Almost every estate cleanout we do in Southern California has one thing in common: a grandfather clock nobody in the family has room for. It might be an heirloom, a 1980s department store model, or a battery-powered reproduction. Either way, it’s tall, top-heavy, full of glass, and harder to move than it looks. Here’s what to check first, where it can go besides the landfill, and how to get it out safely.
A grandfather clock (also called a tall case or longcase clock) looks like furniture but doesn’t move like it. According to Movers.com, most weigh between 100 and 220 pounds, nearly all of it in a narrow cabinet that tips easily. On top of that:
Open the front door of the case and look inside. What you find decides where the clock can go.
Chains or cables holding two or three brass weights and a long pendulum mean it’s mechanical. Look for a maker’s name on the dial or the movement plate behind it. A clock that still runs, or one from a known maker, is worth showing to a collector or clock shop.
Some newer floor clocks have a small battery box behind the dial, and the weights are just for looks. Pull the batteries before disposal: California treats household batteries as universal waste, and they’re not allowed in the trash.
A few older precision clocks use a mercury pendulum, with one or two jars of liquid metal as the bob. If you see that, don’t tip the clock or open the jars. Mercury is hazardous waste in California and has to go to a household hazardous waste facility. Our hazardous household waste guide explains how county drop-off programs work.
A working clock is worth a few calls. Options around Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire:
Selling a large clock can take weeks. If you’re facing a closing date or move-out deadline, try one or two quick options, then schedule a pickup.
Clock makers like Hermle and clock dealers give the same basic advice: never move a mechanical clock with the weights and pendulum inside.
Even if the clock is headed for disposal, prep matters. A loose brass weight swinging inside a tilted case is how glass breaks and people get cut on a staircase.
Use at least two people, wrap the case in moving blankets, and keep it as upright as possible. Lay it on its back, never its face, on a padded dolly or truck bed. Watch the low headers and tight stair landings common in older two-story homes in Pasadena, Whittier, and Long Beach.
When a clock can’t be rehomed, our crew carries it out, separates the glass, and sends the brass weights, chains, movement, and chime tubes to scrap metal recycling instead of the landfill. A solid wood case in decent shape may be resold or donated.
At 911 Junk CA, pricing is based on how much truck space your items take up, plus extra labor like stairs or a long carry. One clock is a small part of a load, and it usually goes out with an estate, garage, or downsizing cleanout, which lowers the cost per item. It works like a piano removal on a smaller scale. We give you a firm price on site before we lift anything.
Whether it’s one grandfather clock or a whole house, 911 Junk CA handles the heavy lifting across Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire. We carry it out, donate or recycle what we can, and leave the space broom-clean. Contact 911 Junk CA today for a free, no-obligation quote.
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