Berthoud, Ferdinand, 1727-1807— An eminent French watchmaker and writer on horological subjects. Among his books are: "Essai sur l'Horlogerie," "Traite des Horloges Marines," and "Histoire de la mesure du Temps." He was a Swiss by birth, but lived most of his life in Paris.
Bezel—The ring of a watch or clock case which carries the glass or crystal in an internal groove.
Big Ben—The great bell which strikes the hours on the clock at Westminster.
Bizzle—A corruption of Bezel. See Bezel.
Blow Holes—Places where the brass and steel of a compensation balance are not perfectly united, when they are put together with silver or solder.
Bob—The metal mass forming the body of a pendulum.
Boethius, Ancius Manlius Severinus, A. D. 480-524—A Roman philosopher and statesman to whom is sometimes attributed the invention of the clock. He did make a sun-dial and a water clock which latter may have contained a germ of the idea later developed into our modern clock.
Boss—A cylindrical prominence or stud. The minute hand is carried on the boss of the center wheel.
Bottom—Of a Watchcase—The cover outside the dome of the case. Commonly called the "back."
Bouchon—The hard brass tubing of which pivot holes in watch and clock plates are made; known commonly as "bushing wire." The short sections cut off for a pivot being called the "bushing."