270.ONCE UPON A TIME...

Once upon a time, Gopeng was a thriving mining town famed for its rich tin deposits. Many British tin mining companies with its British engineers and personnel donned the town. The wealth from tin turned Gopeng from a small kampong into a bristling township complete with a horse race course.

Today tin mining in Gopeng is dead and gone were the days of ‘mat sallehs’ and their listed companies. What remains are the memories and the rich histories of the tin mining days. The rich history that also includes the hobbies of the collections of items of yesteryears like wall clocks, wrist watches, old coins, vintage notes, vintage silverware, telecommunications equipments, pens and cigarette lighters.

To commemorate The World Heritage Day on the 18^th April last year, Mr Bernard Yaw, Mr Phang See Kong and a few of their friends pooled their resources and efforts, together they assembled their collections and placed under one roof which they named ‘MUSEUM GOPENG’.

Located at 28, Eu Kong Street, the main street of Gopeng town, tucked in between a sweepstakes shop and a medical clinic, the shop lot-turned museum is holding a month long exhibitions of vintage clocks and watches. A splendid array of 97 grandfathers’ clocks, 46 mantelpieces, 28 alarm clocks, assortments of wrist watches, pens, cigarette lighters, photos of important events and personalities of Gopeng history are on display.

Many units of wall clocks with famous German brands of Mauthe, Junghans, Wehrle and Kienzle dating back 100 years ago displayed are still in marvellous condition.

I’m very impressed with many exhibits especially the moon -faced clock and the clock that carry the 31 day calendar. Not so sure where the brands originated though the labels at the museum did indicate that the brand is from USA.

A total of ten wall clocks donated by Mr. Wong Kuan Cheong, the Museum Treasurer, are also available for purchase at RM388 each. All sales proceeds of those clocks go to charity. Incidentally, most of the clocks and watches on exhibit are from Mr. Wong private collections.

The month long exhibition ending 16 March 2010 is without any entrance free.

Two hours at the exhibition seemed such a short time and I definitely recommend that all vintage clock and watch lovers, NOT to give the exhibition, a miss. After all, it’s only an hour and forty minutes drive by the North-South (PLUS) Highway from Kuala Lumpur northbound to Gopeng or from Penang southbound either way. Exiting at the Gopeng interchange, proceed straight till you reach the first traffic light. Take a right turn at that traffic light, proceed 1 km straight further at the second, third and fourth traffic light, thereby straight on for another 400 metres before turning right into Eu Kong Street. The museum is on the right 450 metres straight on from that junction.

For GPS users, the museum is on N 04⁰ 28.433’ E101⁰ 9.997’ coordinates.

The museum committee is planning on organising some programmes which includes vintage cars parade around Gopeng town on its first anniversary. Vintage cars owners please take note, your participations are much appreciated !

Mr Phang, the ever smiling museum curator, available at 05-3597828, would be too happy to entertain all friendly visitors to the museum and entertain any query regarding the proposed anniversary itinerary.