Illinois Bunn Special fancy dial

[David French]

I recently purchased this Illinois Bunn Special hunting pocket watch. The dial appears to be original and fancy. 24j 18 size. It’s a beautiful watch. This is my personal photo too. My question is I haven’t found any Illinois fancy dial pocket watches at all. Has anyone seen one? Thanks

 

[Dave Coatsworth]

Here are a couple, including one that almost matches yours.

 

[Schatznut]

David, that is absolutely exquisite!

 

[David French]

Here are a couple, including one that almost matches yours.

View attachment 714746 View attachment 714747 View attachment 714748 View attachment 714749

Nice! Thank you.

 

[David French]

David, that is absolutely exquisite!

Thank you.

 

[John Cote]

In my experience, fancy dials made for Illinois watches are much more scarce than for most of the other American watch companies. I have always wondered why this is and have not found a satisfactory answer. Anyway, I believe Jones and Horan auctioned a watch with a dial much like yours several years ago but I can't seem to put together a search which will find it. I think I have seen a couple in my life like yours and the similar one Dave showed above. They are not common. That's for sure.

I love your watch. Congrats.

 

[David French]

In my experience, fancy dials made for Illinois watches are much more scarce than for most of the other American watch companies. I have always wondered why this is and have not found a satisfactory answer. Anyway, I believe Jones and Horan auctioned a watch with a dial much like yours several years ago but I can't seem to put together a search which will find it. I think I have seen a couple in my life like yours and the similar one Dave showed above. They are not common. That's for sure.

I love your watch. Congrats.

Thank you for your comment and information.

 

[Nathan Moore]

In my experience, fancy dials made for Illinois watches are much more scarce than for most of the other American watch companies. I have always wondered why this is and have not found a satisfactory answer. Anyway, I believe Jones and Horan auctioned a watch with a dial much like yours several years ago but I can't seem to put together a search which will find it. I think I have seen a couple in my life like yours and the similar one Dave showed above. They are not common. That's for sure.

I love your watch. Congrats.

This may or may not be related to this particular dial, but the Springfield Enameling Company was started in 1892 out of the existing dial department at the Illinois Watch factory. Managed by George Mayer, the associated company was tasked with creating enameled watch dials, possibly in the "fancy" style depicted above due to the growing trend in the market. There was an initiative to offer dial manufacturing services to the other watch factories in the country.

Nearly as soon as this operation was in motion, George Mayer was hired by the Suffolk Dial & Enameling Company, and the Springfield Enameling Company was terminated.

It is unclear which dials were manufactured during this short period of time, but this may provide some additional context.

More details and newspaper sources are here:

The Springfield Enameling Company: The Odd Illinois Watch Company Experiment - Pocket Watch Database Blog

In January 1892, the Springfield Enameling Company began operations out of the existing dial department at the Illinois Watch Company factory. The new company, managed by George Mayer, was offered the opportunity to use the factory buildings and machinery to manufacture enamel watch dials. While...

blog.pocketwatchdatabase.com

 

[miguel angel cladera]

I recently purchased this Illinois Bunn Special hunting pocket watch. The dial appears to be original and fancy. 24j 18 size. It’s a beautiful watch. This is my personal photo too. My question is I haven’t found any Illinois fancy dial pocket watches at all. Has anyone seen one? Thanks
View attachment 714736

I think it is an extraordinary set! Congrats

 

[Diana Kelly]

In my experience, fancy dials made for Illinois watches are much more scarce than for most of the other American watch companies. I have always wondered why this is and have not found a satisfactory answer. Anyway, I believe Jones and Horan auctioned a watch with a dial much like yours several years ago but I can't seem to put together a search which will find it. I think I have seen a couple in my life like yours and the similar one Dave showed above. They are not common. That's for sure.

I love your watch. Congrats.

Good memory!! I believe this is the one you were searching for: J&H Archive Search

It is similar to Dave (Coatsworth)'s dial. David (French)'s dial is even more neat with the more noticeable pink background.

We don't see too many fancy dials marked for Illinois, either!

 

[John Cote]

Diana, you are one of the many but one of the chief reasons why we love J & H. Thanks for doing the digging.

 

[Old rookie]

Lay off, John, Diana is my girl!

 

[David French]

Good memory!! I believe this is the one you were searching for: J&H Archive Search

It is similar to Dave (Coatsworth)'s dial. David (French)'s dial is even more neat with the more noticeable pink background.

We don't see too many fancy dials marked for Illinois, either!

View attachment 715045

Beautiful! Thank you.

 

[Diana Kelly]

Lay off, John, Diana is my girl!

Hahaha thanks guys, but sadly, I'm not sure who "old rookie" is!!

I do my best, but you all are the real experts! I just have access to some experts and lots of resources.

 

[Old rookie]

Hey, Diana, does the name Bob Hunter ring any bells?

 

[Greg Frauenhoff]

Neat dials. At one time I had a couple and was paying a little attention to how often they turned up, but I sold mine off many years ago. But I did dig up some pictures:



Both of these were found on 11 or 15 jewel unadjusted grade 18s mvts dating to the mid to late 1880s. Others of this similar style (18s, hour numerals in a light pastel color ring, decorations at the outer track of the 5 minute marks, Illinois Watch Co." in arc, surface not as glossy or "hard" as typical later fancy dials) that I recall seeing also came on mvts from the 1880s or early 1890s.

And because the pics were handy here are 2 other unusual 18s Illinois dials:

 

[Diana Kelly]

Hey, Diana, does the name Bob Hunter ring any bells?

Oh wow!!! Why, yes it does! A name I know well!
Hi, Bob!!!!!!

 

[Fred Hansen]

Here's a few Illinois fancy dials I've had and posted on this board in years past ...

18 size

16 size

14 size

4 size

 

[John Cote]

Fred,

What a great bunch of dials. The choo-choo stands out as one of the greats of all time from any brand.

 

[David French]

Here's a few Illinois fancy dials I've had and posted on this board in years past ...

18 size

16 size

14 size

4 size

Beautiful dials! Thanks