RELO Roundtable…a gathering place

Is it better to try to relocate it yourself or hire moving professionals?

Transporting a grandfather or grandmother floor clock is a little more complicated than just moving normal household goods. 

Professional movers will tell your that there is never any "one size fits all" advice that can be accurate in every situation.

When moving these types of large timepieces, the term "white glove service" is not only used to evoke an image of delicate, old world service, but it is also practical advice. Using cotton or vinyl gloves will prevent the oils which are naturally present on the human skin from coming in contact with the finished brass on a clock’s face, weights or pendulum thus preventing the tarnishing of these parts.

The servicing of the clock can be tricky if you do not know what you are doing. The pendulum needs to be removed. This is done by unhooking it from the timing mechanism, which is a suspension spring connected to the escapement of the clock. The escapement is then secured to prevent any damage or movement. 

Never, NEVER move a grandfather clock, even across the room, with its weights and pendulum attached. Doing so can can easily damage the movement, but it can also cause the suspended pendulum to break, or possibly allow the weights to swing thus breaking the glass or damaging the case.

Taking care of the "Works"

The proper preparation of the weights and cables or chains is the item most commonly ignored when a non-professional disassembles a clock prior to transportation. For clocks that have weights held by cables, a piece of foam is fitted securely in each of the cables to maintain tension on the cables during transport. This prevents the cables from becoming loose or tangled during the move.

Grandfather clocks that have chains holding the weights are prepared differently. The weights are raised up half way, and then gently removed. As the weights are then removed, one at a time, they are labeled so they can be reinstalled in the correct order at destination. The remaining chains are bundled together and secured for transport.

Custom crating of clocks is generally recommended, especially for antique or “kit-clocks”. It is also the best method of protection for clocks that have glass panels. Many clocks are family heirlooms and highly valued by their owners. Repairs can be very expensive, not to mention time consuming, and qualified personnel are often difficult to locate.

At the destination, the clock should be allowed to reach room temperature before servicing. Freezing temperatures can cause the oil in the pivot points to gum up. Delicate metal components will contract and restrict operation of moving parts in the mechanism. Attempting to set up clocks on delivery day in cold weather will usually result in a second service call.

Once the clock is uncrated, leveled, and set up, you set the “beat” and test to ensure accurate timing. One must also re-adjust any moon dials and test that the chimes ring accurately.

Many clocks will run for 20 minutes if you start the pendulum but that does not mean that they are in proper working order. It is recommend that all clocks be serviced at both origin and destination by qualified personnel. This will protect your treasure from damage and helps insure that the clock keeps running accurately well into the future.

Dennis Esernia is Regional Sales Director for AE Worldwide, a nationwide household goods third party service company. 

AE provides relocating  homeowners with trained, professional assistance for items that require specialized preparation in order to be safely transported by either a full service moving company or for those simply wanting to move it themselves.

Dennis is a moving industry veteran who's spent much of his career at the national van line level.  He can be reached by email at dennise@aeworldwide.us, or call 1-800-631-7174 and an account representative will assist you with your own relocation dilemma.

Other Articles by Dennis Esernia

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How to prepare a pool table for a move – RELO Roundtable