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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Component record · Power

Click Spring

Partially verified

The spring holding the click against the ratchet wheel.

What it does

Keeps the click engaged so the wound mainspring cannot run back.

How it works

Constant light pressure keeps the click in a tooth root; if it fails, the mainspring can release violently.

Evolution

Integrated one-piece clicks appeared in later industrial calibres.

Known variations

  • Separate click and spring
  • Integrated spring-click

Identification for collectors

  • A crown that spins back when released indicates click or spring failure.

Common failure modes

  • Fatigue fracture
  • Loss during service

Related photographs

Nineteenth century miracles, or, Spirits and their work in every country of the earth - a complete historical compendium of the great movement known as "modern spiritualism" (1884) (14596522817)
Nineteenth century miracles, or, Spirits and their work in every country of the earth - a complete historical compendium of the great movement known as "modern spiritualism" (1884) (14596522817) — Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions. Wikimedia Commons file page

No confidently matched photograph of this subject has been found yet. These photographs show a closely related record, and are not examples of the type described on this page.

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.