Big Ben 43000 Moonbeam Alarm Clock

The Big Ben 43000 Moonbeam was recommended to me when I was having hearing problems and sleeping through the obnoxious buzz of a Sony Dream Machine purchased in the mid-1990s. The hearing issue has since cleared up, but this retro clock looked intriguing enough to buy anyway. I'm glad I did. I prefer analogs because they give me a better feeling for the time in the context of the day. The face is large and brightly lit enough to see when you wake up during a restless night and want to know the time but not enough to be disturbing (unless you require pitch darkness to sleep, which is not to be found in a place like Chicago). The flashing light wakes me up after a minute or two, although deep sleepers will probably need the alarm. Unlike with the old Dream Machine, I don't feel startled awake. The style is simple enough to fit into any but the most ultramodern room and is pleasing to the eye. My only concerns are that mine arrived with a tiny piece of metal broken from the metal base...Read more

It's been a week now, and I remain thoroughly pleased with this clock. I need to be up well before daylight, and the blinking light (wow-this thing is like a neon sign) really does wake me. My partner, who sleeps like a log and wakes later, doesn't stir. By the time he awakes, the sun is out, so for him it's just a regular alarm clock. The bell sound does get your attention. It's loud, and can't be adjusted. But it's effective :-)

The face glows brightly in the dark; if you prefer total darkness to sleep, this might be a problem. The ambient light doesn't bother us though. It rather puts me to mind of a big honey-colored moon. I actually find it quite comforting.

I like the pale yellow glow, but just as an FYI, L.L. Bean sells a version in several other colors - blue, red, green. The dial is a little different from the original, and they list for $10 more. But if color scheme is important, it's an option.

Am having no problem with the dials. The...Read more

Visually, this alarm clock is very toothsome. The blinking light is fabulous, granted you wake up before the birds. If you're like myself and wake up when you hear the sound, you're head my pop off. The sound is brutal. My dog fell off the bed the first time it went off.