ANCHOR ESCAPEMENT(RECOIL ESCAPEMENT)
This type of system does not have a lock action , it is simply impact, slide ,
and release. The recoil escapement is less critical to adjust, and generally speaking ,
is more efficient in that it does not take as much power to run. However this type of
system is less accurate because the motion of the pendulum is less isolated from the
gear train. The escape wheel tends to bounce backwards at each impulse ; and as the
spring runs down the arc of the pend slows causing less bounce or recoil in a nonlinear
manner.The escape wheel/verge depth on this type of escapement in not as critical as
the dead beat escapement. On most cuckoo clocks the depth should be set so that the
escape wheel is 80% of the way from completely missing ; to actually hitting on the
edge of the verge on both sides(binding up).Generally speaking, the lighter the
pendulum, the deeper the setting on this type of system, up to the 80% amount.
Mantle clocks with pendulum lengths of 6 inches or shorter should not be set deep; between 60% and 70% is normal on most german time and strike types from the late
1800’s to the mid 50’s. If possible the escape wheel should move equally on each
side of the tick. Often the verge has either been bent or replaced and the escape
wheel will impact,slide and release further on one side than the other; and in many
cases the clock will run. My experience has taught me that this is not an extremely
critical adjustment on this type of verge with respect to whether or not the clock will
run.If the goal is just to get it to run ; then don’t be fussy.To charge a customer a
premium price for this kind of work , however is quite another matter.The majority of
clocks (excluding cuckoos) that I have seen over the years have an even release distance
on the impact ,slide , and release. If you want to do accurate, original , restoration;
then set both sides of the sequence equal.
(describe the setting of the depth)