.340 
MR. KATER’S DESCRIPTION OP CAPTAIN RATER’S ESCAPEMENT. 
The cross-piece Z of the pendulum is represented in fig-. 1. In consequence of its 
sides being bevelled, its acting part may be increased by raising it on the rod of the 
pendulum. The cock which carries the pendulum itself is supported upon a cast- 
iron bracket, firmly fastened to the clock-case. 
The adjustments of the escapement are made in the following manner: 
First, the brass plate carrying the whole must be screwed to the back plate of the 
clock, so that neither of the detents being pressed down, they may first enter within 
the teeth of the scape-wheel. By this arrangement it will be impossible for the 
scape-wheel to turn round without encountering one or other of the detents. 
The next is by means of the executive stops, to adjust the depth, to which the de- 
tents shall engage the teeth of the scape-wheel, and this should not be more than is 
necessary for secure locking. 
A piece of card of the form represented in Plate XII. fig. 4. must be prepared, A B 
being equal to the upper, or least width of the cross-piece of the pendulum. 
The clock must be placed upon a level support, and the card lodged upon the im- 
pelling wires of the escapement ; a tooth must be made to press against the detents, 
and the pallet which is on the same side with this detent should be adjusted, by 
means of its approximate screw, m or n, so that it shall be quite clear of the tooth of 
the scape-wheel. The other detent must now engage a tooth, and its pallet be ad 
justed in like manner. Lastly, the card paper is removed, and the anchor being kept 
in contact with one of its stops, a tooth pressing against the detent, the pa*let on the 
opposite side will rest with the bottom of its inclined plane upon a tooth of the scape- 
wheel. The screw o or p, which is on the same side as this pallet, must now be ad- 
vanced, until by acting upon the anchor, it just causes the pallet to clear the tooth. 
This is too much, and the screw must now be withdrawn a little till it is found by 
trial, that when the bottom of the inclined plane of the pallet meets the tooth of the 
scape-wheel, the screw is just short of the anchor. The same process must be gone 
through on the other side, and the adjustments of the escapement will then be com- 
pleted. 
The weight to the clock must be adjusted by trial, so that the scape-wheel shall 
raise the pallets promptly, but not press with unnecessary force upon the detents. 
The plan for fastening the clock-case to the wall is by a single screw passing 
through its back, a little above the cock which carries the pendulum. 
Another similar screw passes through the case into the wall, a little below the ball 
of the pendulum, and is furnished with a washer. A slit is here cut in the clock- 
case, at the back, parallel to the horizon, and the clock is put into beat by moving the 
case as much as may be necessary about the upper screw as a centre, and the clock- 
case is then firmly fixed by tightening the lower screw. It is scarcely necessary to 
say, that the clock-case should not touch the floor. 
My father never made use of oil in this escapement, as it might, by becoming glu- 
tinous, occasion irregular action. 
