Believe it or not, replicas of some of the alarm clocks from the 50's and 60's are becoming popular again. Companies like Westclox and Hampton have brought the past back with their selections. Some of the most famous bedside alarm clock retro models by Westclox are Authentic 1964 Big Ben Classic, Travel Ben (or replica style Traveler Folding Alarm Clock), and Westclox 1950 Big Ben Moonbeam Yellow Alarm Clock (also available in aqua blue, green and pink!), the famous Twin Bell alarm clock (Westclox Ardmore Twin Bell) as a key wound model, as well as the Hampton Quartz Desk Clock (Howard Miller Hampton Mantel Clock) with its famous roman numerals.

When purchasing a retro style alarm clock you really must make a decision whether you are just going for the looks and are okay with having the clock not be electric powered, not battery backed up and are you willing to put up with manual key winding. While a wind-up alarm clock may have been normally used in the 50's and 60's, it could be feel quite annoying today if you are planning to use the clock as an actual alarm clock. In that case a retro-electric alarm will be much preferred!

For a true 50's enthusiast, you could attach a radio to your old style retro alarm clock and end up with a model like Crosley Corsair Alarm Clock Radio (Corsair Clock Radio with CD Player in Black by Crosley Radio, also available in blue). This is a a dual alarm clock with a smokin' retro 1950s style chassis that looks like it was taken straight out of a 1950's Cadillac. Just find an oldies radio station on your retro bedside clock radio dial, use the radio station as an alarm and you will be waking up to the fifties every morning. An alternative would be a retro alarm clock with mp3 player, such as one with an iPod dock.

Some alarm clocks retro style are mixing the old with the new. The SuperSonic SC-8SP Vintage AM/FM Radio Alarm Clock (aka Supersonic SC-8SP Portable MP3 Speaker with FM Scan Radio and 3.5mm Auxiliary Jack for MP3 Players on Amazon) includes an mp3 player dock and a pair of speakers, so you can combine a retro-style look and a solid sound with the new mp3 and iPod technology by Apple and others.

For more modern, gradual alarm clocks, see gradual alarms.