Grandfather clocks can be very delicate and will require special preparation to be moved. It is possible to do the job yourself, but it’s usually worth hiring a professional who knows how to move a grandfather clock properly. When contacting companies about moving a grandfather clock, be prepared with accurate dimensions so that they can provide an adequately sized crate. Ask them what steps you will need to take before they arrive to prepare your grandfather clock for shipping. Some companies may offer full service moves, where they take care of the entire process from start to finish, or require that you disassemble and wrap the clock yourself.
You may need to have the clock fully prepared for loading into the crate before the moving company arrives. Once you have the measurements of your clock, you should acquire enough material to completely envelop the clock, including the top and bottom. You can estimate this by adding a few inches to each of the dimensions.
You will also need to remove and wrap the pendulum separately to avoid any damage from movement. The pendulum should be connected to the timing mechanism of the clock, which will need to be wrapped and secured to the pendulum for the move.
When wrapping the clock, make sure you have plenty of tape or nylon to secure the wrapping materials to the clock and that you cover any areas, especially edges and corners, that could sustain damage during transport. You can use small squares of cardboard at the corners to further protect and prevent damage.
You or an agent of yours should check your clock with the movers before transporting it and again before accepting delivery to ensure that it has not suffered any damage. This also ensures that you will have documentation to make a claim in the unfortunate case that your grandfather clock should be damaged during shipping.
