pallets, which is
very good indeed.

From what we have said it follows that a large number of pallets are not
planted on the tangents at all. We have never noticed this question in
print before. Writers generally seem to, in fact do, assume that no
matter how large or small the escapement may be, or how the pallets and
teeth are divided for width and lifting angle, no difficulty will be
found in locating the pallets on the tangents. Theoretically there is no
difficulty, but in practice we find there is.

_Equidistant vs. Circular._ At this stage we are able to weigh the
circular against the equidistant pallet. In beginning this essay we had
to explain the difference between them, so the reader could follow our
discussion, and not until now, are we able to sum up our conclusions.

The reader will have noticed that for such an important action as the
lift, which supplies power to the balance, the circular pallet is
favored from every point of view. This is a very strong point in its
favor. On the other hand, the unlocking resistance being less, and as
nearly alike as possible on both pallets in the equidistant, it is a
question if the total vibration of the balance will be greater with the
one than the other, although it will receive the impulse under better
conditions from the circular pallet; but it expends more force in
unlocking it. Escapement friction plays an important role in the
position and isochronal adjustments; the greater the friction
encountered the slower the vibration of the balance. The friction should
be constant. In unlocking, the equidistant comes nearer to fulfilling
this condition, while during the lift it is more nearly so in the
circular. The friction in unlocking, from a timing standpoint,
overshadows that of the impulse, and the tooth can be a little wider in
the equidistant than the circular escapement with the pallet properly
planted. Therefore for the _finest_ watches the equidistant escapement
is well adapted, but for anything less than that the circular should be
our choice.

_The Fork and Roller Action._ While the lifting action of the lever
escapement corresponds to that of the cylinder, the fork and roller
action corresponds to the impulse action in the chronometer and duplex
escapements.

Our experience leads us to believe that the action now under
consideration is but imperfectly understood by many workmen. It is a
complicated action, and when out of order is the cause of many an