The world of horology has a vocabulary of its own. The following terms are used throughout our network of websites (as well as on our blog) and a brief description of each term is provided here.
Automaton (plural: Automata or Automatons) – A self-operating machine, usually functioning autonomously. Sometimes used as a synonym for “Robot.” For examples and descriptions, follow our blog keyword: Automata
Anchor Escapement – From Wikipedia: Invented around 1660 by Robert Hooke, the anchor quickly superseded the verge to become the standard escapement used in pendulum clocks through the 19th century. Its advantage was that it reduced the wide pendulum swing angles of the verge to 3°-6°, making the pendulum isochronous, and allowing the use of longer, slower moving pendulums, which used less energy. It is responsible for the long narrow shape of most pendulum clocks.
Bahnhäusle or Bahnwächterhäusle – The Bahnhäusle design has been an incredibly popular clock and cuckoo clock design since 1850. Friedrich Eisenlohr of Furtwangen, Germany first submitted the design as part of a contest for the Grand Duchy of Baden. His inspiration was a railroad guard’s house overrun by grape vines and leaves. For examples and descriptions, follow our blog keyword: Bahnhäusle
Balance Wheel – From Wikipedia: The balance wheel is the timekeeping device used in mechanical watches and some clocks, analogous to the pendulum in a pendulum clock. It is a weighted wheel that rotates back and forth, being returned toward its center position by a spiral spring, the balance spring or hairspring. It is driven by the escapement, which transforms the rotating motion of the watch gear train into impulses delivered to the balance wheel. Each swing of the wheel (called a ‘tick’ or ‘beat’) allows the gear train to advance a set amount, moving the hands forward. The combination of the mass of the balance wheel and the elasticity of the spring keep the time between each oscillation or ‘tick’ very constant, accounting for its near universal use as the timekeeper in mechanical watches to the present. From its invention in the 14th century until quartz movements became available in the 1970s, virtually every portable timekeeping device used some form of balance wheel.
Bezel – The rim (usually brass) which encompasses and fastens a jewel, watch crystal, lens or other object, usually around a clock or watch dial.
Black Forest – A region in what is now Germany which is famous for its long history and tradition of fine clock making. The area is named for its dense growth of pine trees.
Comtoise – Morbier, Morez, or Comtoise clocks are popular and widespread in France and Switzerland, originating mostly from the French regions. They emerged at the end of the 17th Century and were produced in large numbers up to the beginning of the 20th Century. They can be easily recognized by their hammered-brass dial.
Crown Wheel – A portion of an early mechanical escapement (the Verge) , named for the shape of the gear.
Crystal – Clear covering over a watch or clock dial.
Escapement – A mechanism (usually mechanical) containing a resonant device which converts continuous rotating motion into an oscillating motion and provides a timing regulation. The clock or watch escapement is an integral device within the mechanism. Many different forms of escapements exist.
Fusee – The Fusee is essentially a cone shaped wheel, connected to a powered spring barrel. As the spring applies pressure to the inside of the barrel, it turns, and pulls on the chain connected to the cone. As the chain is pulled from the cone to the barrel less force is required because of the increasing radius of the cone. This compensates for the weakening power of the spring towards the end of its power cycle. For more information, see our blog’s keyword: fusee
Graham Escapement or Deadbeat Escapement – First used in precision regulators, now used in almost all modern pendulum clocks. From Wikipedia: In the deadbeat, the pallets have a second curved “locking” face on them, concentric about the pivot the anchor turns on. During the extremities of the pendulum’s swing, the escape wheel tooth rests against this locking face, providing no impulse to the pendulum, which prevents recoil.
Jewel
Morbier and Morez (see Comtoise) are communes in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France, and this is where the names Morbier, Morez, and Comtoise Clocks originate from.
Orchestrion
Pendulum
Pinion
Pinwheel
Regulator (“Vienna”)
Repeater (Hour and Minute)
Sonnerie (Grande and Petite)
Suspension Spring
Verge – The earliest known mechanical, oscillating escapement. For more information, see our blog.
Wooden Plates