Tompion develops the dead-beat escapement Clockmaker Thomas Tompion developed the dead-beat escapement in 1675 or 1676, around the time that the newly appointed Astronomer Royal, John Flamsteed, brought him on board to help design, build and furnish the new Royal Observatory at Greenwich. However, Tompion did not continue making this type of escapement. In 1715, the design was refined by his protege, George Graham. Image Credit Illustration of the deadbeat escapement that Tompion created for Flamsteed’s astronomical clocks, 1675. RS.16639 MS/243 ©The Royal Society
