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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Glossary · Mechanism

Train count

The tooth and pinion counts that set a movement's beat rate.

Explanation

Train count describes how many wheels a going train carries between barrel and escapement. A standard watch train is centre, third, fourth and escape wheel; clocks add or omit wheels with their gearing. Counting teeth and leaves through the train gives the theoretical beat rate, a standard check when identifying an unmarked movement.