Written by: Kate Becker
Date:

Let’s face it – moving is something that seems pretty simple to do – until it very suddenly isn’t. Why? Because it entails many challenges which you may not be prepared for. Sure, transporting a pile of books to your new home may not require any special knowledge of training. But what about special or fragile items? For example, how would you transport a Grandfather Clock safely? You needn’t worry though – we’ve got all the tips you’ll need for this undertaking right here!

Why should you pay special attention?

We’re picturing it right now – you’ve finished most of your moving preparations. Many of your things are already packed; you’re done looking for your perfect cross country moving companies Montana. But there’s still something that you have to take care of – the transport of your ancient Grandfather Clock. So why is this such a big deal at all? Well, for starters – Grandfather Clocks can have enormous value. Typically, these large, decorative clocks are antiques; and their value only increases over time.

A wooden rectangular clock hanging on a black wall, representing the time when you transport a Grandfather Clock.

If you’re going to transport a Grandfather Clock – you’ll need to concentrate and pay close attention!

And even if it’s not a particularly old and rare Grandfather Clock – it may have special sentimental value for you. Generally, such a clock remains a family heirloom for a long time; it’s passed down from generation to generation. So, yes – while you may not be able to get a lot of money for it if you were selling; there’s still a chance that it may be incredibly worthy to you in particular. In any case – you definitely want to show some special attention while you transport a grandfather clock. If you don’t want it to suffer any damage, that is.

What are you dealing with when you transport a grandfather clock?

Before you start thinking about how you’re going to transport a Grandfather Clock in the first place; you should know exactly what you’re moving. First of all – bear in mind that this kind of clock has quite a few removable parts, and they’re all incredibly fragile. So, fair warning – you may not want to do this on your own, no matter how skillful you think you are. This is the type of stuff that most people just hire cross country moving companies North Dakota; there’s no shame in seeking help.

An hourglass with blue sand, sitting among pebbles outside.

When you transport fragile objects, devote as much time to it as you can!

So, with that in mind: what exactly makes up a Grandfather Clock? First of all, you’ve got the most important part – the clock face. Depending on the materials it’s made of, this part may be quite breakable, so be careful. Then, you’ve got the swinging pendulum that will also be a bit difficult to pack, because of its length. And finally, there’s a sort of a pulley mechanism inside the clock. These cables, or in some cases chains, are the trickiest part – you don’t want this to get tangled up during the relocation. So, before you even think about dissembling this clock; make sure you’ve memorized or written down exactly how its wired on the inside.

Make sure you have everything you need

When you’re doing any kind of job or task – it’s important to have the right supplies, right? Let’s face it – getting ready to transport a grandfather clock is no different. Because of this, while we give you our tips for moving appliances such as the clock; don’t forget to gather all of your supplies. So, what exactly will you need?

  • Some gloves – As we’ve mentioned; for this task, you’ll need to be especially careful. So, it wouldn’t hurt to find a pair of gloves, so you can handle everything with smaller chances of something breaking or being scratched.
  • Padding for transport – Obviously, you’ll need to protect all of the parts in the transit process itself. So, find plenty of padding for your moving boxes which will contain these parts. You don’t want the pendulum clanking around in an empty box during the ride, do you?
  • Moving boxes – Speaking of the boxes; apart from the moving boxes which will contain the separate parts, you will also need a special one. To be more precise, you’ll need a box with a size that allows you to transport the outside of the clock. Remember – you might need a sturdier crate instead of an ordinary cardboard box for this.

Find someone to help you out

Sure, you can read all the online tutorials and how-to videos you want – including this one. But in all honesty, as we’ve already mentioned; you may not be able to pull this one off on your own. And this is something you won’t realize until it’s already too late – when you’ve made a fatal mistake. This is why most people prepare for moving such items by hiring a moving company instead. Let’s face it – leaving this in the hands of professionals is probably the best thing to do.

The top of a brown wooden Grandfather clock, in front of a white background.

Grandfather clocks can be tough for handling – so make sure you’ve got someone to help you!

Regardless – you may have your own reasons for doing this by yourself. And sure, you may be able to remove all of the parts inside perfectly and memorize where everything goes. But actually moving the body of the clock will be more difficult than you think. Which is why we recommend at least calling up a couple of friends to help you; that way you won’t throw your back out doing this. With the help of some friends or neighbors who know their way around practical problems, you probably won’t have a tough time even with this task!