What Else Do You Collect Besides Knives?

[RalphAlsip]

After some 2 million flight miles and 5,000 hotel nights during 33 years of working in the corporate world, I took an early retirement package in 2016 to make room at the company for some more "energetic" folks. The retirement package did not include the gold watch like I was hoping so I bought one for myself. I'm currently blessed to have a part-time work from home job while settling into my golden years. One of these watches sits on my desk in a stand by my computer screen so I'm never late for a conference call (lol). While my interest in these Bunn Special Illinois Railroad watches is casual I have managed to acquire a few of them. The Bunn company is still in existence, however they don't make pocket watches anymore (I doubt if anybody does). If only Illinois could produce stuff like this now... There is similarity between these old watches and old knives. They both exemplify fine craftsmanship and reliability.

[steve99f]

That isn't the Bunn coffee maker company is it Jerry?

[RalphAlsip]

That isn't the Bunn coffee maker company is it Jerry?

Yes, it is the Bunn coffee maker (and more) company. Esteemed AAPK contributor Railsplitter might be able comment further about the Bunn family and their legacy in Springfield, IL.

[Railsplitter]

That isn't the Bunn coffee maker company is it Jerry?

Yes, it is the Bunn coffee maker (and more) company. Esteemed AAPK contributor Railsplitter might be able comment further about the Bunn family and their legacy in Springfield, IL.

Yes, the Bunn family is still prominent here in Springfield. They currently supply a wide variety of beverage equipment to hotels, restaurants, convenience stores, etc. world wide but they also make a few home model brewers.

In the early – mid 1800’s a fellow by the name of Jacob Bunn migrated to Springfield, Illinois from out east. In 1840 Jacob founded a grocery store here in Springfield and a young Abraham Lincoln was one of his first customers. Jacob continued to gradually build an empire here in town and one of the businesses he owned was The Illinois Watch Company. It stood right across the street from one of the high schools I attended.

The Bunn Special pocket watch was named after Jacob Bunn and it was one the company’s premier Railroad Grade watches. In 1926 Jacob Bunn died in one of the offices inside The Illinois Watch Company. A couple years later the company was sold to Hamilton who continued to make the Bunn Special until parts ran out for that model.

I see things every day that would not be here right now if not for Jacob Bunn. I would have to write a book to list all of his accomplishments that still benefit us today. He was an industrial pioneer. The Bunn family that makes the beverage equipment now are direct descendants of Jacob Bunn.

I don't collect pocket watches but I couldn't resist owning just one that was made right here in town almost 100 years ago by the same family that puts bread on my table today. It's quite the conversation piece at the workplace.

1923 Bunn Special.

[jerryd6818]

Those are some fine, fine watches and it's great to discover an important part of Illinois history. Thank you Rick.

[mrwatch]

Rail Splitter your 21 jewel Bunn Special is in fact rail road grade. and in very nice condition. Their is of course some fine European pocket watches made today. Some very expensive like over $100K.

[djknife13]

I have one Illinois pocket watch in my watch collection. I bought it in near perfect condition from a guy that got it from someone that called him and asked him if he wanted to purchase it. He told him to send it to him and he would send him a check. It came in the mail in a regular small envelope with no padding or protection of any kind with a chain and a Miller Bros. fob knife. The crystal wasn't even broken. It's a beautiful 8 sided watch without any noticeable flaws in perfect running condition. I also collect match safes, whistles, compasses, 22 Cal. rifles and pistols, hammers, anything Marshall Wells, pendulum wall clocks and mantle clocks, Stuart horses, Hartland horse sets, diecast cars, yoyos, tops, cigar box openers, Ronald Reagan stuff, pipes, some glass paper weights, yellow paw bears, bicycles (only the ones I still ride which is about a dozen including a tandom, a three wheeler geezer bike, a two seater with a cab and three speed shifter, and my first 26 inch I've had for 60 years) I can still ride that one sitting backwards on the handle bars and used to be able to turn around from facing frontwards to backwards and back again while riding. Now I start sitting backwards because I don't bounce like I used to when I learned how to do that. I'm sure I've missed a few things I have collected/accumulated over the years. When I used to attend a weekly auction, the goal was to collect one of everything small enough to go on the shelves of my office. I didn't make it but looking at my office, it would appear I came darn close. My grandkids love my office. ____Dave

[New_Windsor_NY]

I don't collect pocket watches, but I have these five. One was my father's or grandfather's
(the one that has yellowed). They all work/run fine. The railroad watch in the lower right
corner came with a homemade/handmade horse hair fob (I have it). The watch in the lower
left corner winds with a key.

[bighomer]

Belt buckles may have as many as a hundred caps probably in the neighborhood 750. toys old and new most regulated to plastic totes as one of my shelves fell a couple of years and I was tired of dusting them anyway. Golf clubs probably enough to make up six or seven full sets, I've given 3 sets away in the last couple of years. Yard art mostly roosters and hens, made from tin, porcelain,concrete,wood and plastic.got several of these in the house also. Santa Claus figurines.I read in a antique book once if you own as many 7 of any one thing it was a collection, I don't know about that but if true I've got a collection of guns and watches although I recently gave most of my watches to my son as he collects them and they where in my way. I have my grandfather's carpenter and mechanic toolboxes with tools in them. Probably some more junk I can't think of off hand. Now like friend Jerry I don't consider these collections, more accumulations that got out of control. The hats and belt buckles are one instance I probably wore most of them maybe one time. I still buy them now and then if I find one in my price range.

[New_Windsor_NY]

I don't "collect" belt buckles, I "acquire" them. These are all I have.
Funny thing, I don't have a belt that I can use these on. I wear
military style web belts.

[jerryd6818]

I forgot all about the belt buckles. I have several but don't "collect" them. I'll have to look around and see if I can get them all in one place for a photo op. That's a nice group NWNY.

[New_Windsor_NY]

I forgot all about the belt buckles. I have several but don't "collect" them. I'll have to look around and see if I can get them all in one place for a photo op. That's a nice group NWNY.

Thank you sir.

[djknife13]

Aw jeez, I forgot belt buckles. I have dozens. Oh, and baseball style caps. I don't wear caps but somehow I have accumulated about 50. We used to country dance so I have about a dozen pairs of cowboy boots and a half dozen cowboy hats.___Dave

[WillyCamaro]

does dust count ... ?

[WillyCamaro]

Besides knives I collect money, but I have more knives than money.

[Steve Warden]

Great looking watch and a very interesting bit of history, Rick. Thanks for sharing!

[cudgee]

does dust count ... ?

[New_Windsor_NY]

I started to collect Zippo lighters, but stopped after these.

[DM11]

does dust count ... ?

I've collected a lot of that over the years! It's all washed away now..........

[New_Windsor_NY]

Well, one thing I don't collect, campaign or political buttons.

[bighomer]

Most of these were worn in days gone by, not so much anymore belly's to big and my ole arthritic hands have hard time cinching them tight enough to hold up my britches.

There probably as many or more than pictured in this case. I'm to lazy to dig it out from under my sipping juice.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Most of these were worn in days gone by, not so much anymore belly's to big and my ole arthritic hands have hard time cinching them tight enough to hold up my britches.
There probably as many or more than pictured in this case. I'm to lazy to dig it out from under my sipping juice.

VERY nice collection of buckles! VERY good brand of sipping juice!

[bighomer]

Thanks nwny, that is my go to drinks I have a small bunch of likker that I don't drink, although if the ocassion arose I would, guess it's a collection. Don't drink much anymore but like a sip now and again.
Got a few toys out, a lot more in the corncrib in a tote, some old and more modern. I came home from Nam in '67 and mom and dad had waited Christmas till I got home, I don't know what else I got as gifts but but the little plastic dunebuggy at the top left is a gag gift mom got me and I still have it. The flag is the funeral presentation flag of my great uncle, a veteran of WWI.

The photo of the toy banjo, which is harmonica, and the little glass and tin ship is around a hundred years old they belong to my dad. He was born in 1910, he told once he was 6 or 7 when he got the ship and about 8 or 9 when Santa brought the harmonica

[New_Windsor_NY]

Thanks nwny, that is my go to drinks I have a small bunch of likker that I don't drink, although if the ocassion arose I would, guess it's a collection. Don't drink much anymore but like a sip now and again.
Got a few toys out, a lot more in the corncrib in a tote, some old and more modern. I came home from Nam in '67 and mom and dad had waited Christmas till I got home, I don't know what else I got as gifts but but the little plastic dunebuggy at the top left is a gag gift mom got me and I still have it. The flag is the funeral presentation flag of my great uncle, a veteran of WWI.20190811_131923.jpg
The photo of the toy banjo, which is harmonica, and the little glass and tin ship is around a hundred years old they belong to my dad. He was born in 1910, he told once he was 6 or 7 when he got the ship and about 8 or 9 when Santa brought the harmonica

Very cool bighomer! It's great when you can look at an item and have a certain memory or memories about it.
That cap gun in the holster looks like a Hubley or Mattel, again, VERY cool.

[steve99f]

Big Homer that twist top in the corner looks very familiar. Does it still work! And thanks for that bit a old memory.