Savage Escapement
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SavagePenney.jpg (46569 bytes)The Savage 2 Pin escapement with was an early improvement on the lever escapement that improved the performance by separating locking and unlocking from impulse. The escapement actually has 3 gold pins that provide the active surfaces. Two pins on the roller table provide the unlocking action in each direction of swing of the balance. The pin that is normally the guard pin actually provides the impulse to the balance by acting in the passing notch. I was unable to get a good photograph of the escapement in the watch, but David Penney was kind enough to provide this illustration of the escapement although from a different watch with peculiar banking. Click on the illustration for a full screen view. The pallets work as a normal lever. The difference is all in the impulse to the balance.

ForkImpulsePin.png (1377201 bytes) RollerTablePins2.png (1350959 bytes)

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.

EarlyForkImpulsePin.png (1756685 bytes) EarlyRoller.jpg (182363 bytes)

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.

BalanceCompare.png (1294170 bytes)

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.