Skip to content
The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Railroad pocket watch

Illinois Bunn Special Type III 60-Hour 16s pocket watch

Partially verified

This open-face American railroad pocket watch is an Illinois Watch Co. Bunn Special Type III dating to 1928, according to the source. The seller reports it is powered by a size 16s, 21-jewel manual-wind Model 14 movement (serial 5054278) with a 60-hour motor barrel, adjusted to temperature, isochronism, and six positions. The movement operates via a lever-set mechanism and features raised gold jewel settings. The watch is housed in a 50.5 mm round 10K gold-filled Wadsworth case featuring patterned coin-edge rims, an angular shaped bow, and a ribbed winding crown. Its white dial presents bold Arabic hour numerals, an outer minute track, blued steel hands, and a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock.

Front view of the open-face pocket watch showing the white dial, blued hands, and textured gold-filled bezel
Front view of the open-face pocket watch showing the white dial, blued hands, and textured gold-filled bezel — SECOND HAND HOROLOGY. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
secondhandhorology.com
Category
Pocket watch · Railroad pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Illinois Watch Co.
Reference
WA-6537
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
1928
Country
United States
Source-reported serial
5054278

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Visual Dial and Case Appearance

The timepiece presents an open-face configuration with a white dial displaying bold black Arabic numerals, an outer minute track, and "ILLINOIS" printed directly beneath the 12 o'clock position. Time is indicated by blued steel hands, with a subsidiary seconds register positioned at 6 o'clock.

The case is constructed from yellow gold-filled metal and features patterned coin-edge texturing on the bezel perimeter along with a shaped bow. In the provided photograph, the watch is shown resting on a transparent plastic display stand.

Evidence for this section
  • “White dial with bold black Arabic numerals, an outer minute track, and 'ILLINOIS' printed beneath 12 o'clock”
  • “Blued steel hands and a subsidiary seconds register positioned at 6 o'clock”
  • “Yellow gold-filled open-face case featuring patterned coin-edge texturing on the bezel rim and a shaped bow”
  • “Watch displayed resting on a transparent plastic display stand”

Reported Movement and Technical Specifications

According to the seller's product overview and specifications table, the watch is powered by a manual-wind Illinois Watch Co. mechanical caliber designated Grade Bunn Special, Model 14, Variation Type III, size 16s, carrying serial number 5054278. The movement is reported to have 21 jewels, raised gold jewel settings, and a ray-pattern nickel finish.

The vendor states the caliber is lever-set and railroad grade, adjusted to six positions, temperature, and isochronism, and fitted with a 60-hour motor barrel. Additionally, a run quantity of 1,000 units is reported.

Evidence for this section
  • “featuring 21 jewels, size 16s, Model 14, Variation Type III.”
  • “Movement SN 5054278”
  • “It is lever-set and fully railroad grade, adjusted to six positions, temperature, and isochronism for precision timekeeping.”
  • “Barrel 60-Hr. Motor”
  • “Run quantity 1,000”
  • “raised gold jewel settings with a beautiful ray-pattern nickel finish.”

Case Dimensions and Documentation Scope

The watch housing is listed as a round Wadsworth 10K gold-filled case with a screw caseback, measuring 50.5 mm in case size, 57.2 mm in diameter including the crown, and 13.5 mm in thickness, fitted with an acrylic crystal. The listing dates the watch to 1928.

Because only the dial face is visible in the provided photograph, internal movement plates, serial engravings, caseback hallmarks, and specific interior case stamps are not recorded in this visual source. All mechanical details, material specifications, and dating are preserved as retailer claims.

Evidence for this section
  • “housed in a large 50.5mm round Wadsworth 10K gold-filled case”
  • “Caseback: Screw”
  • “Case Diameter w/Crown: 57.2”
  • “Case Thickness: 13.5”
  • “Crystal: Acrylic”
  • “Year / Era: 1928 - Vintage”

Open research questions

  • What specific hallmarks and serial markings are stamped inside the Wadsworth 10K gold-filled caseback?
  • Can direct inspection of the movement confirm serial number 5054278, jewel count, and the reported ray-pattern nickel finishing?
  • Does the dial exhibit single-sunk or double-sunk enamel construction upon physical examination?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Illinois Bunn Special Type III 60-Hour 16s pocket watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Movement Serial Number5054278“Movement SN 5054278”
Jewel Count21 jewels“featuring 21 jewels, size 16s, Model 14, Variation Type III.”
Case Material10K gold-filled“housed in a large 50.5mm round Wadsworth 10K gold-filled case”
Barrel Type60-Hr. Motor“Barrel 60-Hr. Motor”
Case Size50.5 mm“Case Size: 50.5”
Case Diameter with Crown57.2 mm“Case Diameter w/Crown: 57.2”
Case Thickness13.5 mm“Case Thickness: 13.5”
Reported Crystal MaterialAcrylic“Crystal: Acrylic”
Reported Run Quantity1,000“Run quantity 1,000”
Caseback TypeScrew“Caseback: Screw”

Visible details

  • White dial with bold black Arabic numerals, an outer minute track, and 'ILLINOIS' printed beneath 12 o'clock
  • Blued steel hands and a subsidiary seconds register positioned at 6 o'clock
  • Yellow gold-filled open-face case featuring patterned coin-edge texturing on the bezel rim and a shaped bow
  • Watch displayed resting on a transparent plastic display stand

Research qualifications

  • Movement and inner case markings are not depicted in the provided photograph; movement details and serial number are source-reported
  • The plastic display stand shown in the image is not part of the watch

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

1928 Illinois Bunn Special Type III 16s Railroad Pocket Watch – SECOND HAND HOROLOGY

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 38fbb52eac

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

Other railroad pocket watch records