Methods to transfer a grandfather clock safely

In the event you occur to personal a grandfather clock, likelihood is that it has been handed right down to you from earlier generations as a highly-valued household heirloom. In such a case, it’s solely pure that you simply’ll need the vintage clock to stay within the household – intact and in good situation – for the following generations to come back.

If it is advisable transfer home, nonetheless, you can be confronted with an unlimited problem. How will you transfer a grandfather clock safely? How will you transport it to your new house with out inflicting any harm to the fantastic ornaments, delicate ending, and complicated mechanism of your treasured timepiece?

To make sure the security of your lengthy case clock all through the relocation course of, no matter whether or not it’s certainly a household heirloom or only a priceless new addition to your property décor, it is advisable deal with it with nice care and observe a variety of important pointers that may provide help to correctly put together your treasured timepiece for transferring.

Learn on to learn to transfer a grandfather clock safely. Observe these logical packing and transferring steps to see your prized possession attain the brand new house completely intact.

What it is best to know earlier than transferring your grandfather clock

First issues first. There are 3 primary guidelines that you simply want to bear in mind earlier than you even think about packing and transferring your grandfather clock by yourself. Keep in mind that a ground clock is a specialty merchandise and as such, it normally requires particular care when transferring it from one house to a different.

1. NEVER elevate up and carry a grandfather clock with out disassembling it first. The clock weights and the pendulum have to be eliminated earlier than transporting the timepiece even a brief distance. In any other case, you threat not solely damaging the motion but in addition inflicting the suspended pendulum to interrupt or permitting the weights to swing within the case and trigger irreversible harm;
2. Do NOT contact the fragile parts of a grandfather clock with naked fingers. Use a mushy fabric or put on cotton gloves to forestall the oils which are naturally current on the human pores and skin from tarnishing the fantastic brass elements or glass parts of the clock;
3. Rent specialty movers who’ve the wealthy expertise, applicable packing supplies, {and professional} know-how to securely deal with and transfer your priceless clock.

If skilled movers aren’t an choice for one cause or one other, adhere strictly to the next directions on easy methods to transfer a grandfather clock by your self.

You need to just do fantastic.

Methods to disassemble a grandfather clock for transferring

Making ready a grandfather clock for transferring requires the utmost care and a focus in your half.

The very first thing it is advisable do is open the entrance of the clock case. Then, observe the steps under:

STEP 1. Take away the pendulum

• Cease the pendulum from swinging. Do it fastidiously.
• Maintain it from the center and elevate it slowly to take away it from the suspension spring that holds the pendulum in place. Don’t power it – the pendulum ought to unhook simply.
• Wrap some newspaper across the pendulum information to forestall it from transferring round throughout transportation.
• Wrap the pendulum itself with bubble wrap or foam sheets and pack it in a well-cushioned, tightly sealed transferring field.

STEP 2. Take away the weights

In case your clock is chain-driven,

• Pull the chains till the weights are about midway to the highest.
• Tie the chains along with a skinny wire (or twist ties) simply the place they protrude under the motion in order that they don’t come off of their sprockets throughout cargo.

In case your clock has cable-driven motion,

• Match blocks of onerous foam (roughly 2 inches sq.) or rolls of newspaper (about 2 inches in diameter) above every of the pulleys between the cables.
• Wind the weights up one after the other till they arrive to a cease in order that the paper rolls (or the froth blocks) are tightly jammed above the pulleys. This can maintain pressure on the cables and can stop them from tangling once you take away the weights.

Subsequent, observe these steps to take away the weights of your grandfather clock:

• Unhook the weights from the pulleys and take away them from the clock.
• Make certain you mark the weights (L- left, C – middle, and R – proper) as a way to know the place to place every of them upon reassembly. This is essential as a result of the weights aren’t an identical – the heaviest one is normally on the right-hand aspect and operates the chime mechanism.
• Wrap the weights in a mushy protecting materials to forestall harm to the brass casing and pack them safely in a correctly padded, sturdy transferring field.

STEP 3. Safe the cables and chains

After you have eliminated the pendulum and the weights, it is advisable guarantee that the cables and/or chains don’t get intertwined with one another or snap again into the clock’s motion.

To attain this you’re advisable to bunch the chains high to backside and wrap them with newspaper or bubble wrap. Safe the bundle with a rubber band or twist ties. This can maintain the chains and cables from tangling or banging in opposition to the edges of the case and damaging the end.

Alternatively, you may put a bit of cardboard behind the cables or chains and tape them to it – this can efficiently stop them from crossing over, transferring up into the clock’s motion, or getting misaligned.

STEP 4. Defend the chime rods

It’s also a good suggestion to safe the hammers for the chime and the putting mechanism. All it is advisable do is bend the corresponding levers to forestall the hammers from swinging freely throughout the case and getting broken. Then, stuff some bubble wrap or cardboard between the hammers and the bells and safe it in place with packing tape.

In case your ground clock has chime rods, it is best to match some bubble wrap or foam padding between the rods as effectively, in order that they don’t transfer and bang in opposition to one another throughout the transportation. Remember the fact that the chime rods are very fragile and tough to interchange.

STEP 5. Take away the glass cabinets and ornamental parts

Take away any cabinets from contained in the grandfather clock and wrap them individually in mushy packing paper and bubble wrap to forestall them from breaking.

If doable, take away any ornamental ornaments from the clock as effectively (most of them are easy dowels and will come out fairly simply). If the ornamental parts are firmly secured, be sure you place additional padding round them when packing the clock.

Contemplate stuffing a mushy blanket, crumpled paper, or packing peanuts contained in the case for added help.

STEP 6. Safe the entry panels

When the grandfather clock is totally dismantled, reinstall the entry panels and safe them in place by locking them or taping them. Don’t neglect to lock any home windows or doorways your clock might have and safe them with packing tape to forestall them from opening and getting broken throughout transit.

Methods to pack a grandfather clock for transferring

Packing a grandfather clock for transferring is pretty easy so long as it has been correctly disassembled (as described above).

Right here’s what it is advisable do to pack a grandfather clock for a transfer:

1. Pack the pendulum and the weights in mushy wrapping paper, then wrap them up in thick transferring blankets (furnishings blankets). Pack every weight individually to keep away from any undesirable contact between them throughout transport. Use sturdy packing tape to safe the bundles after which switch them right into a sturdy cardboard of the suitable dimension.
2. Defend the frontal glass sections of your grandfather clock by chopping out cardboard items that match the dimensions of every fragile part and putting these cardboard cut-outs over the simply breakable a part of the free-standing clock. Use masking tape to safe the cardboard protectors.
3. Wrap a number of furnishings blankets across the clock and safe them with packing tape. Don’t depart any areas unprotected and use as many padding blankets as obligatory to offer a superb stage of safety for the prized possession. Wrap two full circles of tape close to the highest of the clock, yet another on the center, and one close to the bottom;
4. Label all of the bins that comprise elements of your grandfather clock FRAGILE and HANDLE WITH CARE.

In case your grandfather clock is an vintage or has very excessive sentimental or financial worth, you’re strongly suggested to pack it in a custom-built wood crate. Unquestionably, the crate will guarantee the absolute best safety on your treasured timepiece. Be sure to fill any remaining house within the field with packing peanuts to forestall shifting throughout transportation.

Methods to transfer a grandfather clock by your self

In the event you’re transferring your grandfather clock by your self, use a dolly to take the fastidiously packed timepiece out of your property and to the transferring car. Tilt the field as little as doable when loading it on the truck. Use straps to safe the clock case, in order that it received’t slide, slip, or tumble down throughout transportation.

In case you are undecided easy methods to transport a grandfather clock, you’d higher maintain it in an upright place throughout transit. Newer grandfather clocks may be moved mendacity down however this places pointless stress on the panels and glass parts, rising the danger of breaking. Older clocks should be moved upright due to the load of the motion and the best way it’s hooked up to the case.

You’re strongly suggested to by no means transfer your grandfather completely by yourself – it’s simply too dangerous due to the outsized dimensions, substantial weight, and excessive fragility of the family merchandise. Be sure to have at the very least one dependable helper, ideally two, throughout the packing and transportation part of the long-case clock.

See additionally: Methods to transfer vintage furnishings

What to do with the grandfather clock after the transfer

While you arrive in your new house, arrange the grandfather clock with nice care:

• Set up your delicate timepiece on flat steady flooring. А grandfather clock might not function correctly except it’s effectively balanced, so it is advisable make any obligatory changes to make sure the bottom of the clock is completely stage;
• Take away fastidiously the packaging and change all of the indifferent elements – ensure that all of the parts are correctly fitted and situated of their rightful locations;
• Enable the clock to achieve room temperature earlier than servicing;
• Begin the clock and guarantee correct timing. Re-adjust any moon dials and ensure the chimes ring precisely.

Packing and transferring a grandfather clock is kind of a problem. That is why it is best to think about having your treasured timepiece serviced by certified personnel after the relocation to verify it’s in prime situation.