HOW TO PACK & MOVE YOUR GRANDFATHER CLOCK
Grandfather clocks are valued items that you will want to take with you to your new home. However, they require care to disassemble and transport safely. Grandfather clocksneed to be properly dismantled prior to being shipped.
If a grandfather clock is included in your long distance move, we recommend that you hire a professional to correctly prepare it for moving, but by following instructions carefully , you can do it on your own. Be sure never to move a grandfather clock without disassembling it first. Neglecting to disassemble your clock can cause irreparable damage. Take time to follow this simple guide to ensure that your grandfather clock is transported safely to your new home. Never move a grandfather clock, even across the room, with its weights and pendulum attached. Not only can this easily damage the clock’s movement kit, but it can also cause the pendulum to break, as well as possibly allowing the weights to swing in the case and break or damage the glass and case.
1. Open the side access window (if any) and move them to a safe place where you may not step on one and break it.
2. If the clock has cable holding the weights, insert 3 – 2″ square Styrofoam blocks that came with the clock above each pulley between the cables. If you do not have a Styrofoam block, make a tight square of newspaper about 2″ inches in diameter and hold the block or newspaper square above the pulley as you wind the weights one at a time until they stop with the paper or Styrofoam block jammed above the pulleys. This procedure prevents the cable from tangling when the weights are removed. You need to keep tension on the cables.
3. For clocks with chains, raise the weights so the clock is about half wound (middle of the clock). Use a piece of thin wire or twist ties to string the chains together just where the chains protrude below the movement and tie the wire together; this action will secure the chains so they do not come off their sprockets. These need to be tight or the chain will come off the sprocket.
4. Remove the weights while wearing gloves and look at the bottom to see if they are marked “Left – Center – Right” . If not, mark them so they can be replaced to the same position on the clock for installation later. For clocks with chains, secure the chains by bunching them from bottom to top and wrapping them in newspaper and place a rubber band around the package so that they do not move around and possibly damage the finish. Package up the weights carefully as not to dent the brass casings.
5. Remove the pendulum by holding it from the middle and slightly moving it up. It should un-hook from the pendulum leader easily. DO NOT FORCE IT. The pendulum guide needs to be so that it may not move around during moving and it should never be under a lot of tension in any direction. You may take one or two full width pages of newspaper and gather the loose paper around the pendulum guide. Use just enough so it remains loose, but unable to freely move around.
6. Reinstall the access panels and lock them in or tape them from the inside (glass to wood) so the windows will not come out and break during moving. Close and lock the door(s).
7) The mover will wrap the clock to protect the furniture. The furniture pads should completely surround the clock.
8. The clock can now be carefully moved to it’s new location. If the clock is a newer clock, you may move it on it’s back if you have followed the instructions above to the letter. Older clocks may need only to be moved in an upright position because of the weight of the movement and the way the movement may be fastened to the case.
Or you can hire a third party to prepare your grandfather clock. They should inventory and document the proper working condition of the clock prior to service, discuss any concerns with you, block chimes, wind cables, cables and spools, tie down hammers and secure crutches. They will wear hand protection when touching internal parts and weights on the clock,remove all loose spindles and glass windows or shelves from clock. They will remove, wrap, and label each weight from the clock as well as package pendulums and secure them in proper containers for transit.
At destination, They first verify the condition of the clock to make sure it wad not damaged during transport and find proper placement for set up. WeThey should also wear hand protection when touching all internal components of clock. They will hang weights and pendulum, set beat, and verify level of clock. They will check the chime mode and proper time of clock.