How to unpack your new Grandfather clock

When you purchase a new Grandfather clock, it will arrive in a very large box. Figuring out how to safely unbox the thing can be a little overwhelming. In this article, we will talk you through the simplest process for unboxing and setting up your clock. 

THE UNBOXING PROCESS

The first thing you will want to do before even opening the box is locate the shockwatch. If the shockwatch shows red, please contact customer support. If there is no red, you are clear to remove the ties and tape from the box. Next, carefully remove the clock from the box. We recommend having two people for this part of the process. Once the clock is free, take the box of weights out from underneath and set it aside for now. The clock will have foam, plastic and boxes for other parts positioned all around. Remove these in whatever order you like. The finial box, if your clock includes one, can be found on top of the clock, and the pendulum, key and gloves are packaged on the back. Once the packing materials are cleared away, attach the finial to the top of the clock. Take the bubble mailer and open it up. Inside you will find a set of gloves and the key. Use these gloves to unpack the pendulum. You want to avoid touching any brass with your bare hands as this could cause marring on the finish.

REMOVING THE PACKING MATERIAL

Depending on your grandfather clock, there may be varying ways to access the interior. Some have doors on the side, some have removeable back panels, and the one we’re unboxing today has a removeable shroud. Once you figure out which one your clock has, you will need to remove all the internal packaging. There will be multiple foam pieces on the chime rods, a plastic rack holding the chains as well as twist ties and a ziplock around the chains.

SETTING UP THE CLOCK

Check to make sure the hammers are aligned properly with the chime rods. If they are not, take a look at our video on adjusting hammers. Now it’s time to get your clock into whatever spot it will be living. Once you have it positioned, put the gloves back on and hang the pendulum and the weights. Each weight will have a sticker on it, indicating where it should be hung. Finally, replace the shroud (or close up the clock, depending on the style you have), and set the time. If the hammers are aligned, all you have to do is push the minute hand clockwise around the clock until you get to the correct time. Pull the weights up and now your new grandfather clock is running! Remember that you will need to pull the weights up again at regular intervals.