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Singapore HeritageFest 2007 (Part 1): Household Things

For a period of 12 days (from 18 to 29 July), the Singapore HeritageFest 2007 is taking place at various venues across the island! Over the weekend, I specially made a trip down to Suntec City Mall to check out the anchor exhibition. It was totally worthwhile — I got to see, touch and feel history!

Event: Singapore HeritageFest 2007
Date: July 18-29, 2007
Venue: Anchor exhibition at Suntec City Mall and outreach events at various places

More information

Because the exhibits are so awesome and there are so many of them, I have decided to dedicate two blog posts to them! This post has the theme “household things” so it would have stuff like antiques and old furniture. Part 2 has the different theme of “childhood memories”.

And for now, here’s Part 1: household things!

Gramophone and vinyl records

I really dug this gramophone (some call it “phonograph”). That gorgeous brass horn and the black vinyl records just reek of nostalgia!

Here’s a timeline on how music media has evolved through the years, from a gramophone to an ipod! (I shot this picture of a poster at the exhibition.)

Antique radio

From far, I had thought that this large brown wooden box was a television set. It sure was big enough to be one. Then I noticed it had no screen and it was actually a really, really old radio! I can almost hear the old opera songs blaring out from it with crackling noises!

(Clockwise from top left) Sewing machine, Old Grandfather clock, Abacus

More old antiques! Clockwise from top left: sewing machine, old grandfather clock and abacus. When I was little I took abacus classes to learn how to do lightning-fast mental calculations like a China whiz kid!

In the photo below, can you tell what these two machines are for? Courtesy of the popular local sitcom Phua Chu Kang, I think most people can identify that the green machine on the right is a shaved ice machine for making ice kacang (a shaved ice dessert native to Singapore and Malaysia).

But what’s the one on the left? Make a guess before scrolling down to find out!

Shaved ice machine and ...?

It’s a… Meat grinder! Eek! I have never seen one being used before and I sure wouldn’t want to get my finger caught in there!

Grinding stone

This is another grinder, one that is made out of granite. The Malay term for it is “batu giling” and it was used at a time when flour wasn’t available. By pouring rice grain and water into the hole at the top and turning the brown handle round and round, it would churn out a batter used for making kueh (asian cakes and pastries)!

Here’s a more detailed article with diagrams on how this thing works!

(Clockwise from top left) Coffee cups, Tiffin carriers, Steamboat

Clockwise from top left: coffee cups that are still used at Ya Kun and many kopitiam (coffee shops) today, tiffin carriers (tiffin is an old English word for a light lunch), and an extremely old and overused steamboat. It looked as though whatever food that went in there would come out black.

By the way, doesn’t that light-coloured tiffin carrier look like this particular STAMP postbox?

Tiffin carriers

More tiffin carriers! I grew up at a time when tiffin carriers are no longer being used. But I love the way they look, with those colourful floral designs and different layers for different types of food!

Enamelware and thermos flasks

Enamelware and thermos flasks.

Bottled F&N soft drinks

Colourful F&N soft drinks in glass bottles. If my memory serves me correctly, I think they can still be commonly seen in Bangkok.

Old photos

In these old photos of family portraits, one thing I noticed was that the people rarely smiled, ever. Most of them looked rather solemn.

Perfume and cologne

Ah! I love these! Don’t the bottles and the coloured liquids look pretty? Decades ago, people used perfumes and colognes in the form of scented water called “florida water” (is that a brand or something?). This is a 19th century formula that blends floral essential oils in a water-alcohol base.

Cosmetic powder

Cosmetics and powder of the yesteryears.

Newspapers, the old and the new

On the left is an old copy of the Straits Times from the year 1863. Compare that with the newspaper of today! Personally I really like the old-style font of the big “the Straits Times” on the header of the newspaper. Very classic. the New York times still uses it today.

So that’s it for now! Here’s Part 2: childhood memories! I think it would bring back fond memories to many of you. Enjoy reading! Better still, drop by Suntec City Mall and check it out yourself. The exhibition takes place in two different locations within the mall and ends this Sunday.

Tags: history

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About the Editor

Veron Ang is the Founder and Chief Editor of Sparklette, a Singapore restaurants guide, lifestyle and travel blog. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science from the National University of Singapore and runs a web design firm at Sparklette Studio. To get in touch, head on over to the contact page or follow @Sparklette and @VeronSG on Twitter.

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Singapore HeritageFest 2007 (Part 2): Childhood Memories

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Responses Leave a comment

Jayson
44 comments

Wow, what a grand feast of vintage objects …
The one object that caught my attention were those pretty tiffin containers …
i can imagine myself abusing those cute tiffin containers …
Level 4 – Poori with Chickpeas and Bayam
Level 3 – Wanton Noodle with Chicken
Level 2 – Chicken Kebab and Yogurt
Level 1 – Laksa with hum
In fact, your post inspires me to compose a haiku for you,
Seeing these old things,
Brings back those nostalgic days,
Sungei road got sell
Jayson
Old Haiku Guru
Reply
Posted July 25, 2007 at 1:21 am
Veron
3439 comments

I love those tiffin containers too! They are so, so pretty! I think the beautiful floral designs make any food they contain taste good!
Reply
Posted July 25, 2007 at 1:30 am
Miccheng
90 comments

The tiffin carriers, the enamalware and thermo flasks can still be bought in certain parts of Singapore. Outskirts of Chinatown (eg. Hong Lim Plaza) and old parts of Jalan Besar (around Lavendar MRT).
Other than the ice-kachang machine and old ST newsprint, i honestly don’t see anything that is truly unique to Singapore’s heritage. These are antiques nonetheless that are representative of an age past. Nostalgic and high in educational value – but not something that are uniquely Singaporean.
Just my 2 cents worth. Nice collection though.
Reply
Posted July 25, 2007 at 1:40 am
Veron
3439 comments

I think those tiffin carriers look great, but I don’t like them enough to buy them. Thanks for the information though! I am sure many people would it useful.
As for something that is “truly unique to Singapore’s heritage”, I don’t know, what are you expecting in the first place? Like it or not, these are things that our parents, grandparents, great grandparents used in Singapore in the past. By any standard, the exhibits paint a fairly accurate picture of what things were like in Singapore back then. I think they are worth reminiscing.
You would find more uniquely Singaporean items in Part 2. Look out for it!
Reply
Posted July 25, 2007 at 1:49 am
singaporegal
4 comments

yar, the tiffin carriers are still sold. In fact, I used to bring them to school when i was still in primary school. And the meat grinder and the grinder to make flour is still used today in the market/hawker centre near my house!
Reply
Posted July 25, 2007 at 4:41 am
Miccheng
90 comments

Oftentimes, the first signs of civilization found at archaeological dig sites are household items – cos they are so pervasive and commonplace. I won’t be surprised if archaeologists, 300 yrs in the future, find them buried under the foundation of a skyscrapper above Chinatown or Bugis Street.
:)
Reply
Posted July 25, 2007 at 9:40 am
Daniel
7 comments

As a (previously) mainly migrant population, how unique do you expect our heritage be? Though some of it can be found elsewhere, these still represent the links to our past.
We should cherish and respect our heritage. If we don’t – our overseas visitors do. After all, you can see many of them going around old Chinatown buying some of these stuff.
Reply
Posted July 25, 2007 at 11:33 am
Veron
3439 comments

singaporegal: Where, where, where? Pray tell! I must go see that grinding stone (being used) for myself!
Miccheng: I’m sure they will., the way we managed to find artifacts from 300 years ago.
Daniel: You are absolutely right. Many young people these days do not seem to care much about heritage, which I find quite disheartening. They are missing out on so much!
Reply
Posted July 25, 2007 at 6:29 pm
walter
72 comments

Wow thanks for the great coverage and gorgeous pics here Veron! Makes my pithy efforts seem so pathetic… haha…. I certainly look forward to Part 2 of your blog post on the Singapore HeritageFest! ; )
Reply
Posted July 25, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Veron
3439 comments

Wahaha lol Walter don’t say that! You are like the King of Heritage while I’m only a follower. Okay, blogging Part 2 now.
Reply
Posted July 25, 2007 at 9:30 pm
py
183 comments

May I link to this series of posts?
I hope you won’t mind if I use one of the photos you have taken from the Fest, please? I will give the necessary acknowledgement.
Reply
Posted July 25, 2007 at 11:28 pm
Veron
3439 comments

Feel free! Go ahead and link away. Use any photo you wish!
Reply
Posted July 25, 2007 at 11:32 pm
py
183 comments

Thank you. :)
Reply
Posted July 26, 2007 at 10:09 pm
kat
2 comments

I have a little box of the cosmetic powder that was pictured. My mum gave it to me. They still sell them in Bangkok from 10-40 baht each. We use it to polish silvers. It works miracles. I didn’t know it’s actually a cosmetic!
Reply
Posted August 5, 2009 at 7:07 pm
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  That’s interesting! I never knew powder can be used to polish silvers. What I normally use is a silver polishing liquid that I buy from jewellery shops :) The powder sure seems like a cheaper solution!
  Where in Bangkok can you buy it? The quaint boxes make pretty keepsakes too! When I go to Bangkok next time I will have to keep my eyes peeled.
  Reply
  Posted August 5, 2009 at 8:37 pm
  - kat
    2 comments
    
    I think China Town or one of those old old markets like Sumpeng. It’s not widely available so when mum spots them, she buys heaps of them.
    Reply
    Posted September 1, 2009 at 11:20 am
    - Veron
      3439 comments
      
      Got it. Thanks!
      Reply
      Posted September 2, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Haolie
1 comment

For your information, the reason why the people are not smiling in the family photos are because in those times, the photos were on long exposure, meaning that it took quite long for the photo to be taken and thus the people in the photo had to remain still for the entire duration.
Of course, for durations of up to an hour, one would certainly not want to smile right? It’s a lot of energy spent.
Haha. Good job!
Reply
Posted December 29, 2010 at 11:52 pm
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  Thanks for the detailed explanation! That certainly makes sense. Wow, the people back then sure did a great job at keeping still. The photos seem pretty sharp with no motion blurriness!
  Reply
  Posted December 30, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Xanthe
28 comments

Babe, I still have the Sewing Machine, Tiffin Carriers for both Food and Water, Grinder, Abacus, Flask, Ladle, large old family photo when my mum is a child, Hai Tang Face Powder. Glenn still have that ICE cologne. I just sold my Bottled soft drinks, think I better take pictures of all these good old stuff before I get rid of them… =P They are nice to look at, but it is taking up space…
Reply
Posted November 4, 2011 at 1:52 pm