Java swing use a MVC pattern, so it is the same in JSpinner. If you look into JSpinner source code, you will find that the getValue() method is actually call getModel().getValue(), so it is calling the model's getValue. and the model you use is SpinnerDateModel, and the value of it will be Date Object,when you print the Date object, it will display the default format like "Thu Jan 01 11:18:00 IST 1970", if your want to get something like "11:18", you will need to format it yourself.like
SimpleDateFormat sdf = new SimpleDateFormat("hh:mm");
System.out.println(sdf.format(spinner.getValue()) );
You may wonder why tf.getText() only get the old value, because after the ChangeEvent on the spinner occurs, a PropertyChangeEvent on the tf will occurs,will set the new value to it. Of course, you can listen to tf like tf.addPropertyChangeListener. but i will suggest use the solution above.