A grandfather clock is one of the most beautiful — and most challenging — items to move. These tall, heavy, precision instruments have delicate internal mechanisms that are sensitive to movement, vibration, and improper handling. Moving a grandfather clock incorrectly can damage the movement permanently and disrupt years of careful timekeeping calibration. Here’s the professional approach.
Before the Move: Stop the Clock and Protect the Mechanism
First and most important: stop the pendulum and remove the pendulum from the clock. Most grandfather clocks have a door or access panel for this purpose.
Remove the weights and wrap them individually in moving blankets or foam — they are heavy and will damage the clock and each other if they swing freely during transport.
Remove the chime rods carefully if accessible, wrap individually, and pack in a protective box.
Securing the Internal Movement
Many grandfather clocks have a mechanism (the ‘movement’) that must be carefully padded inside the cabinet to prevent it from swinging or bouncing during transport.
Consult your clock’s manual or a professional clock repair shop for model-specific instructions on securing the movement for transport.
Moving the Cabinet
Grandfather clock cabinets are typically freestanding and between 6 and 8 feet tall — requiring careful navigation through doorways and staircases.
Measure doorways and ceiling heights in the move path before attempting to transport. Some grandfather clocks must be tilted slightly to navigate low ceilings.
Wrap the entire clock cabinet in multiple moving blankets and secure them so no cabinet surfaces are exposed to contact.
Transport Orientation
Grandfather clocks should be transported upright whenever physically possible. Tilting or laying a grandfather clock on its side can damage the internal movement and cabinet joints.
If tilting is unavoidable for clearance, consult the manual for the acceptable tilt angle for your specific model.
After the Move: Setup and Recalibration
After the clock is placed at the new home, allow it to stand in place for at least 24 hours to stabilize before reinstalling the pendulum and weights.
Re-hang the pendulum, reinstall the weights in the correct order (consult manual), and restart the pendulum. Expect to need recalibration for accurate timekeeping — a clock repair technician can help with this.
Ready to Move? Let’s Make It Easy.
At Cheep Cheep Movers, we make local moving in the Twin Cities affordable and stress-free. Whether you need a full-service move or just some extra muscle, we’re here to help.
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