Illinois Watch Company

History

The extended history summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Timeline

Illinois Watch Company's recorded dates, dated events from this profile and its sources, and dated pieces and sales from the object catalogue. Dates are as each record gives them.

1. 1869 · Career

   Founded (Springfield, Illinois)

   Profile text · see Sources

2. circa 1879 · Catalogued piece

   Independent Watch Co. pocket watch movement No. 181204

   Provenance: Pocket Watch Database

3. circa 1899 · Catalogued piece

   Illinois Watch Co. Model 4 Grade 172 Hunter Pocket Watch

   Provenance: Ashton-Blakey Antiques

4. c. 1908 · Catalogued piece

   Illinois Watch Co. 'A. Lincoln' 16s 21-Jewel Pocket Watch Movement

   Provenance: Antiques Boutique

5. c1910 · Catalogued piece

   Illinois Watch Co. "Bunn Special" 26 Ruby Jewels Pocket Watch

   Provenance: Schmitt Horan & Co.

6. 1911 · Career

   The company produced the notable Sangamo Special series of railroad-grade watches starting in 1911.

   Profile text · see Sources

7. 1922 · Catalogued piece

   1922 Illinois Grade 406 Openface Dress Pocket Watch

   Provenance: Second Hand Horology

8. 1927 · Career

   Hamilton acquired the company in 1927 and gradually ended Springfield manufacture.

   Profile text · see Sources

9. 1928 · Career

   In 1928, the Hamilton Watch Company acquired the firm and continued production under the Illinois name until the factory was closed during the Great Depression in 1932.

   Profile text · see Sources

10. Circa 1931 · Catalogued piece

    Illinois 60-Hour Bunn Special 163 Open Face Pocket Watch

    Provenance: Hindman

11. 2009 · Career

    The Illinois Watch Company was reestablished in 2009 in Quincy, Illinois, and is currently active.

    Profile text · see Sources

Current watchmaking & later fate

• The Illinois Watch Company was reestablished in 2009 in Quincy, Illinois, and is currently active.

As stated in the references listed under Sources, retrieved 2026-10-27. Ownership and collections change; check the maker's own announcements for the latest position.

Key models

Bunn Special

This famous railroad watch became synonymous with the company, using the Bunn family surname.

Sangamo Special

Introduced in 1911, this specialized railroad watch series was produced in five different models until 1933.

Major innovations

• Extensive private-label contract production for retailers and jobbers
• High-count jewelled adjusted grades in the railroad market
• The company produced the notable Sangamo Special series of railroad-grade watches starting in 1911.

Known markings

• 'Illinois Watch Co. Springfield'
• Grade names such as 'Bunn Special'
• Private-label retailer names
• The company produced railroad watches branded as the Bunn Special.
• Some movements were marked with the A. Lincoln signature.

Serial numbers

Published Illinois serial lists give approximate years and grade identification; many movements are signed with a retailer's name instead of the factory's.

Collecting significance

Grade, jewel count and dial originality dominate research. Private-label examples require retailer research as well as factory serial lookup.

Identification and dating notes

• Watches produced by the firm utilized specific signatures such as Stuart, Miller, and Bunn from 1872 until 1905.

Where sources differ

• Founding date: this record gives “1869”; a cited source gives “1870”. The record is kept until the difference is resolved from period documents.
• Closure or end of production: this record gives “Absorbed by Hamilton from 1927; Springfield production ended in the 1930s”; a cited source gives “Production in the factory ended in 1932.”. The record is kept until the difference is resolved from period documents.

In the object catalogue

31 catalogued objects are recorded under Illinois Watch Company. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

• 1922 Illinois Grade 406 Openface Dress Pocket WatchOpen-face watch · 1922
• Illinois 14K Gold Hunting Case Pocket WatchHunter-case watch · circa 1925
• Illinois 16s 23J Sangamo Special Pocket WatchRailroad watch · c. 1918
• Illinois 20th Century Pocket WatchOpen-face watch · 20th Century
• Illinois 60-Hour Bunn Special 163 Open Face Pocket WatchRailroad watch · Circa 1931
• Illinois Bunn Special 60 Hour Mark 163 pocket watchRailroad watch · c1929
• Illinois Bunn Special 60 Hour Mark III 16s 23J Pocket WatchRailroad watch · c1929
• Illinois Bunn Special 60 Hour Mark III pocket watchRailroad watch · c. 1929
• Illinois Bunn Special Railroad Pocket WatchRailroad watch · Circa 1929
• Illinois Bunn Special Railroad Pocket Watch, 1923Railroad watch · 1923
• Illinois Bunn Special Type III 60-Hour 16s pocket watchRailroad watch · 1928
• Illinois Grade 305 Hunting Case Pocket WatchHunter-case watch · circa 1925

Browse all 31 in the object catalogue

Provenance

Where the 31 catalogued pieces by Illinois Watch Company were recorded, with the collectors, owners and sales their records name.

Auction history

Each line is copied from the object's source record and is not independently verified. Holders are as recorded when the piece was catalogued: museum objects may not be on display, and sold lots have since changed hands.