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Clock Movements
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 Clock
“movements” are quite simply the mechanism of the clock.
The clock movement is the part of the clock that tells you the time.
The clock movement is made up of a power source (what moves the
movement), a regulator (the piece that controls the movement and
keeps it accurate), and a striking mechanism.
Clock movements are most often “plated.” This means
that the clock movement is set between two vertical plates at the
front and back. Other clock movements are “posted.”
This means that there are two horizontal plates that are separated
by four vertical posts. This type of clock movement is common in
lantern clocks and it is also known as a “bedpost” or
“birdcage” clock movement.
The power source of clock movements:
Clock movements are typically run by one of three power sources:
a spring, the pull of the hanging weights, or an electrically-driven
motor. Not until more modern times have clock movements been powered
by an electrically-driven motor. The first clocks, like lantern
clocks and grandfather clocks, were mostly weight-driven. Mantel
clocks, skeleton clocks, bracket clocks, carriage clocks, and others
usually use a spring to power the clock movements.
The regulator of clock movements:
Clock movements in mechanical clocks use a regulator that is called
an “escapement.” An escapement controls the “escape”
power from the spring or weight. There are different types of escapement
used as regulators of clock movements. There is the verge and the
foliot as well as others like the dead beat and anchor escapements.
The escapements deliver an even source of power to the train (the
set of cog wheels which drive the hands and striking).
The striking part of clock movements:
The striking in a clock is an extra part of the clock movement which
operates bells or chimes. There are many different popular chimes
for clocks including the ever-common “Westminster chime.”
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