Item #0009 – General Electric Simulated Woodgrain Digital Clock Radio (1980s-1990s)

Is it possible to look incredibly cool when you’re curled up in a ball with drool running down your chin in your mittens-and-hot-cocoa flannel sheets (it’s August, by the way)? No, of course not, BUT then this alarm clock goes off waking you up with the sweet sounds of paper-towel-roll-and-plastic-spoon indie college radio.

Forget the cool factor. Let’s focus on the clock radio.

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This General Electric simulated woodgrain digital clock radio is almost as spectacular as my old 1992 Girl Talk clock radio PLUS phone (with included stickers for customization), but I guess it’s time to grow up. One downside to our GE clock radio is that it’s a huge guessing game in figuring out when they were manufactured; there doesn’t seem to be a consensus or surefire way to decipher the factory date code printed on them. Upon researching, I have found dates between 1975-1996 for this model….with a lot of question marks after said dates.

Despite not knowing more specifics, I am happy to report that my thrift store find is in perfect working condition. Complete with sleep and “snooz” buttons and options for AM or FM radio, the clock radio also safeguards against oversleeping due to a blackout with its nine-volt battery compartment. (That’s if you actually put a working battery in there.) This gem reminds me of my Casio calculator watch; they both face huge competition from our magical smartphones causing them to serve more as nostalgic pieces.

Unnecessary Side Note Alert: If I set an alarm for myself on my phone, I will almost ALWAYS wake up less than a minute or two right before it’s set to go off. How does my body do that?

Do you still have an alarm clock by your bed and use it instead of your phone?

Status: Sold on etsy on 9/15/16.

Random for You:

The first clock radios were huge and bulky; the smallest of these weighed about 25 pounds. Emerson produced a compact version in 1932 that came in at six pounds.

There are many products on the market that will track and analyze your sleep patterns. With that information, you can set the alarms of these wearables and tabletop units to go off during your optimal wake time when you are coming out of a sleep cycle preventing that groggy feeling in the morning. (I really want one like this Sense with Sleep Pill!)

The optimal time to go to bed is….between 8PM and midnight. I know, a very broad range, but following your body’s signal for sleepiness, you can pinpoint your bedtime and stick to it for your best sleep.