1923 illinois pocket watch.model 29?
What is the difference in value or rarity between a bunn special or an abe lincoln special. I see everything has bunn special. But I can’t find anything on the abe lincoln.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160495805823&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT
that is the pictures of it
The A. Lincoln was a step lower in the Illinois line-up than the Bunn Special. The principle difference was that the Bunn Special was adjusted to 6 positions, and the A. Lincoln only to 5 positions.
Cosmetically, the A. Lincoln has a simple straight line damaskeen, while the Bunn Special had either a “Sunburst” damaskeen that, on 16 size models, was centered on the 4th wheel, or alternatively a fishscale pattern. Also, 16s Bunns had a full gold train, and Lincolns had a gold center wheel.
Both were excellent watches at the time. The A. Lincoln was roughly comparable to the extremely popular Hamilton 992. For whatever reason, the A. Lincoln just doesn’t generate the collector interest that the Bunn does.
As far as rarity-I just checked the production numbers from Dr. Russ Snyder’s Illinois Database. Comparing all variations of 16 size A. Lincoln to all variations of 16 size Bunn Special, the production was about equal.
EDIT:
Appears to be from the last run of 16 size A. Lincolns, which were in the serial block 4,490,001 to 4,491,000. There were a total of 26,985 16 size model 9 A. Lincolns made.
The case on that one does NOT appear to me to be original or correct. I would not expect to see a 1923 Illinois in a Hamilton signed case(although this is correct for later Illinois watches). The case this watch is in is a model not introduced until 1927.
Also, the amount of rust on the movement doesn’t support the statement that it sat in a display case for 50 years.