Pivots—The ends of the rotating arbors in a watch that run in bearings.
Planetarium—An astronomical clock which exhibits the relative motions and positions of the members of the solar system. Has no regulating system and usually no driving power but is run by turning a crank by hand.
Plates—In watches and small clocks the circular discs of brass to which the mechanism of the watch is supported. In large clocks the plates are usually square-cornered oblong. See [Pillar Plate], [Top Plate], [Half Plate], [Full Plate], etc. In half-plate, and three-quarter-plate types of watches part of the disc is cut away.
Pocket Chronometer—A watch with a chronometer escapement.
Polos—A basin in the center of which the perpendicular staff or gnomon was erected, and marked by lines for the twelve portions of the sun-lit day. Herodotus ascribes its invention to the Babylonians, Phavorinus claims it for Anaximander and Pliny for Anaximenes. Also called "Heliotropion."
Potance or Potence—A vertical or hang down bracket, supporting the lower end of the balance staff in full-plate watches.
Prescot—A town in a remote part of Lancashire for years the center of the movement trade in England.
Push Piece—1. The milled knob pushed in from the pendant to open the case. 2. The boss pushed in when the watch is to be set.
Quare, Daniel—1649-1724—Claimed the invention of the repeater, and backed by the Clockmakers' Company obtained the patent against Barlow from James II. Also credited with the invention of equation clocks. He was master of the Clockmakers' Company in 1708. He first used the concentred minute hand in England, but Huyghens had preceded him in this in the Netherlands.
Quarter—1. A term in common use for the period of three months—a quarter of the year. 2. The fourth part of an hour—15 minutes.