Uncovering Fragments Of Singapore’s History Through Found Objects

Singapore's strategic position as a significant trading port drew individuals from diverse backgrounds, such as British colonialists, Chinese immigrants, Malays, Indians, and more. Cabinet gramophones played an important role in promoting cultural exchange through music, allowing people from various communities to share their musical traditions and recordings. This fostered mutual understanding and appreciation across different cultures.

Mr. Frederick Puah, owner of British Hainan, lived in the servants' quarters when he was young and was often being invited to crank the gramophone in the main hall during his father's employment with the British. The memories from that time created a lasting impression on him, associating the machine with music and possibly fond memories of his past. He shares, “Years later, once I became an adult, I worked hard and saved enough money to purchase one for myself. It felt like regaining a long lost friend, something that you yearned for for so long and suddenly managed to get it back.”

Presently, this cabinet gramophone is a rare antique item, running at 78 revolutions per minute. “Back in the day, this kind of gramophone was considered luxurious. It is very hard to find one now, in this kind of condition. There are no speakers, the music is amplified from below like a trumpet. It really feels like someone is singing to you live,” he says.

More about British Hainan here.