Electric clock with butterfly escapement

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Electrically driven clock
Manufacturer	M. Hipp
Production years	19th century
Production location	Switzerland

A clock, by M. Hipp, Neuchâtel, fitted with the ‘butterfly escapement which was invented by Matthaüs Hipp in 1842.

[edit] How it works

With this an electrical contact is made when the arc of vibration of the pendulum falls below a certain amount, and an impulse is consequently given to the pendulum. The pendulum carries an armature and swings above an electro-magnet, while pivoted to the bottom of the pendulum there is a small trailer which slides over a small notched block. When the vibrations are large enough the trailer moves clear of the block at each swing, but when the vibrations fall below a certain amount the trailer does not leave the block and engages with a notch as the pendulum returns. This causes a spring on which the block is mounted to be depressed and thus closes the circuit through the electro-magnet, which then attracts the armature fixed to the bottom of the pendulum and so imparts the necessary impulse to the pendulum.

[edit] Memories

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[edit] In the Science Museum's Records

Inv. No: 1913-567