Crown Lynn Timeline

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  • 1893

    It began with pipes

    Rice Owen Clarke began manufacturing pipes to drain his land in Hobsonville, West Auckland. By the 1860s his pipe works business was thriving.

  • 1906

    The range grows

    Other items such as salt glazed garden pots and urns, bread pans, jars and bricks were produced at the Hobsonville site.

  • 1925

    Move to New Lynn

    Hobsonville factory closed with production centralised to New Lynn.

  • 1929

    AB-P Co Ltd

    The Clark family business joined other potteries to form the Amalgamated Brick and Pipe Company.



    Bruce Albert Wickham standing by an Amalgamated Brick and Pipe truck in New Lynn. Bruce worked for the AP&B from mid 1930s to approximately 1949 as a brick maker, then a truck driver.

  • 1930

    Tom Clark starts work

    Tom Clark II, one of Rice Owen Clark's great-grandsons began working for the firm. The workforce, which had been around 250 dropped to eight during the depression.

    Tom Clark in 1966, holding a cup and saucer in front of a Crown Lynn display.

  • 1938

    Clay research

    Research into the viability of producing tableware from New Zealand clays.

  • 1942

    Railways and armed forces

    Cups and saucers for NZ Railways and armed forces.

  • 1945

    AMBRICO

    Ambrico name used for the first time. Trickle glaze was developed.

  • 1948

    Enter Crown Lynn

    Crown Lynn name used for the first time.

  • 1948

    Ernest Shufflebotham

    Ernie Shufflebotham employed to make hand-potted ware.

  • Apr 16, 2025

    The white swan

    First white swans are made, a line that continued to the early 1970s