one run in 1914. The gold fill case is marked with the Burlington mark and the dial is, apparently, of a style only used by Burlington. I am interested to know, are they really scarce and if so just how desirable would it be?

The watch is not in fabulous condition but it does set and run well; the case is quite worn although there is only brass on the bow and the dial has hairlines
 

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richiec

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Feb 24, 2007
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DeweyG, as far as I know, all Burlington watches came in Burlington cases with Burlington marked dials. I may be wrong but I think someone put a Bunn in a Burlington case. I am sure someone more informed than myself will chime in soon and give you an indication if it is original and worth anything more than a Bunn in a gold filled case.
 

Ron DeGenaro

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Aug 22, 2013
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I believe the Bunn grade was sold as movement only. I would consider the watch you have to be very desirable for collectors as less than 300 were manufactured in the hunter style movement. I would estimate $500 as the low end of value.
 

Fred Hansen

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Aug 18, 2002
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Very tough watch to find and you are correct with 100 made. The movement plates look nice and bright with nothing too distracting in terms of marks and this is a big plus in favor of your watch.

Unusual dial to find and from memory I don't know if I've seen one marked Illinois that was exactly the same, particularly in the hunting case Model 8 version. Are the correct dial feet intact? No sign of the center chapter having been replaced (altered solder no the rear)? The reason I ask is that many of the hunting case Model 8 movements have dials with a missing or altered foot, or messed with center chapter, as they have one foot in a different position than the common open face models so there aren't enough good Model 8 dials to go around for the movements that need them.

Case is interesting with the Burlington markings, this does correspond with the dial numerals in the outer chapter which are a typical Burlington style, but I don't recall anything similar with a non-Burlington signed movement matched with this style dial/case so this is a bit of an oddity. In terms of value probably doesn't have much influence either way.

As far as value … I've seen a 19J 16s Bunn hunter bring as high as $4000, but this was in a stronger market and the watch had a very attractive and top condition dial/case. Today I might see your watch at potentially about half this level, so perhaps around $2000-ish to an IL collector that understands and wants it.
 
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DaveyG

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Mar 21, 2005
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Thank you again Ron and Fred.

I can confirm that there are no alterations to the dial or dial feet. I suspected that the watch may be a bit of a scarce item when I bought it at an antique fair (mart) here in the UK, solely because it was a Bunn grade and a hunter, I didn't realise at the time just how scarce they are. Gratifying to know that I have bought at least one bargain in my collecting life :coolsign:
 

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