THE 



QUARTERLY JOURNAL, 



October, 1823. 



Art. I. On the Theory of the Dead Escapement, and the 

 reducing it to practice for Clocks with Seconds and longer 

 Pendulums. By B. L. Vulliamy, Clock-maker to the 

 King. 



feTRONGLY impressed with the great practical superiority of 

 the dead escapement, when properly constructed and executed, 

 over every other for clocks with seconds or longer pendulums, I 

 have taken much pains to ascertain whether any rule of general 

 application has been laid down by different authors who have 

 written on the theory and practice of clock work, to determine the 

 distance between the center of the escapement wheel, and the 

 center of action of the pallets, which, as far as relates to the theory 

 of the escapement, is of the utmost importance, and not the less 

 so as regards reducing that theory to practice ; and generally 

 for determining the relative proportion of the parts of the dead 

 escapement as usually made for clocks. I regret to add, that my 

 inquiries have not been attended with the success the importance 

 of the subject, (as connected with the accurate measurement of 

 time by clocks,) had induced me to expect. 



The merit of the invention of the dead escapement is, I believe, 

 unquestionably due to that celebrated clock-maker, George Graham, 

 F.R.S., but unfortunately he left no written description of it that 



Vol. XVI. B 



