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Fork detail, Fork, Roller, Watch page Fork and roller close-ups from the 3/4 plate watch 2/4471. The narrow notch in the roller receives the impulse from the combination guard and impulse pin visible on the top surface of the fork. The wide notch in the fork is picked up by the unlocking pins on the roller to release the escapement. Early fork, Early roller, Watch page The early Savage 2 Pin Escapement is a little harder to see in the full plate movement, but is visible if you look closely. The fork in the earlier watch has more narrow sides to the fork and the pin geometry on the roller may be slightly tighter. The two balances may be compared in this view. Considering the differences between the two watches, the balances are remarkably similar. Note that in the larger, earlier balance, the poise was achieved by shaving metal from the bottom of one side with one small drilled correction. All the poising on the smaller balance was by drilling. The biggest difference between the watches is that the larger earlier one was completed in 1815 while the smaller one was made roughly 30 years later. The 1815 date is the earliest date for a Savage 2 pin escapement that I am aware of. George Savage invented the escapement sometime between 1814 and the date of this watch. He emigrated to Canada in 1818 and worked primarily as a silversmith from that time on. English watches with Savage's signature are unknown. Given Barraud's penchant for innovation it is conceivable (and a pleasant fantasy) that this was the first instance of the escapement in a working watch.
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