Moving A Grandfather Clock?

1. Inspect your grandfather clock, check its wooden case for cracks or other types of damage. Weakened areas or damaged parts can lead to more serious problems during the moving.

2. Protect the cables of cable-driven pendulum clocks.
Put on cotton gloves, open the front glass panel and stop the clock pendulum from swinging. Insert several folded pieces of packing paper above each pulley holding the cables and wind up the weights all the way to the top.
3. If you own a chain-driven grandfather clock, then protect the chains. Stop the pendulum from swinging and wind up the weights halfway, about three-quarters of the entire length. DO NOT pull the weights all the way. Insert cable ties just below the sprocket of each set of chains, then fix those ties in place.
4. Gently unhook each clock weight.
5. See on bottom of each clock weight whether its been pre-labeled.
If its not marked, then label each weight correspondingly - Left, Center or Right.
6. If youre moving a chain-driven grandfather clock, then secure the hanging chains. Wrap the chains together in soft packing paper to form 3 distinct sections along their entire length top, center, bottom. Then use tape to secure those mini paper bundles together.
7. Remove the side panel and get a hold of the pendulum guide, with the other hand lift up the pendulum, gently and slowly in the front section, until it unhooks from its guiding mechanism. Do not use more force than its necessary.
8. If your grandfather clock has chime rods, then protect those rods. Add small pieces of bubble wrap between the rods, then use tape to fix the protective material.
9. Remove glass shelves. Remove wooden ornaments which can be removed safely, and look too fragile to survive the move unscathed. Pack every thing in packing paper first, then in protective blankets.
10. Re-install the side access panel of your grandfather clock and lock it in position.
11. Pack the pendulum and each weight individually so that they wont be able to touch. First in packing paper first, then wrap them with thick moving blankets.
12. Cut out cardboard pieces that match the shape and dimensions of each separate glass section, then place the cardboard over those easily breakable areas of the floor clock. Use painters tape (masking tape) to secure those cardboard cut-outs without leaving nasty glue marks on the glass surface. Add an extra bubble wrap layer over the cardboard one.
13. Wrap the entire body of the big clock in moving blankets. Use packing tape to secure the blankets.
14. Move and load the grandfather clock onto a dolly with help of a couple of helpers. Use the two-wheeler that is used for moving heavy and tall household items such as refrigerators, washing machines and so on. Secure the heavy load onto it.
15. Keep your grandfather clock upright while youre wheeling your grandfather clock out of your home. Wheel up the utility dolly along the loading ramp to get it inside the back of the moving van. Strap well the grandfather clock to the side to restrict any unwanted movement during the relocation trip.
16. Move in new house and re-assemble your grandfather clock by following these steps in reverse order.