DOUBLE BASS

Recently on my way back to Kuala Lumpur from Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. I've decided to use the old trunk road which will take me pass by a few small district to Kajang. I pass by a place known as Beranang and while driving I saw an antique shop. Being a collector, I must admit this is a must visit which took at least two hours.

I can't recall the name of the shop but the owner is an actor. As I walked into his shop he welcome me with a greeting and offer me to look around his shop for anything which interest me. As usual my wife will scout for her dinner set. I notice a few stuff placed at the corner of the shop that catch my eye. It is the lesung keropok!! Curious to know the price of it I asked the owner how much is he willing to sell it for? He then quoted RM400.00 I then smiled knowing that I only invest less than RM100 for one. now I know how much value it carries.

He displayed quite a lot of antiques on shelve but I must admit the price are a bit too high to my budget. While roaming around his shop Me and my wife notice on a small Islamic art also known as 'KHAT'. Made of copper it is the verse of 'Qursi'. With wooden framed I then grab it without asking for the price which I believe will not be more than RM50. At the same time I noticed a Double Bass frame placed on the wall where he placed all of his items need to be repaired/refurbished. I then approached the item and suddenly crossed my mind that I can convert this Musical instrument into something useful. Ahah!!! yes, I can always convert it to a wall clock. All I need is just to get the clock machine and place it on the instrument.

I took the instrument out of it place and ask him to quote what is the price he looking for for this wreck instrument. He hesitate to quote the price for the instrument was not really an instrument since the only thing left is a piece of the Double Bass front body. No Neck, Bridges or anything. After a long negotiation, He then agree to sell it to me for RM30. Obviously it is not fair for him to sell that wreck for more than RM50. He then asked me what do I have in mind for this abandoned musical instrument? Told him I will convert it to a wall clock. But it need lots of work prior displaying ti on my wall.

The first layer of it frame has been ripped off which means I need to balance out to the whole body. Wow, sure it was not an easy job. I've got to scrapped all of it, Clean it up, apply one coat of varnish then only I will be able to work on the clock engine.

It is now sitting at my workshop lying down waiting to be cleaned and to be given a new look. Since I am working full time in a financial institution. I can only accommodate a few hours a week to work on this poor guy...

Adverts

It's kinda fun collecting those old metal advertisement plate. I've got myself a few. Cigarettes advertisement for known as 'torchlight'. I do own quite a number cigarettes can with it brand displayed on it namely Rough Rider, PallMall, Rothmans, Camel and few more.

Having all of it displayed on a side table, It's kinda an adventure taking you back through time. It reminds me of younger where my neighbour will give me 10 sen as a rewards if I were to go to the nearest shop located approximately 5km away from your place. 10 sen is big money those days. I can grab myself candies and cookies for sure back then.

I choose to have those ads as it is since I personally believe if it looks brand new, then it's not an antique anymore. I wonder why some people like to change the whole furniture/item so it looks brand new. It turns out as if it is a reproduction item.Defeat the purpose of collecting antiques.

Kuantan

Recently I was in Kuantan for a trip. Obviously I will definitely pay a visit to the flea market located at PADANG MAJLIS PERBANDARAN KUANTAN next to the state mosque.

There is only two antiques trader trade there. One with lots of items and the other less than 10 items placed on his mat.

I visit the trader with load of items. There where Chinese calculator know as 'sampuah' in hokkien. Asked him to quote the price and to my surprise he quoted RM50.00 and claimed it age more than 70 years old and with all of his stupidity he showed me the metal tag nailed to the calculator which says' MADE IN CHINA'. I asked him how did he define that this is an antique or not? Another silly answer I've got from him, "The design tells you a lot".

Not satisfied with the answer, I then questioned the metal tag since I am very sure back then those Chinese didn't place a metal tag on their product. They print on the wood itself.
Then another questioned posed to him on how did he distinguished is that item an old calculator? I asked for the slot where we can slide a wooden plate act as a cover for that calculator? I can't just imagine his level of arrogant and ignorance of being questioned in front of the rest of crowd in front of him. He murmured.. " If you want to buy this thing then just give me the money and walk away. Don't questioned me on the authenticity of my item."
I then advised him to respect his customer by not cheating them with a faky.

Record Player

Hi there,

It has been a while since I last post my message. Been busy with job and doing some refurbishing on my new Hi Fi set that I have just got recently.

Got it from my dad a Pioneer Hi Fi set consist of 1 Amplifier, 4 Speakers, 1 Pioneer turntable and 1 deck of AKAI cassette player. It wasn't in running condition but still looks presentable.And lastly I've got myself quite a number of LP's too.

AMPLIFIER

There were some modifications done onto the Amplifier to enhance the BASS. What I have done was actually dismantle all of the components and check all of it to make sure every singe wire were intact. Tested on leakage fortunately there isn't any.Overtime it has changed colour since it was bought in 1974. 33 years old amplifier. Wooden frame with metal lining. Looks cool.
I notice there quite a number wire need to be replaced since it has been sitting on the attic for many many years. It's now under construction.


Turn Table

Power management were in excellent condition. Just that I need to replace the rubber lining that rotate the turn table. Need to replace the needle though. So I've gotta do some shopping soon. With less experience I might face some difficulties looking for it. But I know there's a place I could possibly found it.....AMCORP Mall.yeah that's the place.

Cassette Deck

This is another retro deck. equipped with all of those meters it look kinda funky. Consist of 1 cassette slot with power booster. The same issue I have for this guy. Need to replace the rubber that rotates the motor. This one....wow.I don't know where to get it from.

LP's

Got quite a number of LPs from him as well. among those few

CLIFF RICHARD

SHADOW

ENGELBERT HUMPERDICK

TRACY HUANG

PRETENDERS

BEATLES

JULIO IGLESIAS

ANITA SARAWAK LIFE IN SINGAPORE

HAIL AMIR & UJI RASHID

SALOMA

D'LLYOD

SANISAH HURI

SANGAM


Went to my brother in law place recently and manage to persuade to hand over his LP collection over to me and to my surprise.he agreed. Can't you just imagine his collections then..

QUEEN

DIRE STRAITS

PINK FLOYD

DURAN DURAN

HOWARD JONES

LEVEL 42

SPANDAU BALLET

TRACY CHAPMAN

DEF LEPPARD

LED ZEPPELIN

ERIC CLAPTON

BOB MARLEY

JEAN MICHELLE JARRE

BEACH BOYS

DEPACHE MODE

D'BARGE

KIM WILDE

MEZZOFORTE

NOW THAT'S MUSIC IV

MADONNA

and lots more

Antiques in Ipoh

'Memory Lane' or lok kheng are well known for it antiques trading place nationwide. I get to meet people from all over Malaysia looking for antiques visit this place. I must admit this is the best place so far in Malaysia. This is the only place where you can find many traders at one location. On any visit , I must at least spend half a day there though is a very small place. It only operate on Sunday. This flea market occupy 2 main roads, the Horley Road and Lim Bo Seng Road. A walking distance from Hotel Ipoh City and The Store shopping center.

I get to purchase an British army helmet once, Grab myself a suitcase, and a few stuff. I love getting stuff here for I love to bargain it it gives me the satisfaction even if I just get RM1.00 discount. It has been a while since I last visit to Memory lane. I promised myself I will be going there soon.

Best place to shop for Antiques

There is quite a number of places where you can look for antiques specifically in Kuala Lumpur.
One of the best place so far is the flea market at Amcorp Mall Petaling Jaya.
There's plenty of traders displaying their stuff there. Most of them are located at the lower ground. It operate on Saturday and Sunday as early as 9.30am till late noon.
You may find lots of variety there from Local antiques to good from all over the world.Don't be surprised of they have there for you might bound to see things which is absolutely old.Perhaps could have aged more than 100 over years.

I use to go to 'Pasar Karat' which located at the back lane of Jln Sultan aka China town or petaling street. They daily from 7am to 9am. It use to be one of the best place to shop for antiques but off late I notice that it has been invaded by Indonesian traders selling reject item from factories such as soap bar, tooth paste, tooth brush etc. I wonder what happened to most of the guys who use to trade there. So far there's only 2 traders who is still operate there. For the moment I should say.there's nothing much

Another place we should visit is the Shah Alam flea market that operate on Sunday. Though there's not many antiques trader but there's a few which sells quite a number of collection.Having located at the stadium parking lot, It's the biggest flea market so far and flooded with plenty of cheap stuff around. you have to mind the weather since it is an open trading place.

Searching for Antiques

Hi all,

I must admit being an antiquity enthusiast is somehow challenging. Being a person with an average income earner, I will do my very best to get any item at minimal cost. To do so, I need to brave myself asking for an item should I see anything has been left abandoned.I must admit living in a community where people were very reserved in voicing out their feelings and sceptical on the other party interest is somehow challenging.

For an instance, I've come across an old dressing table placed at the yard exposed to the Malaysian tropical weather for I don't know how long. Good enough for me estimate tha it has been there for years. I examined the dressing with only three quarter leg left abandoned nearby the dumping area nearby an old man house. I've passed by that old malay house for several times and still that old dressing table stood helplessly waiting for it time to be burnt.

One fine day I approached the owner and probe on that old dressing table. Having granted his permission to examine the dressing table I then realize that it was imported from the Netherlands. The old man happily sharing the history of the dressing table to me. It was a gift to his mother as a wedding gift from her husband. Looking at the old man age the dressing table must be aged more than 60 years old.He inherited the dressing table from his mother but after 20 years of marriage it has become out of fashion and not practical anymore for current use. That is when he decided to get rid of it permanently.



With such statement made by him I then offer him to salvage the dressing table and in return I willingly offer him RM100.00 for it. Immediately his facial expression changed and then quoted he need to consult with his son prior selling it to me. Knowing that it has been there for a long period I then remind him that it has been there for many years and now waiting for it last day which most likely to be burnt by him. With a very stern voice, he claimed that his son has been eyeing for the dressing table and forgotten about it all this while.

Being frustrated I then acknowledge his decision and inform him should he change his mind, Do keep it for I will be back for the dressing table. He nodded as I make my way out of his lawn while cursing silently why must he changed his mind all of the sudden?

A few months later, I passed by his house and saw the table has been severely turn to ashes. I only get to see mirror and a drawer left.

I fail to understand why must he defy my offer to salvage the dressing table and what drive him to destroy it! Didn't he treasure his mother dressing table? Didn't he want to passed it on to his son or daughter for them to appreciate their grandmother marriage? Or he must have hate his mother very much that makes him arrived with such decision?

It still puzzled me till today....why? why? why? Didn't he wants to see his mother dressing table being salvage and put to live again? as I have promised him earlier if he decided to sell it to me I will show him how it looks like after being restored and will become part of history?

'Lesung keropok' - Ancient way of preparing Fish Crackers

'Lesung Keropok' or the fish crackers hammer/grinder is another exquisite collection of mine.
While travelling to east Coast of Malaysia in March 2007, as usual I will be looking around for any object that the owner could have left underneath their house known as 'kolong'. I saw this house located in Marang along the coastal road. There I saw one long wooden hammer standing at the height of approximately 7 feet tall. It looks familiar but I need to make sure what I saw is actually the one I have been looking for. Stopped my car and ask the house owner what was that thing outside of his house doing?

Then he explained that it is known as 'anak lesung' or the hammer. I always love their hospitality. They are so generous and willing to help most of time. I was told that the 'Lesung' was used by his great great grandmother to process fish cracker. Probing further I get to understand that the 'Lesung' were inherited from his mother family which been passed on for a few generation and now it landed to him. It was a bit tough for us to locate the 'lesung' since he can't remember where it was but he knows that it is somewhere underneath his house.

I'd volunteered to scout and salvage the 'lesung' with him. Lastly we found it half buried underneath his house. It took us a while to excavate the 'lesung' since it has been there for quite a number of years. It took us almost an hour to salvage the 'lesung'.

It was in extremely bad condition but since it was made by jack fruit stamp. It manage to safe itself from being vacuum by the soil. Too bad it was also eaten by white ants but I must thank the white ants because it made the 'lesung' looks more authentic. I immediately clean the dirt from it.

I asked the owner how would he want the trade to be? He was a bit confuse when I asked him on how to trade. I then offered him RM50.00 for the lesung. He told me that he can't accept my offer since the 'lesung' is not in a good condition but I immediately interrupt his explanation and told him that any transaction has to be honoured with at least 'something' then I gave him rm50.00 note and told him he must respect my offer disregard the amount.Lastly he conditionally accepted RM40.00 for the 'lesung'.

I took it back home and start working on it like having a new born baby. Wash it again and again to assure there is no soil left on it. Trying to restore it back to it condition took a long time. Since I am inexperience refurbishing woodwork, It took me approximately 1 whole month to have it cleaned up and to have the wood grain appear.

It is now sitting proudly at a corner in my living room with some dried water pumpkin in its bowl.

Tricycle

Tricycle will always remind me of my younger days cycling around my 'kampung' (village). I have a photo me riding when I was 3 years old. A chubby boy with the background of my late brother and my father watching me cycling cautiously.

I wish I still have the tricycle with me today for I will be able to show it to my children's my very first tricycle & enclosed it with a photo of me riding it.

Then I started scouting for an old tricycle around Malaysia for me to be able to relate another memoir of my younger days. It didn't take long for me to find one but, it's too expensive for me to own one myself. Displayed at RM3000.00 was too much for me.

Few months later doing my usual adventure scouting for 'old junk', I've decided to visit a flea market located at the back alley of Jalan Sultan also known as 'Pasar Karat' (Rustic Market).

There was an old Chinese man who is high on opium with a canvas spread on the tar having a few 'old junk' for sale. He placed one tricycle and a wooden handsaw with a few other 'old junk'.
Hesitate to ask, I brave myself to start the conversation assuming that the price would be sky high based on my past experience.

To my surprise, He started off with RM60.00 and want me to state my price. I quoted RM20.00 since he open his offer at RM60.00.; He then quoted RM50.00 for such an item which is not easy to find.I counter his offer to RM30.00 since the wheels were not in good condition and straight away offer him RM40.00 for the tricycle and the wooden handsaw. Almost immediately he nodded and it was a deal. I was very delighted and satisfied on my successfully bargaining techniques which reward me with those two items.

The trader then thank me for the trade made and inform me that he will be on leave for three days from that day itself...... I wonder why??? what for?? and thinking 'Don't you need the money to survive??'

My first encounter

Hi there,

I was not an antiques enthusiast until I met a friend of mine who is a collector. A long lost friend of my late brother who introduced me into antiquity. A visit to his house shift my paradigm from a person who didn't appreciate old junk to a person who really appreciate old junk, restore it and nourish it with passion and love.

It started with a smoking pipe which was given to me as a gift from him. It's known as 'Syrian' pipe aged approximately 50 years old. I was thought how to appreciate 'old junk', what does it tells you, and the history of it.

Then on, I started to explore further on what is antiques is all about.

I am happy to share my adventures in collecting antiques throughout Peninsula Malaysia since I have travelled to all states in Peninsula Malaysia.

Feel free to share your thoughts, experience, comments, findings which is related to antiques which will definitely benefits every blog readers..

Regards