Tips on How to Properly Care for Your Grandfather Clock

Dutch clockmaker William Clement built the first "long-cased" clock in 1670. And Composer Henry Clay Work gave them their name- (click here for details "The Charming History of the Grandfather Clock". They started to gain popularity in the seventh century, and today, many people grace their homes with them. Read this informative article and learn some tips on how to properly care for your Grandfather Clock!

Note: If your clock is a newer model and it's under warranty, be careful not to do anything to it that may void your agreement. Or, if you still have the instructions, follow them carefully to keep your clock in the best condition.

Placing and Leveling
First, to make sure it can work correctly, and protect its case, choose a location for your tall clock that's away from fireplaces, heat/air conditioning ducts, strong sunlight and all other sources of heat and cold. Also, choose a dry location.

Second, although they are beautiful pieces of furniture, Grandfather Clocks are tall- they usually measure over six feet tall- and heavy- they can weigh around fifty pounds or more. Their height, in addition to their weights, make them top heavy. If your Grandfather Clock isn't placed on a level floor in your home, it could spell d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r. Besides being unsafe, an unleveled clock can't work properly. That is, the pendulum won't be able to move in proper time if it's leaning in one direction or the other. Use a level to make sure your timepiece is even from side-to-side, as well as from front-to-back.

Here's a tip on how to properly care for your Grandfather Clock: If you need to adjust the levelness of your Grandfather Clock, check under each corner of the cabinet. There should be levelers you can screw up or down.

Then, to make your Grandfather Clock even safer from accidentally falling over, you should secure it to the wall studs.