Westclox Big Ben Classic Battery Operated Alarm Clock with Lumnious Hands

This is a great little clock! It is sturdy and very attractive. I like the night-lite button so I can check the time if I wake during the night. It is very easy to set and turn off the alarm. I'm very pleased with this purchase.

Cute little clock. Have not tried the alarm. Love having alarm clocks again. Tired of cellular.

This spring-wound clock was just what I was looking for. It's cheap, relatively sturdy, and it has an alarm loud enough to wake the dead. Be sure that you want a loud alarm if you buy this as an alarm clock. My only qualm with it is that it seems to have a short lifetime: about a year or less. Therefore, I recommend any purchaser to hold on to the included warranty: if the clock goes bust within a year (which it very well might), you can send it in for a new one free of charge. Good for travel, as you don't need to set the time every time you travel somewhere, as I have had to do when the backup battery of my electronic alarm clock ran down, as it inevitably did.

Just as classy as expected!Like the option to turn off ticking or light.Great back up and size is just right!This is an old reliable company that thankfully still produces reliable quality products!!

The first clock was in a box I. An envelope and it was broken. Packaged very poorly. The replacement was in a better package and works fine.Thanks

I have read many reviews of this clock from "Love It!" to "Hate It!" so, I figured I would try to do an honest review of this clock based on my experience with it. First off, I had one of these original Big Ben clocks growing up, and I loved it. I saw this one, and had to have it. Now, this one is made in China, not the USA, so no it is not an "Authentic" brass geared clock from the 60's. The cabinet back is plastic, and the trim is brass colored metal. It does not tick as loudly as I remember the older one did either. That being said, it is a handsome clock that works well enough to earn a place on the shelf in my home office. When I first received it, it gained about 5 minutes every 8 hours or so. After a couple of days of getting it regulated, it keeps really good time, so be patient and let it settle in and it should be fine. For the record I should note that I have a couple of vintage wind up clocks that I have to adjust the time on every once in awhile due to temp and humidity changes, so Any mechanical clock needs to be adjusted from time to time. Being realistic, I do not expect a $15 clock with plastic gears to run for 30 years. But with gentle care, I can see it lasting for a couple of years anyway. I can honestly say that this is a really decent clock, and if you take the time to read the instructions on how to regulate it, it will keep decent time.

So here is an unofficial one.This clock is an old fashioned keywound alarm clock with a "36 hour movement", meaning it will run for 36 hours after being fully wound, provided the alarm button is pushed in (more on that later). Compared with modern electric and battery clocks, it is both noisy and inaccurate. But unlike those clocks, it has a mechanism for adjusting how fast it goes. There is a small half-moon like slot on the lower portion of the back with "+" and "-" signs on it. Get the end of a paper clip and nudge the small brass flange hiding deep inside toward the "+" sign to make the clock run faster and toward the "-" sign to slow it down. It takes a few days, but it can be adjusted to a pretty good accuracy.The loudness of the alarm can be adjusted in the same way using a soft-loud adjustment at the top of the clock's back. Setting the time is simple, too. Just keep the setting stem pulled away from the clock to set the time and leave it in the "down" position to set the alarm time. The alarm will ring twice a day when the hour hand passes the alarm stem, if the alarm button is left in the pulled out position. Also, letting the alarm ring reduces the amount of time that the clock will run because it uses the same mainspring that the clock movement does.EDIT: The preceeding description of the winding mechanism applies to the Baby Ben model. The Big Ben model has separate keys to wind the spring movements for the alarm and clock mechanisms, which are independent in this model, as well as separate stems to set the time for each. It also has a quieter, deeper toned ticking sound.The last consideration is the ticktock sound. If you are willing to adapt to it, it can be a quite soothing form of white noise. As a matter of fact, I can't get to sleep any more if I can't hear that ticking.The original clocks were work horses with metal gears and accessible cases so that the mechanism can be oiled and last for decades. The new ones have plastic gears and sealed cases that you can't get into. I give them a 5-7 year lifetime, at most. I can't say how "authentic" these models being sold here are, however my guess is that they are molded plastic rather than machined metal. I doubt they would be sold for under $20 if they were.So, if you are willing to wind up your alarm clock every night before going to bed, you can have a serviceable and reliable alarm wake you up in the morning.EDIT 2: It is now the start of June 2012, and the clock has stopped working. There is pretty much no way to fix it because it is all plastic, except for the alarm bell. It gave signs of impending death by needing to be wound twice a day, or it would stop. Accordingly, it has dropped from 5 stars to 2, for providing a year of service.However, the original Westclox Big Ben clocks typically lasted 15-30 years. That makes this imitation a real dud. I'm surprised that an old company with such a reputation for quality would be willing to put their name on this junk.

I purchased this Big Ben as a replacement for my smaller Baby Ben once it stopped working. And given that it survived a house fire; and continued on for several more years, I'd say they are of good quality.I have always used Westclox; because I prefer Keywound Alarm Clocks, and I knew going into my purchase that the clocks are not made as they were 40 - 50 years ago, but neither was the one that survived the fire. It keeps perfect time; and the alarm is loud enough to wake even the soundest of sleepers.This version has a "Time Regulator" which can be used if your clock is running too fast or too slow. I have not had to use it, because as I said, it's keeping perfect time. The numerals and hands do not glow in the dark; I have somewhat limited sight; and they are large enough to be seen when using a night light.Overall I am thrilled w/ my purchase; and highly recommend it to anyone who simply wants a plain basic alarm clock.