Long case clock transportation

[Richard Savage]

Advice please on how to transport a long case clock.

AFAICR it is about 6'6'' tall and about 16'' square. The power(?) is provided by a weight rather than a spring.

I do not know if the movement and housing are removable from the case, but my its' owner thanks they may be.

I'm going to look at it today so can investigate further if prompted with the right things to look for.

Aesthetically it's rather attractive and has all number of little windows in the face with moon phases and calendar information.

TIA Richard

[jerrybuilt]

Is it an old or valuable clock? This is an important question.

Carefully remove the hood. Take off the weights. Remove the pendulum. Ensure nothing is going to fall off. Plan how you are going to move the clock, including where you are going to hold it when doing so. Ascertain what is fragile and what can be handled. Transport upright.

________________________________________________________________ Sent via the PAXemail system at paxemail.com

[Jeremy Collins]

From an insurance point of view, it might be worth getting a specialist mover if it is valuable...

-- jc

[Peter Ashby]

Whatever you do, keep those weights well away from the clock. My father had a long case shipped out to us in NZ after my Great Uncle died. The shippers just left the weights loose in the case and they did some considerable damage to the wood and glass. It needed some restoration anyway, but not that much. In ours the mechanism was removable through the back once the weights were removed and the chains brought up. So I would recommend you remove it and pack separately as otherwise it might move inside the case of its own accord.

Since my father's death, I have inherited said clock and am facing the prospect of arranging its return to this country. It's currently at my sister's place. She says she has a shipper who knows how to do it properly this time.

Anyone got any ideas on how a late 18thC clock will react to a centrally heated house?

Peter

[Ian]

In almost all cases the movement is removable, first remove the hood, then unhook the weights and remove the pendulum, then simply lift off the movement (the seat board is not usually fixed in place). The case can then be simply transported as a piece of delicate furniture. Transport the movement in a protective box keeping it upright.

Take care on reassembly, levelling the case and movement, it may take some adjustment to the pensulum to get the tick even after moving.

Take sensibly precautions and they are not that delicate...they have lasted 200-300 years of mistreatment after all!

Ian

[Jb]

My grandfathers grandfather clock suffered considerable damage after it came here due to the CH... Don't know the answer but it mainly affected the wood finish, French polished I think..

[Muddy Paws]

Fully wind the clock before removing the weights, then remover the pendulum, box weights on there own, put movement in a box 3-4 inches too big and pack with screwed up newspaper.