Why all of these laurels?
Well, the Glashuetten lever escapement originated in a time, when the technical potential was not entirely exhausted. And just within that time a construction of a lever escapement was created that put the measuring pole on which the other construction had to orientate (if they wanted to compete with it) up high. For a few variations too high (i.e. the English Lever Escapement, a. s. o.) The only one that could reach this level over the years, was the Swiss Lever Escapement, only to outdo it slowly. This was done especially with regards to the costs of production. This was something, that the town of Glashuetten did not give too much attention to.
But what are the features of the Glashuetten Lever Escapement?
For instant the material. Escape wheel and lever are made of a hardened gold alloying that , due to the treatment, showed almost a strength similar to steal and most of all (this was an important factor) it did not oxidise and where the oil was kept "fresh" for a long time. In those days the question of oil was a very hot debate, as there were not many oils, that could last longer in a watch than three years without changing their chemical stability (Viscosity) considerably. This change caused and still does cause a change in frequency of the regulating organ of the watch and that was something that could not be tolerated at Glashuetten at any price. Additionally, I think it has to be mentioned that gold is antimagnetic, which is not a bad thing to be found inside a watch. Furthermore, is the lever constructed in such a way, that it is absolutely balanced. If it is put into a pivot horizontally, it will stay on in any position. The question of the centre of gravity of the lever had been discussed under the point of view that the release- and power in its different positions could have been influenced by an out of the centre laying centre of gravity and which on the other hand influenced the precision...
...The pallets are covered (which really is no advantage, it is just the way it is) and show a curvature, so that no adhesions between impuls plane of the escape wheel and the pallets can occur. That on the other hand depends on the age of the oil and on its temperature and therefore on the precision...
...The banking of the way of the lever happens through a single pin that moves through a drill-hole inside the plate. The pin also serves the balancing of the weight as mentioned above. Furthermore it has the capacity that the ensemble acting of "lever-pin-drill-hole" is extremely difficult to manufacture and therefore serves to create a myth easily. It is also recognisable, that the pin is attached to a place, where most of the weight of the lever is concentrated and therefore, absorbs the weight right away in the case of an impact. In the case of an impact, the swinging of the lever is avoided and consequently the prec....
...The energy of the Swiss Lever Escapement has to be conducted through the relatively narrow lever into the banking-pins, which can possibly cause vibrations at an impact of these pins. This was at least the excuse in those days. Finally then, it is the precision with which this lever escapement has been produced. All parts are splendidly completed... |
