Shipping an antique clock

[Rhodyspit75]

I have a Simplex time clock from the early 1900's that I need to have packed and shipped to Austin Texas from RI. The thing that most concerns me is the glass in the door because it has the original decal and is therefore irreplaceable.
I have a UPS store near me but I was wondering if any of you had any suggestions

thanks Ernie.

 

[dklawson]

I share your concerns. I would pack this myself rather than leave it to the store.

It should go without saying that you need to remove the pendulum and wrap it by itself. For the clock and its case, I would make a Masonite or MDF front cover to protect the whole front door of the clock, especially the glass. I would wrap the clock with a T-shirt or similar to protect the wood, then place the cover plate over the glass and secure it in place using packing tape. The tape would only be in contact with the T-shirt and cover so the case would not be damaged by the tape. I would wrap the clock in a couple of layers of bubble wrap then place that in a box. I might put that box inside another box filled with packing peanuts.... but I'm just nervous.

 

[Basil]

Remove any movable parts (like pendulum) and blue-tape the door shut. Tape a layer of cut-to-fit cardboard (or other more solid material) across the front door, slightly larger than the door. I'd use lots of bubble wrap and probably double box it with more bubble wrap between the inner and outer box. Then make sure UPS is aware of need to be marked fragile (and buy insurance). In other words - overkill on the protection. Good luck.

 

[SD Bugeye]

I've seen some old clocks that ship with a piece of balsa wood wedged in certain place to keep it from moving
if it were mine and it looks like a pretty cool clock I would do some research before shipping it.
https://www.horologica.co.uk/top/3_shipping.html

 

[dklawson]

Remove any movable parts ....

That sounds familiar.

 

[Basil]

That sounds familiar.

We apparently were making our posts at the same time.

 

[AngliaGT]

Spend more,& overpack everything -
better to get it there in one piece.
Cheaper in the long run.

 

[PAUL161]

We get UPS deliveries all the time and they are not very careful with handling the goods. I believe it's in their distribution centers and not on the delivery trucks. FedEx orders seem to be more carefully handled, DHL is also good. Now saying that, orders we get through USPS have never been damaged. The wife orders a lot of china and porcelain figurines and USPS has never broken one, UPS has, sometimes 2 or 3 in a box are cracked or broken. PJ

 

[Silverghost]

What's your time frame on having to ship this? I design custom packaging and could build you a shipping container for your clock if you have a little time (no pun intended there! ) PM me if I can help.

 

[Bayless]

Beautiful old clock Ernie. I worked for Standard Electric Clocks for a while during college. In addition to all the excellent advice above, you also need to protect the escapement during shipment. First be sure the spring is fully run down before removing the pendulum. Be careful when removing it as the little lever that attaches it to the escapement (actually the verge) can be easily damaged. Finally, tape the verge to the escapement or otherwise fix them together so they can't move in shipment. The verge is very hard but brittle and the teeth on the brass escapement are quite fragile. Here is a clock I replaced with a new one at the Oklahoma College for Women. My manager let me have the old one. It is really interesting in that nearly all of these clocks had an oak case but this one is hard maple instead. I have the timing mechanism somewhere but haven't seen it in years.

 

[Rhodyspit75]

The clock has safely found its new home in Austin Texas. I met with the gentleman at UPS and we went over the packing before I let them ship it. He was most concerned about the movement coming free during shipping. I showed him that it was held in with 3 number 12 wood screws. He still was going to pack air bags around it and fill the rest of the case as well. He put something over the glass and then wrapped the whole thing in bubble wrap. Then it went into a box.

I didnt remove the pendulum but but I secured it so that it couldn't move. Thanks for all the help.

 

[Bayless]

Congratulations on getting it done safely.