The Grasshopper escapement is a remarkable low friction chronometer escapement - A control device for the step-by-step release of a clock's driving power.
The escapement was invented by John Harrison for use in his early Maritime chronometers, and was highly effective, though later abandoned in favor of alternative mechanisms which were smaller and lighter.
An escapement is also found in a mechanical watch, powering and regulated by a balance wheel and hairspring instead of a pendulum.
The earliest escapement (from about 1275) is the verge escapement, also known as the crown-wheel-verge escapement or the verge-and-foliot escapement with a small modification.
One of the oddest mechanical escapements known is John Harrison's grasshopperescapement.
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