Performance of Some Timekeepers. 175 



time nearly all their watches were made with this escape- 

 ment. Its principles have been so thoroughly investigated 

 by the latter nation that it is still a favourite among them, 

 though it is gradually being supplanted by the lever. It 

 has the advantage of being compact, and the parts may be so 

 proportioned that a sort of rough compensation for change 

 of temperature can be produced with the ordinary balance ; 

 but it has the disadvantages of not being substantial, the 

 impulses are given obliquely, rendering the use of oil a 

 necessity, and the balance is never detached from the 

 influence of the train. It also wants cleaning rather 

 frequently. Saunier says that a cylinder watch, if small, 

 should commence going with the second turn of the key, 

 ordinary size at the third turn, and large ones on the fourth 

 turn. 



The lever escapement; otherwise called the detached or 

 patent lever, is generally known on the continent of Europe 

 as the anchor escapement. It seems to have been first 

 conceived in France. It was invented, however, in its 

 present shape by Muclge, of London, about ninety years ago. 

 The English, as became their practical character, took kindly 

 to this escapement, and for many years it formed one of the 

 principal features of an English watch. It is now, however, 

 in great use everywhere, and seems likely to supersede a,ll 

 the other forms, for watches which have to be worn. It has 

 the advantages of being simple and substantial, and, above 

 all, it leaves the balance quite free from the influence of the 

 train during nearly the whole of its vibration. The 

 impulses are given obliquely, so that it requires oil, and 

 therefore more frequent cleaning than direct impulse escape- 

 ments. It has proved itself capable, however, of giving 

 results nearly equal to those of the chronometer escapement 

 — indeed, when the watch is worn in the ordinary way, I 

 think it will prove the better timekeeper of the two. 



The chronometer, detent, or detached escapement is the 

 one universally employed in the large class of watches, 

 usually called chronometers, used for finding the longitude 

 at sea. It is occasionally employed in the superior sort of 

 watches known as pocket chronometers — indeed, many 

 watchmakers maintain that only watches with this escape- 

 ment are entitled to be called chronometers. They therefore 

 term the superior class of lever watches furnished with 

 a chronometer balance half-chronometers. In this escape- 

 ment the impulses are given directly, and the balance is 



