Grandfather Clock - White Glove Service

The term White Glove Service is not only used to evoke an image of old world service, but it is also practical advice. Using cotton or vinyl gloves will prevent the oils which are naturally present on the human skin from coming in contact with the finished brass on a clock’s face, weights or pendulum thus preventing the tarnishing of these parts.

The servicing of the clock can be tricky if you do not know what you are doing. The pendulum needs to be removed. This is done by unhooking it from the timing mechanism, which is a suspension spring connected to the escapement of the clock. The escapement is then secured to prevent any damage or movement.

The proper preparation of the weights and cables or chains is the item most commonly ignored when a non-professional disassembles a clock prior to transportation. For clocks that have weights held by cables, a piece of foam is fitted securely in each of the cables to maintain tension on the cables during transport. This prevents the cables from becoming loose or tangled during the move.

Grandfather clocks that have chains holding the weights are prepared differently. The weights are raised up half way, and then gently removed. As the weights are then removed, one at a time, they are labeled so they can be reinstalled in the correct order at destination. The remaining chains are bundled together and secured for transport.

Custom crating of clocks is generally recommended, especially for antique or “kit-clocks”. It is also the best method of protection for clocks that have glass panels. Many clocks are family heirlooms and highly valued by their owners. Repairs can be very expensive, not to mention time consuming, and qualified personnel are often difficult to locate.

At the destination, the clock should be allowed to reach room temperature before servicing. Freezing temperatures can cause the oil in the pivot points to gum up. Delicate metal components will contract and restrict operation of moving parts in the mechanism. Attempting to set up clocks on delivery day in cold weather will usually result in a second service call.

Once the clock is uncrated, leveled, and set up, we set the “beat” and test to ensure accurate timing. We also re-adjust any moon dials and test that the chimes ring accurately.

All clocks serviced by AE Worldwide are tested at both origin and destination to determine their true running condition. Many clocks will run for 20 minutes if you start the pendulum but that does not mean that they are in proper working order. We recommend that all clocks be serviced at both origin and destination by qualified personnel. This will protect your company from claims and helps insure that the customers’ clock keeps running accurately well into the future.