Springfield, Illinois · 1869–1932
Illinois pocket watches
Illinois started in Springfield in 1869 as the Springfield Watch Company, and after two reorganizations it settled on the Illinois Watch Company name in 1878 under Jacob Bunn. The Bunn family ran it for the next half century, and their name went on its best-known railroad watch, the Bunn Special. Illinois also made the Sangamo Special, its finest 16-size railroad grade, and built private-label watches for mail-order sellers like the Santa Fe Watch Company and Burlington. Hamilton agreed to buy the company in December 1927 and closed the Springfield factory in 1932, then kept making the Bunn Special in Lancaster into the 1940s. Illinois serial lists date a movement only roughly, so the grade name on the plate tells you more.
5 references we cover.
Illinois · Bunn Special
Railroad gradeIllinois Bunn Special 21-jewel
16s · 21 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Bunn Special
- Years
- 1913–1940s
$410–$575 typical ask
116 on eBay
Illinois · Bunn Special
Railroad gradeIllinois Bunn Special 23-jewel
16s · 23 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Bunn Special
- Years
- 1913–1940s
$850–$1,025 typical ask
16 on eBay
Illinois · Bunn Special
Railroad gradeIllinois 60-hour Bunn Special
16s · 23 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Bunn Special 60 Hour
- Years
- 1924–1940s
$600–$1,700 typical ask
80 on eBay
Illinois · Sangamo Special
Railroad gradeIllinois Sangamo Special
16s · 23 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Sangamo Special
- Years
- 1913–1930
$1,000–$1,525 typical ask
23 on eBay
Illinois · Santa Fe Special
Railroad gradeIllinois Santa Fe Special
16s · 21 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Santa Fe Special
- Years
- 1913–1930s
$550–$1,025 typical ask
12 on eBay