Our Treasures: Whangārei Museum surveyor s theodolite example of finely crafted expert s tool
10 May, 2021 05:00 PM
5 minutes to read
The Cooke, Troughton & Simms surveyor s level at Whangārei Museum.
OUR TREASURES
Most of us are used to seeing the odd surveyor out with their high-vis jackets and bright-yellow tripods, even if we don t really know how the surveying is actually done. Surveying and its optical tools have a long and fascinating history, which I won t attempt to address today. However, we will look at an example of a British mid-century surveyor s level, with a New Zealand connection, from our collection.
The level consists of many specialist components such as a telescope, reflector mirror, various lenses, and other tiny sighting, levelling and measuring parts.
Our Treasures: Ticket to 1939-40 New Zealand Centennial Exhibition revealing
3 May, 2021 05:00 PM
5 minutes to read
William Lipscombe s 1939 NZ Centennial Exhibition Tickets (Whangārei Museum 2001.30.1-3).
OUR TREASURES
Exhibitions are popular and timeless events for bringing the community together and sharing artistry and ideas. Throughout the past century New Zealand has held regular national exhibitions to showcase what our country has to offer between the different regions and internationally.
The 1939 to 1940 Centennial Exhibition is one of New Zealand s most significant as it was the centrepiece marking 100 years since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
The timing was also significant in showing New Zealand s technological progress and innovative character in the face of a looming world war. After the announcement of war in September of 1939, the organisers debated whether to hold the exhibition.
Our Treasures: Laundry day at Whangārei Museum - pegs, sandsoap and a washboard
26 Apr, 2021 05:00 PM
4 minutes to read
The box of Electric Pumice Sand Soap , one of the early 20th century laundry items at Whangārei Museum.
The box of Electric Pumice Sand Soap , one of the early 20th century laundry items at Whangārei Museum.
OUR TREASURES
Today we are going to investigate three very ordinary and common place items of domestic use that can give a more accurate picture of earlier times in New Zealand, compared to more exotic and rare objects.
These items are all related to laundering procedures of the early 20th century - the days of the indoor or even outdoor coppers and rope clothes lines where the line was held up to clear the ground with a long wooden prop.
Our Treasures: Whangārei Museum s wooden Dolly Mare reminds of rocking horse era
19 Apr, 2021 05:00 PM
4 minutes to read
The rocking horse in the new toy display at Whangārei Museum.
OUR TREASURES
Just in time for the school holidays there is a display in the main gallery of the museum of toys that were in vogue before iPhones, iPads and Mr Google came along. Among these classic items is a beautiful wooden rocking horse, donated by ED Kaye, known to the family who owned it in 1937 as Dolly Mare.
The history of rocking horses can be traced back to the Middle Ages, to the popular toy of the day, the hobby horse. A horse s head made from felted wool or similar materials was attached to a long stick. Children could pretend to ride these make-believe horses.