Gold Escape Wheel?

[Rick White]

In another thread Steve Kosovich reports a 6 size Elgin having a solid gold escape wheel. I understand the merits of having a gold train, but isn't a gold a little soft to be subjected to the constant impulse of the pallet jewels?I know brass was used for some escape wheels, and they were known to wear. Wouldn't steel be a better choice for a high grade watch? Are gold escape wheels common and I just never noticed?

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Rick White
Watches Moderator

[This message has been edited by Rick White (edited 12-19-2000).]

[Rick White]

In another thread Steve Kosovich reports a 6 size Elgin having a solid gold escape wheel. I understand the merits of having a gold train, but isn't a gold a little soft to be subjected to the constant impulse of the pallet jewels?I know brass was used for some escape wheels, and they were known to wear. Wouldn't steel be a better choice for a high grade watch? Are gold escape wheels common and I just never noticed?

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Rick White
Watches Moderator

[This message has been edited by Rick White (edited 12-19-2000).]

[Jon Hanson]

Yep, standard for many-how about high grade '72 model Walthams & top of the line Waltham chronographs?

Jon H.

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Jon Hanson, moderator, nawcc#8801

[Tom McIntyre]

Essentially all the top Lange watches have both gold escape wheels and gold pallet.

These are not common in general, but many really great watches have gold escape wheels.

Gold can be work hardened to any degree one likes. Gold alloys can have almost any characteristics you like.

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Tom McIntyre
President, NAWCC Chapter 174
Pocket Horology Web (http://www.pocketwatch.org)
Tommy the JOAT's Web (http://www.mcintyre.com/McIntyre)

[Steve Kosovich]

After i bought the Elgin (it was one of those sleeper deals)and looked at it closer thats when i noticed the gold escape wheel and when my watchmaker disassembled it for cleaning, he informed me about the other items like the nickel plated pinions.
I must say out of all my watches this little piece has to be my favorite.It also has gold washed lettering,and a beautiful damaskeening

[Rick White]

Thanks Jon and Tom,
It sounds like Steve has a very nice watch. I think what made me think of solid gold as impractical was relating it to the soft gold material I have been exposed to, jewelry and watch cases mostly. I imagine the gold content in an alloy used as an escape wheel would be low enough to be practical and high enough to be decorative. I looked through an old American watch parts catalog and couldn't find any reference to solid gold escape wheels. It wasn't old enough to show the Waltham watches Jon pointed out. There were some Elgin and Waltham escape wheels that were gilded, but that isn't solid gold. I will have to keep an eye out for some examples. I wouldn't mind a sleeper deal myself. Thanks for the info!

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Rick White
Watches Moderator