History of the Museum
The museum is named after the founder of the collection, Archibald Clapham, an engineer, sportsman, family man, and clock collector. Born in Yarm on Tees in Yorkshire, England in1882, he came to New Zealand in 1903. He eventually made his family home in Whangarei, from where his name as an inspired clock collector with an impish sense of humour spread around the world.
His collection of 400 clocks and music boxes, some extremely rare and most in working order, form the basis of Claphams National Clock Museum today. They became permanently enshrined in local history when in 1961 Archie sold his collection to the local Council for a nominal sum, effectively gifting this amazing collection to the community he had adopted.
Today, the now expanded collection that once crammed the family lounge which Archie happily threw open to visitors, is housed in a purpose built Museum alongside the visiting yachts at Whangarei’s Town Basin.
Mouse over the image below and click on the arrow to start the 360 Virtual Tour.
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The Monastery clock
German clock from 1830. Beautifully carved with a cuckoo at the top. A little monk comes out on the hour and rings the bell for matins. |
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‘The Nark’
A clock that ‘travels backwards,’ redesigned by Archie to work |
Archibald Clapham with some of
his favourite clocks.
He holds a moving eye clock which shows the time with a mark on each eye as they turn.
Archie enjoyed a practical joke...
He used the mouse panel clock and a Victorian bulldog to play tricks on unwary visitors which are remembered by generations of people from Whangarei and from around the world.
