VINTAGE CAR AND MACHINERY MUSEUM, GERALDINE
Arecent trip to the South Island took us to Geraldine, a pretty, small town less than two hours south of Christchurch and the gateway to some of the South Island’s most beautiful country. Geraldine has a thing about museums, I counted four and visited the one of most interest to me, the Vintage Car and Machinery Museum. I was delighted with what I found.
On arrival I was greeted by a friendly volunteer and paid my $15. He explained the layout of the numerous buildings, saying, “If the door is open, you can go in.” The first room, which is the one seen from the main road, houses 30 vehicles and a Spartan
Biplane which is hanging from the rafters. There are Chevys, Fords, Buicks, Overlands, a ‘Bullnose’ Morris and a 1923 Delage. Each vehicle has an information board. There are touches of humour throughout the museum. In this room amusing dummies act as drivers and passengers in the cars. In the next building I was delighted to discover a 1934 Triumph Gloria race car. Having owned, raced and rallied seven Triumphs in times long gone, this old classic appealed to me. It’s a pity it’s not competing at historic race meetings. Another pristine machine with a racing history was a 1931 MG F1 Magna. Its information board recorded that it raced at Silverstone in 1934 then at Mt Panorama in the Grand Prix in 1938. (When I checked the entries, an MG Magna is listed but shown as a non-starter). Going from the almost sublime to the ridiculous, the “Zoro” was possibly the ugliest car I’ve ever set my eyes on. This is supposedly New Zealand’s first production electric car. I learned that eight cars were built by Timaru engineer and inventor Donald MacConachie. It’s based on a shortened Triumph Herald chassis with Morris 1100 rear suspension. Front on is the car’s best angle. Side-on it’s hideous. The wiring diagram was included with a sheaf of other interesting paperwork. It was designed to accommodate a Briggs and Stratton 5kVa generator to charge the six 12-volt lead acid batteries. Despite its looks, it’s a fascinating exhibit.
Like all good museums, exhibits change over time as people with interesting vehicles or collections loan them. Such is the case with the display of eight police Honda motorcycles which are on loan from Hayden Tasker of Ashburton. These white machines are a great sight lined up in two rows. There are CB and CBX models plus a 500 Four, a
550 Four K and two 750 Fours. If you want to make your last trip in style you might like to arrange the use of the 1925 Harley-Davidson and sidecar coffin carrier. This interesting rig was restored by Alexander Cormack, a previous resident of Geraldine after being devastated by a fire that swept through the museum on New Year’s Eve 1979. It was used for those who couldn’t afford the local Studebaker hearse. Space doesn’t allow me to do justice to all that there is on offer. The Miniature and Model Room is a delight and if you enjoy a good dose of nostalgia there’s a mezzanine floor in a huge shed full of tractors. The household items on display will have you, ‘”remember when ...” and “Mum had one of those ...”
Then there’s the shed displaying chainsaws and lumber equipment, all cleverly and interestingly presented. Farm machinery is not my thing but if that’s your interest there are acres of it here. The museum’s website suggests that you allow an hour, but I needed double that and could have gone back for more. If you’re in the Christchurch/ Timaru region, make sure you visit Geraldine and this museum.