Railroad Grade Illinois 161A Bunn Special

The Illinois Watch Co was officially named in 1879 with Jacob Bunn Sr as the company's president, who continued in that position until his death in 1891, when control passed to his son Jacob Bunn Jr. For the next 35 years the factory made only higher-grade watches until the Hamilton Watch Co bought the company after Jacob Bunn Jr died in 1926. Hamilton continued to make the popular model, changing the 5-minute arrows on the dial from inward-facing to outward to mark the transition. This original-combination 21-jewel 161A was produced just after WWII and was a "grade within a grade" with the Elinvar hairspring and the 60-hour motor barrel. It's been fully restored and is in excellent condition with a flawless double-sunk heavy Arabic dial and correct blued hands. The gold-filled M#107 Keystone case that's protected it for the last seventy years is still in great shape with brass just starting to show at the edges, but has a new beveled glass crystal for the next owner.