A Matter of Calibration

I located the source of the rhythmic ticking near the edge of the wooden desktop. It belonged to an analog alarm clock encased in brushed brass. I climbed onto a stack of hardcover books to inspect the rear assembly, where three small plastic dials protruded. Grasping the knurled knob responsible for the minute hand, I applied steady counterclockwise pressure. The internal gears resisted slightly, then engaged with a satisfying tactile click. Through the rear casing slot, I observed the brass escapement mechanism oscillate at precisely one-second intervals. A minor manual correction, but the mechanism now operates under acceptable tolerances.