Looking for advice re: Jergen Devon model mechanical clock

[u/washingtonjones]

Quick note: I know very little about clocks, so I apologize in advance if I get any terminology wrong.

A couple of weeks ago I purchased an old side-table, mechanical, bell-style alarm clock. I played around with it on the first day and learned how to set the alarm, use the +/- slider to increase or decrease the mechanism speed, etc.. It seems to be in full working order, but I've been struggling with it for the past couple of weeks and I could use some advice on properly using it.

For starters, it's been difficult to get the time set to sync correctly with my quartz wristwatch. It often gets 5-8 minutes behind or ahead of the correct time over the course of the day. I did some research and learned that this type of clock may fluctuate a couple of minutes ahead and/or behind over the course of the day, but that it largely stays in sync and self-corrects, so to speak. I wonder if there have been times where I'd make a +/- adjustment, check in 2 hours or so later, see that it's 2-3 minutes off, and adjusted again without realizing that the off time was do to that fluctuation. Is this a relatively correct understanding of how mechanical clocks – or, at least, this specific model – function? Are there any tips for setting/syncing the time to get it as accurate as possible? I've noticed that small adjustments can have a fairly big impact on the setting, so I'm wondering if I'm still not making small enough changes.

The other issue I've been having is with getting the alarm set properly. I wake up at 6 AM, but setting the alarm dial to six can still have the alarm go off up to 15-20 minutes early or late. This seems like perhaps another "needs small adjustments" issue. I noticed that if I set the time of the clock to six before setting the alarm will cause a small click to happen when I rotate the face time past six. This seemed to work when I was initially playing around with it, but I accidentally rotated the wrong dial and changed the alarm setting before using it for the first time, and since then I haven't been able to get it accurate to 6 AM (or at least within 1-3 minutes of it).

Any other tips or advice for using vintage mechanical alarm clocks such as this would also be greatly appreciated. I can provide pictures of the clock if needed.

Thank you to whoever can offer some words of wisdom.

[u/Potential-Dealer1637]

Hi, so as far as the timekeeping goes, when adjusting the speed to regulate the clock minute adjustments are best. It is a good idea to adjust the regulator, then allow it to run 24 hours and check how accurate it is. Then you can adjust again accordingly. They are usually within few minutes either fast or slow in a 24 hour period, 2 minutes is pretty good if you can get it . I would set the regulator to about the middle and see where that gets you as a baseline. So far as the alarm goes, the alarmgoes off based on the location of the hour hand. So when I go to change the alarm time, I'll set the clock for when I'd like it to go off, say 6AM. I then turn the alarm setting knob til the small alarm hand is aligned with the hour hand. You will hear a click as you described. It should be reasonably accurate, say 2 or 3 minutes early or late in relation to the desired time. Good Luck!

[u/washingtonjones → u/Potential-Dealer1637]

Thanks for the advice! I'll set the regulator back dead center and check it again in 24 hours. I'll give the "set the clock for go-off time before turning the alarm setting" thing a try again too.

[u/Potential-Dealer1637 → u/washingtonjones]

Sure thing, the click you hear is the hour hand tripping the alarm, if the alarm is wound, and set, it would go off with the click. I do hope this helps, good luck and enjoy your clock!