Museum's main aims are to study and collect watches and clocks made or used in Finland and to promote spreading knowledge of horology. Open tue, fri-sun 11 a.m.-6 p.m. wed-thu 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
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| is specialised in the history of time measuring, clocks and watches. The collection includes about 6000 watches from 17th century to the present. The museum also has many tools and other material associated with watchmaker's occupation. The museum has also a library and archives. |
Some masterpieces in the museum's permanent exhibition
Watchmaker Lauri Helske (1893-1968) designed and made this precision clock which is one of the world's most accurate mechanical clocks. Helske made the clock in 1934-1936. The clock was first exhibited in The Finnish Watchmaker Association's 30 -year anniversary exhibition in 1936. It was also in the World Fair in Paris in the next year where it got a gold medal and a Diploma of Honour. In 1938 the clock has been in The International Handcraft Exhibition in Berlin and it got once again a medal and a diploma. The clock has so called granule escapement and a minimal pendulum. The clock is in a vacuum cupola which minimizes the disturbance that might influence on the clock's running, for example the variation in the air pressure or temperature. The clock's accuracy is about 0,0033 seconds a 24-hour period so that its failure marginal is one minute in 50 years.
The first Finnish pocket watch The oldest known pocket watch made in Finland. Signature: Mathias Lindberg Helsingfors No 23. Verge Escapement. The silver case is stamped in Stockholm in 1763. Mathias Lindberg begame master watchmaker in Stockholm in 1763. He moved from Stockholm to Helsinki after he got a promise that he will be a burgher in Helsinki. Lindberg worked in Helsinki until 1775 when he was forbidden to practice in Finland and he moved back to Stockholm.
Chronometer by Wäinö Maukonen, made 1912 Internationally Wäinö Maukonen is (1877-1929) the best known Finnish watchmaker. In 1910's and 1920's he was one of the world's best known practicing watcmaker. He was unusually skilled and hard-working. After his death he was compared to Paavo Nurmi in New York's press. In the beginning of 20th century he worked in St Petrsburg. The suppliers of Germany's and Russian's imperial courts were among his customers. Maukonen moved to New York in 1916 and there he was very honoured and is still remembered. Clocks made by Maukonen are considered to be great rarities. |
