The BtB rocots - NAWCC

1 ThBtThe BrocotsA Dynasty of yyHorologersPresented by John G. Kirk1 OutlineOutline IntroductionIntroduction Background: Paris ClocksGl Brocot Genealogy The Men and Their Works Gallery2 OutlineOutline IntroductionIntroduction Background: Paris ClocksGl Brocot Genealogy The Men and Their Works Gallery3 IntroductionIntroduction This is a review of Les Brocot, une dynastie d horlogers byRichardChavignyd horlogers by Richard Chavigny Dean Armentrout asked me to discover the following:following: How many/who are the Brocots who contributed tohorology( )to horology (see ) The years the famous innovations were made (and by whom) (see ) How the Brocot dynasty interacted with other clockmakers, for example the house of Le Roy (ilhit tiif t(curiously, such interactions, if any, aren t mentioned in the book)4 OutlineOutline IntroductionIntroduction Background: Paris ClocksGl Brocot Genealogy The Men and Their Works Gallery5 TheParisClock(1of5)The Paris Clock (1 of 5) ThetermlaPenduledeParisappliestoThe term, la Pendule de Paris, applies to table/mantel clocks developed by Parisian clockmakersclockmakers Beginning around 1810 and continuing well intothe20thcenturyproductionoftheseinto the 20thcentury production of these clocks evolved into a highly industrialized processprocess6 TheParisClock(2of7)The Paris Clock (2 of 7) Around1810 ParisclockswerenolongerAround 1810, Paris clocks were no longer fabricated from scratch in Paris except by the grandhousessuchasBreguetLePauteetcgrand houses, such as Breguet, Le Paute, etc.)

2 A mass market for high quality, competitivelypriced ClocksofCommerce competitively priced Clocks of Commerce developed based on bauches completed and finishedinParisfinished in Paris7 TheParisClock(3of7)The Paris Clock (3 of 7) The bauches comprisedp The two plates The barrel (without spring)Thtiktiltithdt t/ tht The strike train complete with detents/ratchets The dial train The time train without the escape wheeleeaoueescapeee They did not include The escapement, including the escape lever and its bidbridge The suspension and pendulum Thehammer,gong,anditssupportThe hammer, gong, and its support 8 TheParisClock(4of7)The Paris Clock (4 of 7) Allpartsofthe baucheswereroughfromAll parts of the bauches were rough from machining and required finishing to a level commensuratewiththequalityofthefinishedc ommensurate with the quality of the finished clock Theclockmakeralsohadtoprovidethe The clockmaker also had to provide the missing parts, adjust all parts to run smoothly, andregulatetheclocktotimeand regulate the clock to time 9 TheParisClock(5of7)The Paris Clock (5 of 7) Thesourceofthe baucheswerefactoriesinThe source of the bauches were factories in Provence ThebestwereproducedbyHonor Ponsandhis The best were produced by Honor Pons and his successors at Saint Nicolas d Aliermont and Vicenti (later Roux) at Montb liard() TheotherMontb liardproducers,particularlyThe other Montb liard producers, particularly Japy and Marti, were of significantly lower quality10 TheParisClock(6of7)The Paris Clock (6 of 7)

3 Theescapements,suspensions,andThe escapements, suspensions, and pendulums could be fabricated by a clockmaker, ordered from fabricators to the clockmaker s specification, or bought from supplier s stock Cases were supplied by case makers, ranging from special, unique cases through high liidddquality series made cases, to mass produced cases11 TheParisClock(7of7)The Paris Clock (7 of 7) TheresultwasmassproductioninthemannerThe result was mass production in the manner of Eli Terry or Seth Thomas, but of higher qualityandpricesfortheFrenchbourgeoisieq uality and prices for the French bourgeoisie12 OutlineOutline IntroductionIntroduction Background: Paris ClocksGl Brocot Genealogy The Men and Their Works Gallery13 Genealogy(1of2)Genealogy (1 of 2)14 Genealogy(2of2)Genealogy (2 of 2) The Founder: Louis Gabriel Brocoteou de :ou sGab eocot The Industrialist: Antoine Gabriel Brocot Eldest surviving son of Louis Gabrielg The Engineer: Louis Achille Brocot Middle surviving son of Louis Gabriel The Artist: Paul Louis Brocot Son of Louis Achille The Youth: Jean Louis Brocot Nephew of Antoine Gabriel and Louis Achille15 BrocotMarkings(1of4)Brocot Markings (1 of 4) IngeneralBrocotnameplatestampsareIn general, Brocot name plate stamps are Brocot in script for Louis Gabriel SeenextslideSee next slide BROCOT in block capitals for Antoine Gabriel SeesecondfollowingslideSee second following slide Brocot in Old German for Louis Achille SeethirdfollowingslideSee third following slide Stamps with initials in various designs were alsousedalso used16 BrocotMarkings(2of4)Brocot Markings (2 of 4) Louis snamestampLouis s name stamp The 8 7 is the pendulum length.

4 8 pgpouces (Paris inches), 7 lignes (a ligne is 1/12thof pouce) Brevet means d patented 17 BrocotMarkings(3of4)Brocot Markings (3 of 4) Antoine snameAntoine s name stamp At 9 pouces 2 lignes pgthe pendulum for this clock is a bit longer This clock has a dffdifferent train count from the previousoneprevious one18 BrocotMarkings(4of4)Brocot Markings (4 of 4) Achille snamestampAchille s name stamp These are rare, note that the pendulum is pthe same length as the previous one19 BrocotDialNamesBrocot Dial Names ManyBrocotclockshavenonameorotherMany Brocot clocks have no name or other names on the dials, usually a jeweler or other clockretailerclock retailer Clocks with the maker s name on the dial are somewhatraresomewhat rare20 OutlineOutline IntroductionIntroduction Background: Paris ClocksGl Brocot Genealogy The Men and Their Works Gallery21 Louis GabrielBrocot(1of12)LouisGabriel Brocot (1 of 12) LouisarrivedinParisin1803notLouis arrived in Paris in 1803 not only being able to read, but with a good foundation in mathematics at a time when only 10% of the French population could even read After a horological apprenticeship, by 1812 he was an established clockmakerwithanexcellentclockmaker with an excellent reputation 22 Louis GabrielBrocot(2of12)LouisGabriel Brocot (2 of 12) Louisproducedfirst quality PendulesdeLouis produced firstquality Pendules de Paris using excellent bauches made by Honor Ponssellingwell receivedclockstoHonor Pons, selling wellreceived clocks to both the public and other vendors Hispremisesbecameagatheringplacefor His premises became a gathering place for other clockmakers 23 Louis GabrielBrocot(3of12)LouisGabriel Brocot (3 of 12)

5 TheParisclockoftheerawasnotperfectThe Paris clock of the era was not perfect The silk thread suspension was unsatisfactoryTheescapementcouldnotdrive pendulumsheavy The escapement could not drive pendulums heavy enough for good timekeeping Thecountwheelstrikemechanismwasfussyand The count wheel strike mechanism was fussy and easily lost synchronism with the hands Louissolvedthefirsttwooftheseproblems Louis solved the first two of these problems Pons solved the third by devising the rack striking mechanismwhichLouishelpedhimimprovemecha nism, which Louis helped him improve24 Louis GabrielBrocot(4of12)LouisGabriel Brocot (4 of 12) LouisBrocotPatents:Louis Brocot Patents:Patent No. DateInventorDescription029031826-04-01 Louis-Gabriel Brocot escapement and strike1167418400810 LiGbilSi116741840-08-10 Louis-GabrielSuspensions118571840-09-22 Louis-GabrielSuspensions135151842-02-23 Louis-GabrielSuspensions137571852-06-02 Louis-GabrielSuspensions Related Patents:pPatent No.

6 DateInventorDescriptionp023331823-10-26 C sar-Honor Pons Strike, rack mechanism and quarter 039481829-05-08 C sar-Honor Pons Strike and helical escapement25 Louis GabrielBrocot(5of12)LouisGabriel Brocot (5 of 12) Louis sescapementLouis s escapement (1826) More easily fabricated than pinwheel (Nearly) deadbeatRbdli bl Robust and reliable BUT suitable only for half secondpendulumshalfsecond pendulums or shorter (large angular amplitude needed)26 Louis GabrielBrocot(6of12)LouisGabriel Brocot (6 of 12) Classicsilk threadsuspensionClassic silkthread suspension Only silk will do in this application Adjustment is touchy Crutch operation is touchyilll()li h Will support only (very) light pendulums SilkisrelativelyinsensitivetoSilk is relatively insensitive to temperature change, but quite sensitive to humidity change27 Aside: Silk and Mixedsuspension Mixed suspension Silk thread supporting and adjusting a spring suspension passing through a slit block!

7 Chavigny claims this isn t a joke, thatthesewereactuallymadethat these were actually made and sold beginning in 1830 This is a foretaste of Louis s adjustable spring suspension of 184028 Louis GabrielBrocot(7of12)LouisGabriel Brocot (7 of 12) Louis sfirstattemptatanLouis s first attempt at an adjustable, temperature compensated spring pendulum suspension (as drawn by Louis Achille) Adjusting the zinc and steel compensation is touchyhl The rate is not easily adjustable by the owner29 Louis GabrielBrocot(8of12)LouisGabriel Brocot (8 of 12) Louisconductedextensiveinvestigationsint oLouis conducted extensive investigations into the metallurgy, design, and performance of suspensionspringssuspension springs He and his sons Achille (Louis Achille) and Antoine(AntoineGabriel)wereresponsibleAn toine (Antoine Gabriel) were responsible for the adjustable length Brocot suspension anditsdevelopmentbeginningwithLouis sand its development, beginning with Louis s patent in 184030 Louis GabrielBrocot(9of12)LouisGabriel Brocot (9 of 12) VeryearlystrikeVery early strike mechanism Note the sickle shaped prack, a fabrication and adjustment challenge31 Louis GabrielBrocot(10of12)LouisGabriel Brocot (10 of 12) PonsrackstrikePons rack strike mechanism including improvements/ rationalizations by Louis Pons eventually reduced the moving parts to eight Louis further reduced hfthem to five32 Louis GabrielBrocot(11of12)LouisGabriel Brocot (11 of 12)Pons1826 Louisdefinitive1829 Pons 1826 Louis definitive 182933 Louis GabrielBrocot(12of12)LouisGabriel Brocot (12 of 12) The1840patentThe 1840 patent drawing for the Brocot adjustable spring suspension, a collaborative effort of LidA hillLouis and Achille34 Antoine GabrielBrocot(1of6)AntoineGabriel Brocot (1 of 6)

8 Antoine,likehisfatherAntoine, like his father Louis, bought Pons bauches, added the escapement, hammer, crutch, and suspension, fi i h dthtfinished these parts, and added a pendulum toacasedialandto a case, dial and hands acquired separatelypy35 Antoine GabrielBrocot(2of6)AntoineGabriel Brocot (2 of 6) AntoinewasprimarilyanindustrialistAntoin e was primarily an industrialist, manufacturing those parts of Paris clocks not providedbythe bauchemakersincludingprovided by the bauche makers, including HammersGongs/bells Gongs/bells Suspensions (particularly after his father discontinuedtheirmanufacture)discontinue d their manufacture)36 Antoine GabrielBrocot(3of6)AntoineGabriel Brocot (3 of 6) AntoineBrocotpatents:Antoine Brocot patents:Patent for suspensions388391858-11-24 Antoine-GabrielMachinery for suspensions682611863-08-01 Antoine-GabrielSuspensions682611866-02-1 6 Antoine-GabrielSuspensions37 Antoine GabrielBrocot(4of6)AntoineGabriel Brocot (4 of 6) AntoinemovementwithAntoine movement with parts he manufactured Suspension Hammer Fork Brocot escapement38 Antoine GabrielBrocot(5of6)AntoineGabriel Brocot (5 of 6) ExamplesofAntoine sworkExamples of Antoine s work Replacing two piece suspension springs (a) with ppg()single, shaped spring (b) Rationalized Brocot suspension with rate adjustment 39 Antoine GabrielBrocot(6of6)AntoineGabriel Brocot (6 of 6) RationalizationofRationalization of manufacture of Brocot suspensions (a) 1840 patent (b) Fifth version, Antoine s 1866tt1866 patent Principal performance change (forthesecondversion)were(for the second version) were floating (half slit) jaws to prevent pinching the spring(a)(b)ppgpg40 Louis AchilleBrocot(1of23)

9 LouisAchille Brocot (1 of 23) L. A.(Achille) (Achille) was the most inventive of the Brocots He devised thermal compensated pendulums, variant escapements, perpet alcalendars perpetual calendars, equation of time displays, longrunning(upto4long running (up to 4 years!) clocks41 Louis AchilleBrocot(2of23)LouisAchille Brocot (2 of 23) Achille spatents:Achille s patents:Patent No. DateInventorDescription0527518470323 LouisAchillePendulums052751847-03-23 Louis-AchillePendulums052751849-05-22 Louis-Achille Calendar052751852-04-06 Louis-Achille Calendar and escapements052751853-10-05 Louis-Achille Center seconds and alarm124821851-10-08 Louis-Achille Calendar (text in windows)509821861-08-28 Louis-Achille Calendar and escapements509821863-06-25 Louis-Achille Alarm6923418651019 LouisAchilleCalendar (text in windows)692341865-10-19 Louis-AchilleCalendar (text in windows)42 Louis AchilleBrocot(3of23)LouisAchille Brocot (3 of 23) Achille patented the dtemperature compensated pendulum (a), an Ellicott variantin1847variant, in 1847 It was made in quantity and workedwellbutothersworked well, but others thought it would be subject to mechanical binding To quell this argument, he eventually adopted Redier s 1855 mercury pendulum (b)43(a)(b)Louis AchilleBrocot(4of23)LouisAchille Brocot (4 of 23))

10 Early GlassRegulator Late GlassRegulatorEarly Glass RegulatorLate Glass Regulator44 Louis AchilleBrocot(5of23)LouisAchille Brocot (5 of 23) Achille s double wheel (1839)escapement (1839), prototyped for an exhibitionthatyearanexhibition that year, an example of his command of geometrygy The length of the lever is easily adjustable to control recoil to just that needed for good ihiisochronism 45 Louis AchilleBrocot(6of23)LouisAchille Brocot (6 of 23) Thevisibleescapement,The visible escapement, inspired by the visible double wheel of 1839, was first offered in 184246 Louis AchilleBrocot(7of23)LouisAchille Brocot (7 of 23) In1848,AchillereplacedIn 1848, Achille replaced Louis s pallets with triangular ones similar in operation to Graham s to reduce the amplitude of the dlpendulum. This escapement was used inthesuperbregulatorin the superb regulator made for the 1849 exhibition,shownontheexhibition, shown on the next slide47 Louis AchilleBrocot(8of23)LouisAchille Brocot (8 of 23) 1849year plusrunningHgpendulum1849 yearplus running Hg pendulum regulator and five barrel movement48 Louis AchilleBrocot(9of23)LouisAchille Brocot (9 of 23) In addition to a substantial number of gadget escapements, Achille didthifldevised this unsuccessful ultra complicated constant forceescapementforce escapement Its elaborate double pendu