How to move a grandfather clock safely

If you happen to own a grandfather clock, chances are that it has been passed down to you from previous generations as a highly-valued family heirloom. In such a case, it’s only natural that you’ll want the antique clock to remain in the family – intact and in good condition – for the next generations to come.

If you need to move house, however, you will be faced with an enormous challenge. How can you move a grandfather clock safely? How can you transport it to your new home without causing any damage to the fine ornaments, delicate finishing, and intricate mechanism of your precious timepiece?

To ensure the safety of your long case clock throughout the relocation process, regardless of whether it’s indeed a family heirloom or just a valuable new addition to your home décor, you need to handle it with great care and follow a number of essential guidelines that will help you properly prepare your treasured timepiece for moving.

Read on to learn how to move a grandfather clock safely. Follow these logical packing and moving steps to see your prized possession reach the new home perfectly intact.

What you should know before moving your grandfather clock

First things first. There are 3 basic rules that you need to keep in mind before you even consider packing and moving your grandfather clock on your own. Remember that a floor clock is a specialty item and as such, it usually requires special care when moving it from one home to another.

1. NEVER lift up and carry a grandfather clock without disassembling it first. The clock weights and the pendulum must be removed before transporting the timepiece even a short distance. Otherwise, you risk not only damaging the movement but also causing the suspended pendulum to break or allowing the weights to swing in the case and cause irreversible damage;
2. Do NOT touch the delicate components of a grandfather clock with bare hands. Use a soft cloth or wear cotton gloves to prevent the oils that are naturally present on the human skin from tarnishing the fine brass parts or glass elements of the clock;
3. Hire specialty movers who have the rich experience, appropriate packing materials, and professional know-how to safely handle and move your valuable clock.

If professional movers are not an option for one reason or another, adhere strictly to the following instructions on how to move a grandfather clock by yourself.

You should do just fine.

How to disassemble a grandfather clock for moving

Preparing a grandfather clock for moving requires the utmost care and attention on your part.

The first thing you need to do is open the front of the clock case. Then, follow the steps below:

STEP 1. Remove the pendulum

• Stop the pendulum from swinging. Do it carefully.
• Hold it from the middle and lift it slowly to remove it from the suspension spring that holds the pendulum in place. Do not force it – the pendulum should unhook easily.
• Wrap some newspaper around the pendulum guide to prevent it from moving around during transportation.
• Wrap the pendulum itself with bubble wrap or foam sheets and pack it in a well-cushioned, tightly sealed moving box.

STEP 2. Remove the weights

If your clock is chain-driven,

• Pull the chains until the weights are about halfway to the top.
• Tie the chains together with a thin wire (or twist ties) just where they protrude below the movement so that they don’t come off of their sprockets during shipment.

If your clock has cable-driven movement,

• Fit blocks of hard foam (approximately 2 inches square) or rolls of newspaper (about 2 inches in diameter) above each of the pulleys between the cables.
• Wind the weights up one at a time until they come to a stop so that the paper rolls (or the foam blocks) are tightly jammed above the pulleys. This will keep tension on the cables and will prevent them from tangling when you remove the weights.

Next, follow these steps to remove the weights of your grandfather clock:

• Unhook the weights from the pulleys and remove them from the clock.
• Make sure you mark the weights (L- left, C – center, and R – right) in order to know where to put each of them upon reassembly. This is very important because the weights are not identical – the heaviest one is usually on the right-hand side and operates the chime mechanism.
• Wrap the weights in a soft protective material to prevent damage to the brass casing and pack them safely in a properly padded, sturdy moving box.

STEP 3. Secure the cables and chains

Once you have removed the pendulum and the weights, you need to make sure that the cables and/or chains do not get intertwined with each other or snap back into the clock’s movement.

To achieve this you’re recommended to bunch the chains top to bottom and wrap them with newspaper or bubble wrap. Secure the bundle with a rubber band or twist ties. This will keep the chains and cables from tangling or banging against the sides of the case and damaging the finish.

Alternatively, you can put a piece of cardboard behind the cables or chains and tape them to it – this will successfully prevent them from crossing over, moving up into the clock’s movement, or getting misaligned.

STEP 4. Protect the chime rods

It is also a good idea to secure the hammers for the chime and the striking mechanism. All you need to do is bend the corresponding levers to prevent the hammers from swinging freely within the case and getting damaged. Then, stuff some bubble wrap or cardboard between the hammers and the bells and secure it in place with packing tape.

If your floor clock has chime rods, you should fit some bubble wrap or foam padding between the rods as well, so that they don’t move and bang against each other during the transportation. Keep in mind that the chime rods are very fragile and difficult to replace.

STEP 5. Remove the glass shelves and decorative elements

Remove any shelves from inside the grandfather clock and wrap them individually in soft packing paper and bubble wrap to prevent them from breaking.

If possible, remove any decorative ornaments from the clock as well (most of them are simple dowels and should pop out quite easily). If the decorative elements are firmly secured, make sure you place extra padding around them when packing the clock.

Consider stuffing a soft blanket, crumpled paper, or packing peanuts inside the case for added support.

STEP 6. Secure the access panels

When the grandfather clock is fully dismantled, reinstall the access panels and secure them in place by locking them or taping them. Don’t forget to lock any windows or doors your clock may have and secure them with packing tape to prevent them from opening and getting damaged during transit.

How to pack a grandfather clock for moving

Packing a grandfather clock for moving is fairly straightforward as long as it has been properly disassembled (as described above).

Here’s what you need to do to pack a grandfather clock for a move:

1. Pack the pendulum and the weights in soft wrapping paper, then wrap them up in thick moving blankets (furniture blankets). Pack each weight separately to avoid any undesirable contact between them during transport. Use strong packing tape to secure the bundles and then transfer them into a sturdy cardboard of the right size.
2. Protect the frontal glass sections of your grandfather clock by cutting out cardboard pieces that match the size of each fragile section and placing these cardboard cut-outs over the easily breakable part of the free-standing clock. Use masking tape to secure the cardboard protectors.
3. Wrap several furniture blankets around the clock and secure them with packing tape. Don’t leave any areas unprotected and use as many padding blankets as necessary to provide an excellent level of protection for the prized possession. Wrap two full circles of tape near the top of the clock, one more at the middle, and one near the base;
4. Label all the boxes that contain parts of your grandfather clock FRAGILE and HANDLE WITH CARE.

If your grandfather clock is an antique or has very high sentimental or monetary value, you are strongly advised to pack it in a custom-built wooden crate. Without a doubt, the crate will ensure the best possible protection for your precious timepiece. Make sure you fill any remaining space in the box with packing peanuts to prevent shifting during transportation.

How to move a grandfather clock by yourself

If you’re moving your grandfather clock by yourself, use a dolly to take the carefully packed timepiece out of your home and to the moving vehicle. Tilt the box as little as possible when loading it on the truck. Use straps to secure the clock case, so that it won’t slide, slip, or tumble down during transportation.

If you are not sure how to transport a grandfather clock, you’d better keep it in an upright position during transit. Newer grandfather clocks can be moved lying down but this puts unnecessary pressure on the panels and glass elements, increasing the risk of breaking. Older clocks need to be moved upright because of the weight of the movement and the way it is attached to the case.

You are strongly advised to never move your grandfather entirely on your own – it’s just too risky because of the oversized dimensions, substantial weight, and extreme fragility of the household item. Make sure you have at least one reliable helper, preferably two, during the packing and transportation phase of the long-case clock.

See also: How to move antique furniture

What to do with the grandfather clock after the move

When you arrive in your new home, set up the grandfather clock with great care:

• Install your delicate timepiece on flat stable flooring. А grandfather clock may not operate properly unless it is well balanced, so you need to make any necessary adjustments to ensure the base of the clock is perfectly level;
• Remove carefully the packaging and replace all the detached parts – make sure all the components are properly fitted and located in their rightful places;
• Allow the clock to reach room temperature before servicing;
• Start the clock and ensure accurate timing. Re-adjust any moon dials and make sure the chimes ring accurately.

Packing and moving a grandfather clock is quite a challenge. This is why you should consider having your precious timepiece serviced by qualified personnel after the relocation to make sure it is in prime condition.