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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Component record · Plates & finishing

Pillar Plate

Partially verified

The main plate of a clock or early watch

What it does

Acts as the foundation for the mechanism

How it works

Evolution

Replaced by mainplates in wristwatches

Known variations

    Identification for collectors

      Common failure modes

      • Warping

      Diagram

      top plate or bridgespillar platebalance and cockwheel train between the plates
      Schematic: plate and bridge layout. An outline schematic drawn to show the arrangement of the parts discussed here. It is not a dimensioned working drawing and does not depict a particular maker's calibre.

      Sources & references

      1. de Carle, D., Practical Watch Repairing
      2. de Carle, D., Watch and Clock Encyclopedia
      3. Daniels, G., Watchmaking

      Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.