For the present we will accept thirty degrees of roller action as the standard.  Before we proceed to delineate our fork and roller we will devote a brief consideration to the size and shape of a jewel pin to perform well.  In this matter there has been a broad field gone over, both theoretically and in practical construction.  Wide jewel pins, round jewel pins, oval jewel pins have been employed, but practical construction has now pretty well settled on a round jewel pin with about two-fifths cut away.  And as regards size, if we adopt the linear extent of four degrees of fork or twelve degrees of roller action, we will find it about right.

HOW TO SET A FORK AND ROLLER ACTION RIGHT.

As previously stated, frequently the true place to begin to set a lever escapement right is with the roller and fork.  But to do this properly we should know when such fork and roller action is right and safe in all respects.  We will see on analysis of the actions involved that there are three important actions in the fork and roller functions:  (a) The fork imparting perfect impulse through the jewel pin to the balance. (b) Proper unlocking action. (c) Safety action.  The last function is in most instances sadly neglected and, we regret to add, by a large majority of even practical workmen it is very imperfectly understood.  In most American watches we have ample opportunity afforded to inspect the pallet action, but the fork and roller action is placed so that rigid inspection is next to impossible.

The Vacheron concern of Swiss manufacturers were acute enough to see the importance of such inspection, and proceeded to cut a circular opening in the lower plate, which permitted, on the removal of the dial, a careful scrutiny of the action of the roller and fork.  While writing on this topic we would suggest the importance not only of knowing how to draw a correct fork and roller action, but letting the workman who desires to be au fait in escapements delineate and study the action of a faulty fork and roller action—­say one in which the fork, although of the proper form, is too short, or what at first glance would appear to amount to the same thing, a roller too small.

Drawings help wonderfully in reasoning out not only correct actions, but also faulty ones, and our readers are earnestly advised to make such faulty drawings in several stages of action.  By this course they will educate the eye to discriminate not only as to correct actions, but also to detect those which are imperfect, and we believe most watchmakers will admit that in many instances it takes much longer to locate a fault than to remedy it after it has been found.

[Illustration:  Fig. 55]

Let us now proceed to delineate a fork and roller.  It is not imperative that we should draw the parts to any scale, but it is a rule among English makers to let the distance between the center of the pallet staff and the center of the balance staff equal in length the chord of ninety-six degrees of the pitch circle of the escape wheel, which, in case we employ a pitch circle of 5” radius, would make the distance between A and B, Fig. 55, approximately 71/2”, which is a very fair scale for study drawings.