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The Big Ben MoonBeam 43008 Green Retro Alarm Clock
is an authentic reproduction of
the 1950 design, but with a few modern features that weren't around back
then. Unlike most clocks of the '50s, this one has battery backup so it keeps time and sounds its alarm (if
set) even during ac power outages. Also, the dial stays constantly lit
(except during ac outages) for easy viewing even in the dark. True to
its heritage, the MoonBeam clock's "considerate alarm" is a
silent blinking light followed by a real ringing bell, not the usual
electronic beep of today. With its soft green color and retro styling,
the 1950 MoonBeam will liven up your bedroom (or anyplace else you decide
to use it). Super-simple to set and use, the MoonBeam alarm clock fits perfectly on
a nightstand, dresser, table, or shelf.
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The 43008 MoonBeam 1950 clock is really easy to
use. You insert the two-prong polarized plug into a 120Vac, 60Hz outlet
and then set the current time and alarm time by means of separate rotating knobs on the back of the clock.
Be sure to turn them in the direction indicated so as not to damage the
clock. The movement in the MoonBeam is a conventional analog quartz movement. Thus, this clock is not "atomic" and does not adjust automatically for Daylight Saving Time, but it is extremely accurate.
If you want the MoonBeam's timekeeping and alarm functions to continue
to operate during ac power outages and when you unplug it to relocate
it, you can insert two AA batteries into the compartment on the bottom
of the clock. After
you set the alarm pointer to the desired time, you turn the
"considerate alarm"
on by sliding the ALARM switch on the back of the clock to ON. Five
minutes before the alarm time is reached, a soft light blinks silently to start the
body's wake-up process, slowly awakening the body gently and naturally.
When the alarm time is reached, a real ringing bell sounds and the light
continues to blink. This continues for about 35 minutes (or sometimes
longer, as we found from our testing) unless you turn off the blinking
light or both the light and bell earlier. You can do this the
old-fashioned way by sliding the ALARM switch to OFF, which turns the
light and bell off entirely until you reset the switch to ON. Or, you can use
something that wasn't available (or at least common) on clocks of the '50s,
and that is the MoonBeam's available repeat snooze function. The SNOOZE button on the top of the clock
can be pressed while only the light is blinking or while the light is
blinking and the bell is ringing. Doing this turns off the light or both
the light and bell for about 10 minutes, after which the alarm process
(blinking light followed by bell) repeats. You
can use the snooze function up to 4 times after the
alarm first sounds. If you leave the ALARM switch ON, the
alarm will sound again in 12 hours at the set time. By
the way, the blinking light is produced by a standard 25-watt bulb
that's easily to replace and readily obtainable. As you might expect,
the dial does not light up and the alarm light does not blink when the
MoonBeam is operating on battery backup. As
mentioned above, the 1950 Big
Ben MoonBeam clock requires two AA (1.5V) batteries for power backup.
These are not included, and we recommend alkaline batteries because they
are far less prone to leakage than the carbon-zinc type. Also, their leakage is far less corrosive.
It's a good idea to change the backup batteries once a year. The Big
Ben 1950 MoonBeam clock
is intended for placement on a flat surface such as a
nightstand, dresser, shelf, or the like. It cannot be wall-mounted. With its easy setup and operation, the
Big Ben 43008 MoonBeam is an alarm clock that almost anyone can use and appreciate.
This clock is a perfect (and affordable) gift for almost anyone who
likes the retro look of the mid-20th century. There are even some
illustrations and copy from
a 1950 magazine ad for the MoonBeam on the back of the box.
With authentic late '40s to early '50s styling, a
modern
quartz movement, and contemporary features like battery backup and
snooze alarm, the MoonBeam is a quality clock that's also a time trip back
to the early years of the Atomic Age.
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