The clocks go back an hour tonight. For some people, that means sleeping an extra hour, or partying longer. However, there are also a lot of clocks that need to be changed this weekend. Special attention is needed, especially with older timepieces.
For most digital devices, changing the clock can be done easily. Tonight, a smartphone will automatically jump back to 2:00 am after 2:59 am, and in the car – or the time displayed on an oven or microwave, for example – the time can be turned back with a few clicks.
Jeweler Raymond van Dijen from Grootebroek knows better than anyone what to do to get (older) clocks to the correct time. In his business at the Streekhof shopping center he has: hundreds of bells, which should be set to winter time. Together with the jeweler and Casper Manshanden from Hoogkarspel, WEEFF gives three tips:
Tip 1: Never turn back an old timepiece
What you absolutely should not do with old clocks is turn the clock back to the new time. “Ancient and modern clocks are not designed to turn counterclockwise,” Raymond explains. “It contains solid striking mechanisms, which absolutely do not give way. There is a chance that the hands can bend or even break off.”
Tip 2: Stop the clock today
A solution to get an old timepiece to switch to winter time is to stop the clock. “That’s what I always do these days,” says Casper Manshanden from Hoogkarspel, a childhood friend and customer of Raymond van Dijen. “That’s the shortest blow.”
In his house he has four antique clocks that are about 150 years old. “Biedermeier period,” he explains. Where Manshanden previously got it to the right time by turning the hands, nowadays he stops them for a while. “Then let’s spend a day digitally,” says the Hoogkar player, laughing.
However, there are also some disadvantages to this, Raymond explains. “The clock has its natural resonance. Especially when the timepiece is on its last teeth, it often happens that after starting the clock no longer shows any sign of life.”
Tip 3: Let the clock strike every (half) hour
The jeweler from Grootebroek therefore recommends turning the clock forward eleven hours. “That is a bit of work, and it is important to strike every half hour and full hour,” says Raymond. “If you do not do this, the hands will be at the correct time, but the striking mechanism will be ‘out of tune’.”
Turning the hands slowly forward and letting the clock strike when there is a striking mechanism is therefore the best thing you can do to set a clock to winter time. “My advice is to take your time and enjoy every half hour that the clock plays.”
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