I need to move three large clocks to my house and need to know what must be done to each to ensure a safe trip. One is a grandfather clock about 7 feet tall and two are what I call hall clocks that are large (about 4 feel tall).

I know to remove the pendulum and weights, but is there anything else that should be done?

Would it be best to hire a professional company?

We have an open bed pick up and also access to a flat bed trailer with side panels.

Any recommendations are greatly appreciated!

Remove fragile items like finials. Protect the glass with styrofoam, it's available in various thickness at the large Home Centers. Wrap each clock with a heavy blanket and secure with light rope, tape or bunge cords. Separate the weights and pendulums and wrap each individually.
If your pickup will accommodate all three clocks use that one. And two careful workmen. Good Luck.

Mary Ann, I am not an expert, however the pickup would be easier on the clocks, less bouncing around and with Vincent's suggestions I would say you will be fine.

My suggestion would be NO TRAILER

Too much bounce on the trailers. I would like to have an extended cab or 3-4 door pickup to put the wall clocks in the back seat padded well & wrapped with blankets. The grandfather I would like to move lying down face up. If you have an eggshell foam type thin mattress, I would lay it on that, and cover with blankets. You need to wrap the clock first and secure the whole enchilada with string, rope, twine and than put it in the bed of the truck. You will need to secure it on all four corners from being able to slide or move around with rope.

If distance is greater than 25 miles, I would stop every 25 miles to see how things are riding. Hope that will help you to have a safe journey.

regards,
bb

One more thought... If there are chains involved, run a wire or string through the upper most links to make sure they don't jump or fall off of the sprocket gears.

The woodwork and glass is probably the most fragile part.

I would also recommend putting the chime rods into a block of styrofoam to support them, they are easily damaged.

Curly

Thank you, everyone, for your thoughts and ideas! I am finding that there is quite a lot of prep work to do before even thinking of starting to move a clock!

When I do eventually get the clocks moved to our house, I will take pictures to post here.

Thanks, again!

Well, it took a while, but we finally got the clocks moved! After Richard and my son, Rich, looked at them, it was decided to hire a professional moving company. The man who disassembled the clocks was exceedingly careful, not even touching the pendulums with his hands. I was very pleased overall and all the clocks made the trip intact.

Two clocks are not pictured as my brother broke off the carved wooden base of one and it is being repaired. The other hasn't been hung yet and is an all wood clock with a rock as the pendulum. I'll try to post pictures of the two when they are eventually hung.

Below are a few pictures and what I do know of them. I have very little knowledge of clocks and the various types and styles. If anyone has information to share it will be most appreciated!

This is the grandfather clock. It was made by the Barwick division of Howard Miller which I have found are the less expensive clocks made by the company.

The dial....

Weights and pendulum...

We always called this one the "saw" clock. The dial is marked Linden and it was made in Japan. I always liked this one as a kid.

Close up of the dial...

I call this one the Venice clock. I can't find any markings except R A on the pendulum. My mother put a note in it that said they bought it in Venice in 1977 and paid $175.00 US.

The dial and pendulum...

The last is a huge wall clock measuring about 5 feet tall. It was made by the Gazo Family Clock Factory sometime around 1974. I found online that they manufacture clocks with old world styling. I would like to know what type clock this is. There are several metal rods that strike something to create the tones. I call this one the rook because of the birds on the dial...

Close up showing the rooks on the dial...

Another showing the metal rods...

Thanks for looking at my clocks! My parents were very fortunate to be able to travel the world and always brought back a clock of some kind from where ever they went.

If anyone can help me with the styles and types, I would greatly appreciate it!

The clock "the Rooks" as you call it is called a "free swinger",many were made by the great German clockmakers of old. the grandfather has what is called "a rolling moon dial",and the wall clock is a Vienna regulator style clock.

Thank you very much, Tom!