Escapement

Wha'dju call me? Well let's explain. In our last episode your local horologist was just about to discuss the removal and examination of the wheel train of the single weight Vienna Regulator.  The wheels looked to be in good shape but YLH was focused on the clock's escapement and in particular, its anchor. Recent readers will recall that an anchor engages with the teeth of the escape wheel and together they form the escapement . The escapement is the heart of the mechanical clock and fascinates your amateur d'horologie.  The anchor is the principal component of the escapement that drives the pendulum. The two major types of anchors are the recoil (a very early form of anchor and most commonly seen in mass-produced clocks) and the deadbeat (a later variant and more prevalent in European and higher quality clocks). There are many other types of escapements, some very exotic . Frequently attributed to  George Graham , the deadbeat was actually created by Richard Town...

Three years ago this month a listing popped up. "Antique, single weight clock, originally $300, needs tuning, $90". Emails exchanged and your local horologist learned that Steve lived less than a mile away. OK then. A pleasant fellow who moved to the area about 15 years ago, Steve ushered this clock hunter into his attractive home and right there on the wall was this beauty. YLH thought the clock looked to be about 42 inches tall give or take (Steve's thermostat as a sizing reference).  The style of this clock is known as a Vienna Regulator and it looked completely original and intact. Vienna Regulators are famous for their higher quality movements (more on this later). It is a single weight (powered by a weight (vs. a spring)) timepiece (time only, no striking or chiming). How to tell it's a timepiece right away? One winding hole on the dial.  And for future reference... Two holes = Time and Strike. Three holes = Time, Strike and Chime. Recent readers might remember ...