How to prepare a grandfather clock for a move
- Photograph the clock Take pictures of the inside of the trunk, the weights on their hooks and the dial.
- Stop the pendulum Hold the pendulum still and open the trunk door.
- Remove the hood Lift the hood off and set it face up on a blanket.
- Remove the pendulum Lift it slightly, draw it toward you and wrap it in a tube.
- Lower and label the weights Mark each weight and hook, wrap each in cloth and box them separately.
- Pad and strap the case Wrap the case in blankets, strap it to a dolly and lift from the base.
A longcase clock is a delicate machine inside a tall, top-heavy cabinet, and both halves can be damaged by a rushed move. The brass weights are heavy enough to split a board in the case if they swing loose, and the pendulum hangs from a thin spring that bends easily. This guide walks through the order of work, what to wrap, and when to hand the job to a crew.
Read the clock before you touch it
Start by finding out what you own. Most longcase clocks have a hood that slides forward or lifts up, a trunk door with the pendulum and weights behind it, and a base that sometimes holds a long weight chain. Look for the maker's instructions in the case or on the maker's site, because some clocks need a locking screw or a transit bracket set before they travel.
Take photos of the inside of the trunk and of how each weight hangs. The pictures cost nothing and settle questions later about which weight goes on which side. If the clock is an antique, read moving antiques safely as well, since age and value change how much padding and paperwork the move needs.
Take it apart in this order
The sequence matters because each step removes weight or swing from the part you handle next.
- Stop the pendulum by hand, then open the trunk door.
- Lift the hood straight off and set it face up on a blanket, because the hood glass and the dial are the easiest parts to scratch.
- Unhook the pendulum by lifting it slightly and drawing it toward you. Never pull on the thin suspension spring at the top.
- Lower each weight gently. Mark every weight and every hook with a tape label such as left, center, right, so the strike and chime trains go back the way they came.
- Wrap each weight in a cloth and carry the weights in a small, sturdy box with cloth between them.
- Tape the trunk door shut with painter's tape that is safe on the finish, and pad the hood opening.
Wrap and carry the case
Once the clock is empty, the case is a tall wooden cabinet with a high center of gravity. Wrap it in moving blankets and hold the wrap with straps or stretch film on top of the blankets, never on the bare finish. Lift from the base, never from the hood, the pediment or the door.
Many clocks travel upright, strapped to a dolly. Some makers prefer the case on its back, padded and supported along its length. Follow the maker's advice if you have it. Either way, plan for at least two people, a clear path, and a plan for stairs before anyone lifts.
Keep the loose parts together
The pendulum, weights, winding key and hood glass are small compared with the case, so they get lost. Put them in one labeled box and keep it with you or on the same load as the case. A pendulum wrapped in a cardboard tube with soft paper around the bob arrives straight.
List the clock on your inventory with a short description and a photo. If the clock is valuable, ask about valuation coverage before the move so the value is on paper. Federal household goods rules in 49 CFR Part 375 cover the inventory and the paperwork that goes with it.
Setting it up at the new home
Put the case where it will stand, level it with shims or the leveling feet, and anchor it to the wall if the clock or your household calls for it. Hang the weights in their marked positions, hang the pendulum, and start it gently.
The clock then needs to be set in beat, which means the tick and the tock are evenly spaced. Give it a few days of running, and let the wood adjust to the dry high-desert air of Reno and Sparks before you judge the timekeeping.
When to hand it to a crew
A tall clock on a staircase is a two-person job at the very least. O'Brien's offers fine art and antique moving, and custom crating is available for a clock whose case is delicate or whose value is high. The free in-home estimate is the place to show the estimator the clock, the stairs and the route out.