An INTERCAL timepiece

[Claudio Calvelli]

I appear to have acquired an INTERCAL timepiece... let me explain.

I use an old watch, the kind with a round dial and hands which turn to
show the time. You may remember these. I've had this watch for 28
years, but it's much older than that. However, until about 2 weeks ago
it worked as well as one would expect from a watch of that vintage. It
mostly showed the right time, with the monthly prod to compensate for
the fact that it isn't quite as accurate as an atomic clock.

Well, two weeks ago it showed all the symptoms of having stopped
working. The hands do not turn any more, I can move them to set the
time but then they stay there (as the old saying goes, showing the right
time twice a day).

Is this a problem with the mechanism? It still goes tick-tock-tick-tock,
so something is happening inside. Also, I noticed that if I turn the
hands to the correct time it gives a small "click" noticeably different
from the normal "tick".

It's an INTERCAL watch! Instead of showing the time all day like other
watches and clocks do, it knows the time and will confirm my guess.

I suppose I better not get it repaired...

C