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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Clock escapement

Brocot (visible) deadbeat escapement

Verified

A deadbeat-type escapement in which the pallets are jewelled and mounted visibly at the dial centre, behind pierced apertures, so the escapement's action can be watched; functionally it behaves as a standard deadbeat escapement.

Schematic arrangement

How it is laid out

Jewelled visible palletsPendulum

Outline schematic only, drawn to show the characteristic arrangement of wheel, locking member and oscillator. It is not a dimensioned working drawing and should not be used for setting up or repairing a movement.

Advantages

  • Combines deadbeat accuracy with a visible display
  • Readily serviced from the front of the movement

Drawbacks

  • No functional advantage over a concealed deadbeat escapement beyond display

Attribution and period

Mid-nineteenth century, associated with the Parisian maker Achille Brocot

Horological firsts are frequently contested. Where an invention is attributed to a named maker, that attribution is recorded as such rather than treated as settled fact.

Diagram

escape wheelpallets and leveroscillator
Schematic: escapement arrangement. 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.