How to Safely Ship a Grandfather Clock

A grandfather clock, like any large and delicate item, is a tricky thing to ship across the country. It requires serious skill, experience and knowledge to be able to safely ship such a sensitive item and get it delivered in the same condition it arrived in. Because grandfather clocks are oddly shaped and very sensitive, custom crating is the best way to ship them.

Let us walk you through how we were able to safely ship a grandfather clock from Massachusetts to Michigan on our recent shipment!

Preparing a Grandfather Clock for Shipment

Because this item is particularly tricky, an immense amount of care was put into preparing it for shipment. The first step in prepping a grandfather clock for shipment is to make sure your hands are covered, as to not leave any marks on the glass and to avoid getting oils on the brass.

Next, the clock should be disassembled. This is the best way to move the clock and keep it safe during transportation. Not only are the pieces themselves delicate, but it is an incredibly heavy item so by taking it apart ahead of transportation, you can make your job easier while making it a safer shipment, too.

After you disassemble the movable items inside the clock, be sure to secure all items that cannot be removed. Finally, it’s crucial to lock or tape the clock shut to avoid it opening during transport.

In our recent shipment, the clock was a sentimental piece being passed down from father to son, so it was extremely important that it not get damaged. The clock was already disassembled so we could skip that step. The clock face was protected with foam and the entire clock was bubble wrapped to protect from any scratching or damage. We locked the clock and secured it with foam lined bracers to prevent any shifting during shipment.

Sometimes, it is also useful to enlist a clock specialist, if you don’t have prior experience disassembling clocks to ensure you’re doing everything correctly.

grandfather clock transportation — *Grandfather clock was surrounded by bubble wrap, held in place by foam line bracers, and the crate was lined with foam to ensure there would be no damage while shipping to Michigan.*

grandfather clock packaged for shipment — *The very fragile clock face of this family heirloom was protected with foam.*

Transporting a Grandfather Clock

Once the clock was taken apart, all parts were packed securely, the clock was surrounded by a custom shipping crate. We needed something totally secure and sturdy so the clock would not move during transport. One inch foam lined the inside of this crate for plenty of padding for the clock. Not only was the clock itself bubble wrapped, that bubble wrap will be padded up against the foam lining for extra cushioning.

All the clock items that were taken apart were separately packed up in a cardboard box that was secured to the bracers of the crate. Once all of this was done, the crate was enclosed and labeled for ease of transport and they were ready to go!