Spring Remontoire

Remontoire come in a wide variety of mechanical styles, and complexity. They can generally be divided into two categories. The first, and earlier type is the gravity style. Its invention is generally credited to by Jost Burgi, Swiss (b.1552 -1631), circa 1595 exhibited in his Experimental Clock No. 1. However, there is still some technical issue as to whether his clock has a true remontoire (1). He is also known for his invention of the cross -beat verge escapement. These innovations made his clocks the most accurate mechanical timekeepers of their day. This type uses a small weight to drive the escapement indirectly, usually the next wheel, but a direct escape drive is known. The second is the spring style. This is reliably credited to Jost Burgi in his Experimental Clock No. 2, c. 1597. Here a small subsidiary spring is used as the motive of power to the escapement which, in turn, is kept wound at frequent intervals by the main movement spring. In tower clocks that spring is rewound by the clock’s weights. The subsidiary spring is normally attached directly to the escape wheel in tower clocks but maybe further down the train in smaller movements such as was the case in Burgi’s clock.

Discover more: My time machine – Remontoire