Hello from south of France!

Please read this comment like an English exercise, more than a technical
contribution.

A fusee (from the French word fuseau = spindle/distaff) is a mechanical
device for antique horology.

 [ It's actually fuse'e, but the simple 7-bit e-mail used to transmit
 [ the Digest won't work with the accented French characters.  -- Robbie

To regulate the strength of the spring barrel on the axis of the first
gear (XVIeme / XVIIIeme century),  somebody created this "spindle" barrel
in which the diameter increases with the strength at the opposite of the
spring barrel.  Both are linked mostly with a chain, or sometimes with a
rope.  The first gear is placed on the fusee shaft.

Of course, we meet the fusee drive on only early spring-driven movements,
as the first clocks and watches, and the first music boxes, automatons
from Jacquet-Droz or Maillardet, and the Vienna cabinet organ.  In any
case, they came before the mid-XIX century.

If somebody needs more information, I can send photos or try to have an
English lesson with a clock maker.

Thanks to all for this daily MM world news.

Philippe Crasse / Le Ludion
www.leludion.com

 [ Thanks to Philippe Crasse and everyone else who wrote about this
 [ subject.  Some authors said (in effect), "Don't print my letter if
 [ others write ...," but I think that every letter has something
 [ special and informative, so I'm printing all of them.  ;)  -- Robbie