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We thank Kuah Wei Ming for sharing this photo with us. Are you in this photo? Or, maybe you recognise a friend/family member?

May the new year bring you prosperity and good health. Xin Nian Kuai Le! from all of us at

picture courtesy of NST Happy Thaipusam, from all of us at:

We thank Prof Dr Lee Kok Onn for sharing this with us. Anyone remember this textbook?

Happy Deepavali! from all of us at:

On the occasion of the birthday of His Majesty Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Al-Maghfur-Lah. Dirgahayu Tuanku!

We thank Wai Ming Kuah for this picture. Does anyone remember this Grand Cheap Sale?

…you saw/used an iMac? Better yet, do you remember the iMac G3? Let’s refresh your memory with this picture (below).

We’re 66! Can you believe it? Happy Independence Day!

Looks familiar? Some of you may already know where this place is. We’d love to hear your comments. 🙂

The St Michael’s Institution military band, somewhere in the late 1960s… I wanted to be a drummer boy, but they gave my a euphonium, so I played that instead. We thank Andrew YC Loh for the above picture and caption.

Here’s another two pictures from Mun Chor Seng. Does anyone recall this float parade? Or, perhaps you remember these unique floats?

We thank Wei Ning Kuah for sharing this picture with us. We were told that this shop was founded in 1939, and that the photo dates back to the early days before the Japanese Occupation. It is said that the original premise was along Brewster Road.

We have here Chen Seong Yin and his wife to be, Briggita, posing with a trishaw – as part of their wedding photo shoot. This was taken in August 1996 at the Darling Honemoon Villa in Ipoh Garden. Did you have a unique location for your wedding photo shoot?

…at least that’s what the caption said. Doug’s new home, Govt Quarters off Gopeng Road, Ipoh, Perak, FMS I wonder if Doug liked his new home….maybe our donor (Chee Ong Ngai) could tell us 🙂

We thank Mun Chor Seng for this photo. Here we have Ipoh’s black-and-white Amahs walking in a Wesak Day Parade. This is of course Brewster Road…and one of the shop houses in the background is none other than Lean Kap Seng’s photographic studio (which many of you may know as Scoop photo studio).

Here’s some trivia for you, taken from The Yamato News. This newspaper dates back to 13th February 2602 (which actually means 13th February 1942). We thank Chee Ong Ngai for sharing this with us. If you’re wondering about the strange date (2602), then click here for the explanation.

This photo was not taken in Ipoh, but it is rather interesting. I’d like to draw your attention to the sign, which simply reads as: “You are now entering Malacca Settlement White Area”. Did we have “white areas” in Ipoh too at some point? We thank Chee Ong Ngai for sharing this photo with […]

Here’s another excerpt from The Yamato Times. This one is an advertisement by P. S. Jamnadas & Co.

In conjunction with the birthday of His Majesty Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah, the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. Daulat Tuanku!

No prizes for guessing where this was taken. However, we do thank our donor – who prefers to be called “Canning Garden” – for sharing this picture with us.

The activity appears to be centred around the England Dobi Shop where the procession may well have stopped to give a demonstration, and there are large numbers of spectators in attendance. Numerous vehicles in the street are probably being delayed by the festivities and have formed a traffic jam. I wonder which part of […]

This is a licence from the Municipality of Ipoh to Hung Chin Ling, i.c. PK.028579 of K-2, Kepayang, Fair Park, Ipoh who has a coffee shop. The license, of course, was issued in accordance to the Sales of Food and Drugs Ordinance 1952. There were also the following conditions, which had to be adhered to: […]

Here’s a relatively easy one. I’m sure you can guess where this is 🙂 We thank Chee Ong Ngai for this photo.

We thank Chee Ong Ngai for this one. Pardon me if I’m wrong…but are those Japanese characters, written above the English words? If so, this picture could have been taken during the Second World War (or a little after).

Here’s a rare find from Chee Ong Ngai. This is the Posts & Telegraphs Office in Tanjong Rambutan. (wonder what’s become of this building…)

Yes, you read the words right. This gazebo was once part of the Ipoh Club. [see here for a different angle of the Club, with the gazebo on the right] We thank Edwin Seibel for sharing this picture with us.

We thank Chee Ong Ngai for sharing this photograph with us. He also gave us the names of the two pretty ladies in the foreground: “1 November 1953 : The attractive Naseh sisters, Dewi (nearest camera) and Jamilah, “Hello Girls” in the Ipoh telephone exchange, find little time for chit-chat in their busy six-hour day […]

This booklet published for the use of military personnel only in May 1967 contains movies that will be screened in numerous military cinemas for example The Leowen in Terendak Camp, New Globe, and Globe. This booklet also has all the information on the day and the time of the movie and the British Forces Broadcasting […]

Here’s another scene from an ACS play. This one is from Carousel, back in 1977. The pretty girl striking a ballerina pose is none other than Michelle Yeoh! We thank Ong Su-Ming for sharing this photo with us.

Some of you may have already guessed this play, merely by the “balcony scene”. 🙂 This play was organised by none other than the ACS Music and Drama Society, back in 1976. Just to refresh your memories (if you’ve watched it), the leading roles were played by Tan Seow Heng (Juliet) and Emmet O’Sullivan (Romeo). […]

Believe it or not, these children are having a blast by the Kinta River! Yes, there was a time you could swim at this river….

This picture was taken from the ACS centenary magazine, probably before the start of the school play. We thank our donor Ong Su-Ming.

We thank Chee Ong Ngai for this picture, which is part of a postcard. Here we have Market Street, from Court House Road. You can also see FMS Hotel. Incidentally, we have this postcard in our collection (along with a little history to it).

Remember these tickets? Yes? No? Perhaps you might remember the bus (see below) If I’m not mistaken, the number plate reads as AB 270….

We thank our donor Ong Su-Ming for this picture, which was taken from the 100th Voyage 1895-1995 (an ACS, Ipoh magazine). Do you remember this play, back in 1952? Or, perhaps you caught the later adaptation in 1962?

Here’s another nostalgic photo from Chee Ong Ngai. Have you had a Cadbury lately? 🙂

Have you been to the Sinhalese Bar in Ipoh? We’d love to hear your thoughts – especially if you know something about its history 🙂 We thank Chee Ong Ngai for this picture.

Some of you may already recognise this at the Rex Cinema, in Kampar. We thank Chee Ong Ngai for sharing this picture with us.

Here’s another rare find from Chee Ong Ngai. This is said to be Sikhs (from the Perak Armed Police) engaged in a game of wrestling.

According to the donor of this picture (Chee Ong Ngai), this was taken at Indera Mulia Stadium in Ipoh…back in 1985. Anyone here remember this promotional booth?

picture source: Star Online Whether you’re celebrating the 15th Day of the Lunar New Year (Chap Goh Mei)…. picture source: Star Online or Thaipusam, we wish you a joyous celebration. And remember to always stay safe!

Do you remember this school bus?

Here’s another gem from our donor Harvant Lisa Harper. Do you recognise the buildings in the background?

No, we’re not encouraging gambling. Rather, some of you may find this (picture above) a familiar sight during Chinese New Year. Let’s hear from our mahjong experts out there!

May your wishes come true, and your good fortune multiply like rabbits! from all of us at:

They may be posing at a park, but I’m sure these ladies are all dressed up for a special occasion 🙂 We thank Shuen Huey Foo for sharing this picture with us.

No, that’s not me. Rather another lad, who was obviously proud of his family car (I would presume).

Nothing like a good ‘ol Lion Dance Troupe to welcome Chinese New Year. Speaking of which, has anyone here been part of a troupe at some point in your youth? (maybe you were ‘part’ of the ‘lion’ too?) This guy certainly wanted to join in the fun! Read more here. picture source: NST online

This is how one would use a medium pole weighing scale. We thank Chee Ong Ngai for this picture.

Happy New Year! Here’s to feeling thankful for the year behind and enthusiastic for the year ahead.

Some say he rode on a sleigh, pulled by reindeer. Then, there were sightings of him ‘jumping off a plane with a parachute‘. (see below) The REME men, however, said he ‘travelled by train‘. How did Santa deliver YOUR presents?

When was the last time YOU received a Christmas (or any other greeting) card?

Here’s a shout out to those travelling home for the holidays. Have a safe journey and happy holidays! We thank our donor Chee Ong Ngai for this picture. Yes, this was part of the FMS Railway…just after the Bukit Gantung Station.

We thank Chee Ong Ngai for sharing this with us. Looks like it was part of a magazine or booklet. Do you recognise it?

We thank Harvant Lisa Harper for sharing this picture with us. She also had this to say: This is the army regimen house by the Ipoh Specialist Center. It was at one time occupied by the British. My dad was the guard there. Then the Japanese took over. Before they got there, he told me […]

Back in 1954, there was a charity show at the Anglo-Chinese Girls’ School. It was for a good cause – to aid the educational work among the Dayaks in Borneo. Did you catch the recital and one-act play?

With the Malaysian General Elections just around the corner, here’s another interesting find (from the family of the late Ali Pitchay): an Oath of Secrecy, taken by election candidates!

Do you recognise the background? If you do, you would know WHERE this wedding reception took place 🙂 We thank Nancy Ong for sharing this picture with us.

Do you remember that time when UMNO and MCA contemplated a “grand alliance”, to contest in the Town Council Elections in Perak? Well, this article might refresh your memory…

For those of you who haven’t been following the news lately, Malaysia will be going to the polls on the 19th of November 2022. That being said, here’s a sample of a Pre Independence Election poster! We thank the family of the late Mohd Ali bin Pitchay, for sharing this rare find with us.

May the light of the lamp give a new light to your life every moment. May this holy festival of lights bring happiness, peace and prosperity in your life. from all of us at:

No, this isn’t part of a circus troupe. Neither is this a Chinese New Year celebration (yes, I know some of you spotted the ‘lion’ in the background). This is actually part of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival parade. We thank our donor – Ann Kesselring Hamon – for sharing this with us. Here’s another […]

On the left is a flour bag from the 1970s. On the right is the same Rose Brand Flour, but in a plastic package. Other than the slight change in the logo, what else do you notice?

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Is it a bird…is it a plane…..? No, they are most likely staring at the Birch Clock Tower. The gentleman (holding some papers) is none other than Rev J Appaduray. The boys in the background are students from St Michael’s Insitution. Here’s another picture of the group: (read the full story here)

This was an interesting find – learning Japanese (or, Nipponese) via a booklet. It came with Romanised Malay translation too. Does anyone remember such a book?

We thank Gary Au Yong for this picture. Seems like the pilot is making a final inspection before the plane leaves the airport. Yes, in case you didn’t recognise the building in the background…this is, of course, the Ipoh Airport.

I’m going to go out on a limb, and say that this picture probably dates back to the 1950s? Could be later, though. We’d love to hear your thoughts – especially if you can translate the caption 🙂

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I’m sure many of you recognise this corner building 🙂 Do you remember the tea stall outside (as pictured above)? (picture courtesy of Hovid)

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Looks like the YMCA is all set for Merdeka celebrations. Have you put up your flag(s) yet?

This is a Federated Malay States Gilt Railway Police Cap Badge; a five–pointed star shaped with ‘F M S Railway Police’ between two circles and surrounding a tiger in centre. Have you seen a badge like this before?

This is said to be a Staff Photo, from 1955. We thank Gary Au Yong for this gem 🙂

We thank Gary Au Yong for this picture. It was taken on 25 April 1953. This is said to be the Perak Hoteliers’ Association at Fu Heng’s 3rd anniversary.

This photograph shows Fujiwara Iwaichi with Captain M. Akram, adjutant to General Mohan Singh, at Fujiwara Kikan headquarters at the Anderson School, Ipoh, on 5th January 1942. The military headquarters was established by Fujiwara Kikan, the military intelligence agency, on New Year’s Day 1942. The building also served as the headquarters of Indian Independence League […]

This photograph reproduced from ‘Imperial Patriot’, shows a ceremony at the Ipoh Club to mark the first anniversary of declaration of World War I on 4 August 1915.

With a heavy heart, we say goodbye to Dato’ Ng Boon Bee DPTJ AMN. He was a Malaysian badminton player, whose success in doubles earned him recognition as one of greatest doubles players in badminton history. Ng Boon Bee is probably the finest sportsman to come out of SMI, being one of the stars of […]

Looks like a beautiful painting, doesn’t it? This postcard shows the hot springs at Tambun, Ipoh. It was posted to France on 28 August 1913. It shows three men in front of the geyser; behind the geyser are the famed Limestone cliffs of the Kinta Valley. This, of course, is a Kaulfuss postcard 🙂

The month of August is usually known as “bulan Merdeka” (Merdeka/Independence Month). But did you also know that the earliest cinematograph first came to Ipoh in August 1906? Initially the cinematograph market was monopolized by one company, the Matsuo Japanese Cinematograph Company, who used to hold nightly shows in a tent for 7-weeks running, moving […]

Here’s a comparison of F&N bottles over the years. If I’m not mistaken, the first bottle is from the 1940s. The one in the centre may have come out a few years later. The last one of course is today’s modern creation.

This was what the Japanese Garden (sponsored by the Perak Turf Club) once looked like. Of course, this picture was taken back in the 1980s. Sadly, this lovely tourist spot fell under poor maintenance and neglect over the years. It even fell prey to vandals 🙁 I don’t know what has become of this place […]

Did your sharp eyes see that famous symbol on the hill? Look again carefully, if you missed it 🙂 We thank Edwin Seibel for sharing this photo with us.

The people of Ipoh had an opportunity to witness an aeroplane for the first time on July 1 1911! G P Kuller – one of the earliest aviators – staged a 4-day flight exhibition in Ipoh. Thousands congregated at the race course, with 150 Europeans occupying the 1st and 2nd class seats. The 3rd and […]

We thank Ipoh Remembered for this advertisement, which of course is from Cold Storage Ltd. Here’s an idea for the weekend – indulge in your preferred flavour of ice cream (with your favourite toppings too!)

The Gurkhas from Nepal were an integral part of the British Army as they fought side by side during the difficult periods of Malayan history, which included conflict against the Japanese troops in World War Two, the communist insurgents in the emergency era and the Confrontation Period with Indonesia in Borneo. Each year on the […]

Here’s a 1980s picture of Malim Nawar Village. Anyone been to Malim Nawar lately? Maybe you could tell us if this stall is still around… We thank Marea Smith for sharing this with us.

Here’s another picture which was featured in our Falim Exhibition, back in 2013. This is said to be a Chinese ice cream seller. I wonder how he kept the ice cream cold…

This was one of the pictures used in our Falim Exhibition a few years ago. Has anyone tried this – Dim Sum and F&N? I usually have my Dim Sum with hot tea….to each their own, I suppose.

Here’s another one from the Watson album. We were told that this was taken at the Ipoh Club.

From the number plate, we can safely assume that this picture was taken before WW2. I’ll leave this here for all the classic car lovers….

On this day in 1935, Towkay Leong Sin Nam was forwarded a medal – in commemoration of the Silver Jubilee of Their Majesties the late King George V and Queen Mary. We thank Dr Leong Oon Keong (the grandson of Leong Sin Nam) for sharing these pictures with us.

How’s this for a lovely family photograph? We’re guessing this was taken during Hari Raya. In the picture are Jaafar and whom we believe to be his grandchildren. Don’t they look great in their baju Raya?

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We thank LingLi Tan for sharing this picture with us. Maybe someone familiar with Teluk Anson (or Teluk Intan, as it is called now) could tell us more 🙂

With Raya round the corner, many will be travelling back to their hometowns this year. Of course, such kampong houses (like the ones above) may no longer be around…but they were once a common sight.

We’ve heard of Elvis impersonators. Some of them sound almost like the late King of Rock and Roll….almost. Here is a Yul Brynner impersonator.

No, this is not a scene from the floods 😉 It is in fact an entourage crossing the Perak River. This picture was taken in 1913, and can be found in the G.C.V.O. booklet. The booklet records the celebration week that to place to mark the award of the Sultan of Perak with the Royal […]

This is 1 of 4 of the hand painted posters, measuring 81cm x 100cm, produced in 1961 for the Visit Malaya in Orient promotion. Does anyone recall seeing any of these posters around the town in the 1960s?

We thank Philip LaBrooy for sharing the above article with us. Unfortunately, we’re not sure of the date of this article (nor the newspaper it was taken from). This is a list of historical buildings, monuments and sites compiled by the Museums Department. Here’s a close-up of the Perak column:

The above badge has the words “Christian Brothers’ Schools” and “Signum Fidei” clearly printed on it, one at the bottom of the badge and the other at the top. In between there is an image of Peninsula Malaysia as well as a figure of a Catholic Brother. At the top end of the image of […]

Here’s another picture from Eugene Lee. This one shows an old building in Taiping. Does anyone recognise it?

This is an advertisement from a 1967 newspaper (The Straits Times). Any fans of F&N here? Which was your favourite flavour?

We have here a tin of Ovaltine teething rusks. According to our donor (Mr Chan Hoe Cheng), this tin is about 55 years old!

Here’s another photo from Conrad Presgrave-Payne – the grandson of Sir R G Watson. We believe the lady seated extreme right is none other than Lady Watson herself. This photo was taken at the Ipoh Gymkhana Club, probably back in 1913.

We thank Shyamala Manoharan for this lovely picture. This picture was taken at a birthday party, at the Ashby Road Transit Quarters, in the 1960s. Incidentally, as our donor tells us, this ice cream seller served ice cream at many a party there.

We thank Edwin Siebel for sharing this picture with us. Yes, it is none other than the E W Birch Fountain 🙂

Here’s a familiar villa 🙂 What’s even more interesting is the interior – where once there was a portrait of the owner! (picture below) We thank Lennie Brookes for sharing these pictures with us.

According to Ipoh: The Town that Tin Built, this is part of the Canning Garden housing estate. Any idea which section of Canning Garden this is?

Greetings for the Year of the Tiger! Picture courtesy of Ho Hoo Wan.

Does this street look familiar? Well, if it does…do let us know WHERE in Ipoh this is 🙂 The above picture was taken from “Ipoh: The Town that Tin Built”

We thank Anthony H S Law for sharing this picture on Facebook. He also added: “Water Fountain …. This must be the forgotten Ipoh’s oldest, the rare and perhaps the only fountain of Ipoh city. Dated 1900 or 122 years old, the fountain was “PRESENTED BY LOW FOO ESQ TO THE IPOH HOSPITAL” Maker : […]

Did you know Boon Pharmacy had their very own Eau de Cologne? Boon Pharmacy was run by the Chew family, as many of you know. Incidentally, the family were neighbours with the LaBrooys.

No, this is not a picture of the recent floods that hit us. This picture is actually from 1967, in Kuala Kangsar. Can’t believe the water level rose that much….

The above picture shows the Ipoh Town Council’s new cleaning lorries. These lorries were used back in 1960s, of course. The advertisement below may give you a better view of them. These pictures were taken from Ipoh: The Town that Tin Built (1962)

They say it’s rude to ask a woman her age. This “lady” pictured above, however, is proud to announce her 115th birthday 🙂 Yes, Ipoh’s HIJ Convent is a hundred and fifteen years old today!

…the Old Michaelian’s Association (OMA) was first formed. Yes, way back in 1933. The picture featured below, however, was taken a year later – on the occasion of the opening of the Association’s premises.

New Sunday Times, February 8, 1987 – A London diary from Rehman Rashid – A book written by John Anderson the official translator to the British Government during the nineteenth century who was charged with forcing the official liaison between the Government and the Malay Kings. In the course of his duties, Mr. Anderson had […]

Here’s an interesting find – a membership card for the People’s Progressive Party! Also note the signature of a VERY prominent historical figure….

This Order Booklet, dated 19th December 1954, from The Wesley Church in Ipoh contains a list of lessons and carols. A small paragraph reads that the church is thankful to the members of 15/19 The King’s Royal Husssars and their Commander for their wonderful musical display.

According to the donors of this photograph; “18 December 1956, was a day of heavy rainfall all the way from Tapah to Cameron Highlands. As the 2 Troop C Squadron of the 15/19 The Kings Royal Hussars (TKRH) were heading up in a 12-truck convoy the troopers in the leading Saracen Armoured Personal Carrier came […]

Here’s an eco-friendly tip: Use paper bags (such as the one shown above) or bring your own reusable bags when shopping. 🙂 When was the last time you saw a Whiteaways’ bag like this one?

…well, belated birthday actually. Nevertheless, birthday greetings to St Michael’s Institution (SMI) – born on 4th December 1912. Here’s a 1920s drawing of the school, which was in an old Malay bungalow.

Here’s a group photograph with Dato Seri Yuen Yuet Leng and Datin Seri Yuen, and Staff of the Aulong Police Station. This was taken on 12th December 1979.

Here’s one from 1985, taken at the opening of Wisma Taiko in Ipoh. I’m sure many of you recognise the VIPs in this photo 🙂

We received this lovely photo from Eric Low. He’s hoping for any information regarding the young people in the above photo. In his own words: Once upon a time there was this band in Ipoh who called themselves “The Rain People” (**) … The 1968 or 1969 picture below was taken in one of the […]

The photograph shows the wedding day of John Arthur Stuart Jennings and Rose Winnifred Jennings, which took place at St George’s Church, George Town, Penang on November 10th 1910. What did YOU wear to your wedding? 🙂

Ever owned a radio like this? What were your favourite radio stations/frequencies?

Did you know that the Perak Sultan once had bodyguards comprising members of the Mounted Police? Here’s an article from Harchand Singh Bedi, which appeared in The Star recently. HRH Sultan Abdul Jalil, the Sultan of Perak, and his consort surrounded by their Sikh bodyguards comprising members of the Mounted Police from the Federated Malay […]

Those of you who are familiar with Armistice Day (or Poppy Day) would know that it falls on the 11th of Nov. The Armistice, an agreement to end the fighting of the First World War as a prelude to peace negotiations, began at 11am on 11 November 1918. Armistice is Latin for to stand (still) arms. As […]

No, not a variant of Red Cross 😉 This is in fact a paper bag advertising Blue Cross condensed milk. We thank Ipoh Remember for this picture. Does anyone remember this brand?

May your festival of lights celebrations be fun, safe, and spiritual. Wishing you a bright and joyous Diwali. from all of us at

Would anyone like to identify this black beauty?

We thank Charlie Choong for these photographs. These were taken during a parade in Ipoh. Could it have been during the Nine Emperor Gods festival? Can you guess the year?

We thank Mun Chor Seng for sharing this picture with us. Yes, it’s Gopeng Pipeline! (and we believe the handsome young man in the picture is none other than our donor, of course)

Heard of this brand? I haven’t…probably from before my time 😉 I thought it was rather interesting that the saucers are printed in 4 languages.

According to this advertisement (from 1988), this place offered a “City Day Special”. Does anyone remember where Cowboy’s Inn was? And, perhaps what’s become of the place?

Here’s another blast from the past – rickshaws in a row, in Taiping nonetheless. 🙂

Dated 1st July 1983, this article mentions the Sun Cinema making its way for a skyscraper. Do any of you remember that fateful day?

Believe it or not, this picture was taken in the late 1800s in Taiping. Bet the experts have already identified these buildings 🙂

The first issue came out on 4 July 1894; a quarto 4-page bi-weekly edition, which evolved into a 4-page folio journal. By 1 January 1901, the Pioneer was converted into a tri-weekly issue – which soon expanded into 6 pages. By 1 March 1905, this paper transformed in a daily paper. It had 8 pages, […]

In the early 1900s, these ten gentlemen formed the Perak State Council. They were: Raja Chulan bin ex-Sultan Abdullah Mr R. J. Wilkinson (Secretary of the Resident) Mr E. W. Birch, C.M.G. (British Resident) Towkay Foo Choo Choon Mr C. W. H. Cochrane (Assistant Secretary to the Resident, Clerk to the Council) HH Sultan of […]

Here’s another picture of the Teluk Intan district hospital….taken during a flood.

Here are two rare pictures of the Teluk Intan District Hospital. I’m sure some of you can guess which year these were taken 🙂

Here’s an early 1900s view – of what a policeman wore back then! Too bad this picture is not in colour…

We have here Mrs Southwell, ‘flexing her muscles’ as it were. She must have been really strong, to attempt pushing a Triumph Vitesse Six! Looking on is her husband R. J. Southwell. This picture was taken back in 1966, during the Triumph Owners’ Club (TOC) Gymkhana.

Here’s a virtual treat for you – Van Houten’s finest milk chocolate 🙂 While doing a little spring cleaning at home, I stumbled upon this tin (which my late grandmother used for her trinkets). I’m going to make a guess and say that this tin probably dates back to the 1970s. I could be wrong […]

Do you know them? Perhaps you may recognise some of these ladies. We welcome any information – especially if you can translate the caption for us 🙂 Was this the era when the “beehive” hairstyle was all a rage? 😉

Here’s another picture from a magazine. This was taken during the Triumph Owner’s Club AGM, back in 1966. The meeting was held at the Century Motors Ltd Showroom in Ipoh. Do you recognise anyone here? Guests aside, what really caught my eye were the chairs; they don’t make chairs like these anymore, do they?

This photo was taken during the 1980 HRH Sultan of Perak’s Castrol-TOC Motorkhana. The ‘stuntman’ is none other than Adrian Boudville, who drove his Citroen BLINDFOLDED! For those who a suffering from boredom during this MCO, PLEASE DO NOT try this.

Heartiest congratulations and best wishes on the birthday of His Majesty Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah. Dirgahayu Tuanku!

…Ipoh was declared a city! Here’s one memorable newspaper cutting of the celebrations. (more samples can be found here)

Celebrations have been muted this year, due to the MCO. However, we’d like to share an old photograph of what seems to be a Hari Raya party. On the back of this photograph are the words: “Hari Raya Dinner 10th May 1958, MJC ”

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When was the last time you had a nice cold drink of Kickapoo? 🙂

Here’s another photograph from Ruth Iversen Rollitt’s collection. This 1950s photo shows “Margaret Ladies Hair Dressing Salon”, which was said to be in Canning Estate. Does anyone remember this house/salon?

Yes, back in 1968 there was a choral performance organised by Methodist Girls’ School. It was a charity event in aid of the school’s building fund. You can find some of the audio clips from this concert here.

Today being International Women’s Day, we’d like to extend our wishes to all the amazing women – both in and around Ipoh, as well as the rest of the planet. Our featured post today is about women in sports: Here is S P Seenivasagam, presenting trophies to Yeow Phaik Poh and Doreen Seow. This […]

When was the last time YOU received a telegram?

This is a photograph of Maxwell Kenion Cowdy and Jones Staff, a famous legal partnership, taken on the 23rd of March 1953. Do you recognise anyone? 🙂

Here’s something we may have missed this Chinese New Year, due to the MCO. We thank Ann Kesselring Hamon for these pictures.

A red envelope or a red packet (in Mandarin it’s known as hongbao) is a monetary gift which is given during holidays or special occasions such as weddings, graduation or the birth of a baby. That being said, I’m sure some of the young ones out there will be looking forward to receiving this ‘good fortune’ come Chinese […]

This photograph shows the Federated Malay States Hockey Quadrangular held at the Ipoh Club Padang on 26, 27 and 28 January 1941. Abdul Hamid Aroop is standing tenth from the right.

Did any of you have such a phone? Of course today we have video calls via social media….but back then (early 1990s), this must have been quite a revolution 🙂

The Battle of Kampar broke out on the night of 29 December 1941, the day after the Japanese occupied Ipoh. The British battalion, under the inspiring leadership of Lt.Col. Morrison, defended the town very well, inflicting heavy losses on the Japanese. When New Year was ushered in, many soldiers, both Japanese and British, had been […]

Wishing you a happy, healthy and colorful life this Christmas. Enjoy every moment with your family, friends, and your loved ones. Merry Christmas!

Yes, staycation is a word 🙂 It means “a vacation spent at home or nearby”. Well, now that you know what a staycation is….where do you plan to spend the coming holidays? Here’s an idea (ref. to picture above); why not do what the Jennings’ did? In the above picture, J A S Jennings and […]

Have you heard of The Syonan Times? “Syonan” was the name given to Singapore by the Japanese (during the Japanese Occupation). The Syonan Times (printed in Singapore) acted as the local newspaper, and was also part of the psychological warfare the Japanese were using in Malaya. Here’s a sample of one of their editions, from […]

Have you ever owned such an exercise book – with British Royalty on the front cover? Personally, I’ve never seen one so unique. Was it common stationery back then…say in the early 1950s? Incidentally, today also marks the 73rd wedding anniversary of HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Philip 🙂

Our previous blog entry showed an early depiction of Batu Gajah’s main road. Today, we are featuring Kampar Town. Do you know which part of Kampar this is? (if it’s still there today…)

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On the occasion of the birthday of His Majesty Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, the Sultan of Perak. Dirgahayu Tuanku!

SMI was proud when the first group of medical students to graduate from University of Malaya included five Michaelians. They are pictured above with another Old Michaelian, Mr Vincent Ooi Eu Sen FRCS, Head of Department of Ophthalmology at the University. They are, from left to right: Doctors Chin Kit Kong, Ooi Eng Aun, Chong […]

Here’s a little history recap for you: This grave is among one of seven Christian ones in Kampung Pisang, Pasir Panjang Ulu (in Perak). The cemetery is said to be within a placid jungle clearing against a backdrop of banana trees and thick foliage, close to the Perak River. (read more here).

The Ipoh Bodega was the first European restaurant to open in Ipoh. Its doors opened on the 6th August 1904. Initially catering mainly to the lunchtime crowd, it began serving dinner shortly after and a month later began to stay open until 11pm, with music to entertain the liquor-drinkers. The weather was the death of […]

Forget James Bond, here in Malaya we had a “super spy”. The photo isn’t all that clear (well, he was spy after all!), but you can more or less get a hint of what this spy looked like. Based on a press cutting, he was known as: “A cunning triple agent who was feted by […]

In keeping up with the Halloween theme, here’s a familiar landmark that may have had its fair share of spooky tales… Somewhat triangular in shape the Odeon is adjacent to St Michael’s Catholic graveyard and like the post-war Rex Theatre, rumours that it is haunted abound. One popular rumour is that if you ever take off your shoes […]

Stuck indoors because of the weather? Or, perhaps forced to stay at home because of the MCO? Well, here’s an idea of what you and your family could do to pass the time 🙂 When was the last time you played such a board game?

This ‘Ipoh Supermarket’ opened on 1st September 1960. Anyone remember where it was? Is it still there?

Here we have an article from The Malayan Tribune, dating back to 1945.

Happy Malaysia Day, dear readers!

Your ‘homework’ for today: Which street is this? Do you recognise the car? (What about the man driving it?)

Here’s your “homework” for today: Study these pictures carefully. How many of these places do you recognise? Some clues can be found here. 😉

This is part of a portrait picture of a gentleman who had the wellbeing of all people of all races at heart. This picture was taken from an article, which describes our ‘celebrity’ as “a good-hearted, unpretentious, scrupulous and honest man who led the Indians in the fight for an independent Malaya”. I think our […]

Meeting of Kaum Ibu members in Ulu Selama, Perak (1958). The confederation of Kumpulan Kaum Ibu into independent organisations later brought about the creation of Pergerakan Kaum Ibu UMNO (renamed Pergerakan Wanita) in 1949 when the party realised the importance of a permanent women’s auxiliary body. Its leader Puteh Mariah was a dedicated and feisty […]

Our donor (Charlie Choong) took this photograph from the office of the late Dato K K Lim on 31 August 1978. What a view, eh? 🙂

Here’s a page from Dato Seri Yuen Yuet Leng’s album, showing a message from the then High Commissioner of Malaya, Sir Gerald Templer. This message was addressed to all police personnel in the country, back in 1952. How’s that for a ‘blast from the past’ ? 😉

He had been part of the SMI family since 1939 and had helped to rescue vital equipment before the Japanese took over the school buildings. As a musician himself he gave personal encouragement to the Military and Cadet bands, as well as to stage productions. For more than 40 years, he served the students, the […]

Remember this play? Perhaps the next picture might jog some memories. This second picture shows part of the cast. We thank Michael Ho for the above pictures.

I’m sure you’ve heard of the Malaysian Red Cross Society, which later became the Malaysian Red Crescent Society. No, we’re not recruiting members….just wondered if anyone of you remember the badges from back then. Perhaps you were members of such clubs back in school? [As Ipoh Remembered has pointed out, the actual Red Cross badges have […]

Back in 1952, Countess Mountbatten visited St Michael’s Institution. As President of the St John Ambulance Association in London she toured Malaya, visiting centres where St John Ambulance activities were organised. In this photograph, she’s addressing an assembly at the school hall – where she declared a half-holiday (much to the students delight!).

Have you heard of the Perak Pioneer? The first issue, a 4-page bi-weekly edition, came out in 1894. Soon, the paper gained popularity and it became an 8-page daily by 1905. Sadly, on the 18th anniversary of the paper, its editor wrote his last editorial.

Yes, yes…I know it’s not Christmas. But here’s an interesting story which appeared in the Leader magazine. “A week after her marriage in Singapore, Mrs Bloom found herself a captive of the Japanese. Then, thrown together in misery, Occidental, Chinese and Sikh found that prison bars could not confine the human spirit. In Britain on […]

When the 1939-45 war in Europe ended, in which Police Lieutenant Dick Villiers had visited the continent more times than a peacetime tourist, he was dropped into Malaya as a member of Force 136. When the Japanese capitulated in 1945, Dick left the jungle in Lower Perak and by accident met the Loh family at […]

Since the Movement Control Order (MCO), we know many of you miss your regular kopitiam-visits. Well, here’s a vintage Bentwood kopitiam chair…for a little nostalgia. Interestingly, Bentwood objects are made by wetting wood either by soaking or by steaming. This wood is then bent and left to harden into curved shapes and patterns.

This photograph was taken during the official opening of the new ACS Library and wing, on 11 June 1955. The gentleman unveiling the tablet is said to be the Perak Deputy Menteri Besar. Does anyone know who he was? Also in the photograph are: Methodist Bishop Raymond Archer (left) and school Principal Ralph Kesselring (right). […]

Today’s “celebrity” is not a politician or statesman. Our famous personality once performed as a solo artiste in 1977 at the Green Fern Coffee House, Ipoh. The Green Fern Coffee House is, of course, no longer around. I’m sure some of you recognise him (pictured above). Yes, this is none other than Joe Chin, formerly […]

Taken in Papan in the grounds of the Raja Bilah complex outside the Rumah Besar (also known as a Rumah Godang), this photograph shows Raja Yaacob in ceremonial Malay dress with several other Malay men seated or standing around a table. There is a label on the table in Jawi that we believe translates into […]

The Cenotaph came into being as a memorial for those from Perak who died in World War 1. Initially planned to be erected shortly after the war ended in 1919, building was delayed; only to be unveiled in 1927 in a ceremony organised by ex-servicemen. We believe this photograph shows that unveiling ceremony on Armistice […]

This article was taken from the Straits Times dated Monday 24th June 1963. It states that the Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, who arrived in Ipoh from Alor Setar was given somebody else’s coat as his own was missing! Later, the stranger’s coat was handed over to the Malayan Airways. The airline somehow managed to […]

The Sultan Idris Training College (also known as SITC) was built in 1922. It was the first education training institution in Malaya. The above photo shows the inside of the SITC dormitory. Any SITC alumni out there? We’d love to hear from you….

Ladies, when was the last time YOU wore an elegant Kebaya? Perhaps for a party? A wedding? A fancy dress competition? Also….how many types of Kebaya are there?

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, and is commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year. It now more broadly commemorates all those who died and served in military operations for the country. The picture shows a remembrance parade in Ipoh, back in 1957.

The characters across the top simply read “Chinese Sinseh” while the central panel provides the doctors name as “Zu Yong Chu” in red and his specialities below in black. These include “Physician, Pediatrician/Gynaecologist and Pulse”! Down the left hand side the patients are assured of of “Accurate Prescriptions”, while on the right “Careful Diagnosis” is […]

We stumbled upon this photo of a pretty woman in Cheongsam. Can anyone tell us who she is?

While we’re on the topic of personal hygiene, don’t forget your oral health too 🙂

Remember Mohamed Ghazali bin Haji Jawi? He took over as Mentri Besar of Perak back in August 1957 (after Dato Panglima Bukit Gantang resigned). This newspaper cutting was taken from The Straits Times dated Tuesday, 1st of March 1960. According to the article, Mohamed Ghazali was appointed Malaya’s Ambassador to the UAE.

No, we’re not in a morbid mood this Friday. In fact, tomorrow (21st March) will mark 71 years since the burial of WW II heroine Sybil Kathigasu (nee Daly). We have here a photograph taken at St Michael’s Church, way back in 1949. The hearse can be seen arriving at the tree-lined Church Road. Also […]

This press cutting reported that on March 1st 1983, a new $14 million central market (Super Kinta), was expected to be fully opened for business. Also, this was said to be the largest in South-East Asia!

This photograph was taken on 3 March 1934. It records the members of the Old Michaelian’s Association (OMA), first formed in 1933, on the occasion of the opening of their Association’s premises – located directly behind the group.

Lieutenant Benson’s platoon finds itself isolated in enemy-held territory after a retreat. Soon they are joined by Sergeant Montana, whose overriding concern is caring for his catatonic colonel. Benson and Montana can’t stand each other, but together they must get the survivors to Hill 465, where they hope the division is waiting. It’s a long, […]

Ever seen a photograph of Malayan Royalty with the Japanese Administration? We have a rare one here. Here we have the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Abdul Aziz Mu’tassim Billah Shah, with the Officers of the Japanese Occupation at the Iskandariah Palace in Kuala Kangsar.

This is a Sunday School Class, which was part of the Elim Gospel Hall. We don’t know the exact date this photograph was taken; however, do you recognise anyone in the photo?

…yes, some you out there can’t really function in the mornings without your cup of coffee 😀 Here’s a blast from the past – a vintage Nescafe coffee tin.

This page was taken from the souvenir programme for the opening of the Ruby Theatre. As shown, the advertisement promotes a movie from Paramount Productions. Were you one of those who watched romantic movies on Valentine’s Day, preferably with your significant other? Perhaps you still do…?

Yes, there was a park such as this (pictured above) in Gopeng. Sadly, it is no longer there… Do you remember this park?

There was a time when parks (such as the one pictured above) were considered ideal ‘dating’ spots 😉

The word Thaipusam is a combination of the name of the Tamil month, Thai, and the name of a star, Pusam. This particular star is at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a Vel “spear” so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman. We at IpohWorld would like […]

The gentleman in the centre (with glasses) is none other than His Majesty Sultan Idris. The lovely lady is His Majesty’s Consort – YTM Che Puan Negara Aminah. We believe this photograph was taken at a factory, probably sometime in the 70s. Could anyone tell us more please?

It must have been a really grand birthday, judging by the 4-tiered cake. The gentleman holding up his wine glass is none other than the birthday boy himself – Towkay Lau Pak Kuan.

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Not quite 😉 This photograph was taken at Ave Maria Convent. The lady in the centre is Mdm Poon Kim Chin (aka Poon Ah Thye), together with the girls from her homescience class. Anyone from Mdm Poon’s class here? We’d love to hear about your “adventures” from the homescience class…

We thank Lim Bor Seng for the above photos. Any members of St John’s Ambulance reading this? We’d love to know more about this royal visit…

No, we’re not talking about a servant or nanny. We’re talking about a brand of condensed milk known as British Maid. Have you heard of it? Probably back in the 1950s? Or maybe 1960s? I’m more familiar with the common ‘Dutch Lady’….

Since Chinese New Year is just around the corner, have you been busy decorating your houses? What do you usually put up? Red Lanterns? Decorations depicting the Chinese Zodiac? (I believe this year is the Year of the Rat). What about a large red paper fan?

We thank Ann Kesselring Hamon for sharing this photo with us. We were told that this was taken in 1957, at ACS Ipoh.

That’s what I thought at first. But actually, this is a greeting card for Christmas and New Year – from The Season Store Ltd. We thank Wendy Dowell (nee Harley), from the UK, for sharing this with us.

We thank Mary Olver for sharing this photograph with us. Standing from left to right are: Mark Olver (Hon Secretary), Harold Edge (BOAC) and W. D. Green (Club Captain). Incidentally, Green was the winner of the BOAC Speedbird Trophy for Gliding. Does anyone remember where the club house was?

Anyone know what’s become of the famed French Bakery?

John..who? John Robson, best remembered as the founder and proprietor of The Malay Mail newspaper 🙂

Hello there, Andersonians! Do you remember this letterhead? Note the address of the school – Ashby Road. That should give you a clue as to which year this was…. We thank Barat Kumar for sharing this with us.

Taken from the Straits Times, dated 25th Dec 1959, it states that many have complained about the long waiting hours at the Taiping District Hospital. One of the patients, who went to the hospital at 9a.m., was not admitted until 5.30p.m. I guess we’re still having the same issues today, aren’t we? 😉

Did you know…that the foundation stone for the present building of St John’s Church was laid on 15 December 1910? Here’s a picture of the church when it was just completed (in 1912).

You’ve seen souvenirs from Coca Cola, but what about Pepsi Cola? Do you remember these collectable cups?

Yes, I’m sure you recognise this brand. No, “Clouet” is not a strange spelling for ‘chicken’….Clouet is actually the name of the founder of this brand. 🙂

Paraffin flakes? Ever used them in your washing?

Some of you may remember those galvanised washtubs used for laundry (and maybe bathing the little ones too!). Does anyone still use them now? I doubt it (but I may be wrong). Maybe some of you out there still prefer hand-washed clothes… 😉

In previous blog posts about the former Yau Tet Shin Round Market, many of you talked about the stall(s) you frequently visited. Well, for those who knew the Round Market like the back of their hand….here’s a ‘quiz’ for you: Do you recall what was sold at Stall No. 12?

We thank Barat Kumar for sending us this picture. In his own words, Barat explains: “As we bear witness to the passing of a great man I would like to share this picture of Our beloved Mr Selvamany. Picture was taken on 14 July 1972 at a farewell assembly. This was when he went on […]

On this festival of lights, we hope that your happiness is multiplied and your sorrows divided. May this auspicious festival bring you and your family health, wealth and success. Happy Deepavali.

Murukku is a savoury, crunchy snack originating from the Indian subcontinent, popular in southern India, and Sri Lanka. The name derives from the Tamil word for “twisted”. Murukku is typically made from rice and urad dal flour. The flours are mixed with water, salt, chilli powder, asafoetida and either sesame seeds or cumin seeds. The mix is kneaded into a dough, which is shaped […]

Some time ago, we featured a wooden ice shaver. Well, here’s a picture of how one would shave ice – the traditional way 🙂

No, we’re not teaching you how to cook. Instead, we’d like to know how YOU prefer to cook rice – the traditional way (with the wooden steamer, like the one on the left) or using the modern rice cooker?

Here’s another Then & Now photo for you. Anyone here tried Heinz baby food? I only remember their rusks…

What did Nespray look like back in the day? Would you recognise it if you saw it today? Well, here’s a Then and Now photo for you – Nespray from the 80s (left) and Nespray today 😉

This photo was taken at the Asiatic Fruit Juice aerated water factory, which was in Sungei Siput. Does anyone know if the factory is still there? Perhaps abandoned, or converted into something else?

Here’s an advertisement from an Old Michaelian magazine. Most of us have heard of French Bakery. But what about Swatow & Co?

Long before the famous Milo Vans, there was the Milo Tricycle. We believe this was the brainchild of an innovative Indian gentleman in the late 1950’s. He lived in Buntong but kept his tricycle in a shop in Old Town. The picture featured on today’s blog is a replica of the Milo Tricycle, made by […]

Remember this cookbook? It’s a collection of recipes from three years work in the Domestic Science Department of the Malayan Teachers’ College of Penang. We were told that this book was intended to be used as a teaching aid in Malayan schools. Teachers out there, did you ever use such a book?

Since World Coffee Day was yesterday (1st October), we decided to feature this interesting ‘gadget’. This is a small ‘box’ style coffee grinder manufactured by T & C Clark & Company. We thank Ong Kor Leong for letting us photograph this beauty 😉

We thank Charlie Choong for sharing this photo with us.

We thank our donor Tom Turnbull for this photo. He can be seen, standing 3rd from right, with the Area Security Unit (ASU). This was taken at a rubber estate two miles south of Batu Gajah Town.

…what a rubber seed looks like! 🙂 Anyone used to collect them? Yes? No?

In conjunction with the birthday of His Majesty Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al Musta’in Billah Shah. Daulat Tuanku!

Nope! This is actually a carbide lamp 🙂 How does it work? Well…pellets or chunks of calcium carbide are placed in the lower chamber. The upper chamber is then filled with water. A screw valve or other mechanism is used to control the rate at which the water is allowed to drip into the chamber […]

Let’s talk about money 😉 How much would 25 Katis be today?

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Hope everyone has their tickets. Oh, and remember to be there early. Where? Why at Merdeka Stadium of course!

…when Lido Theatre had its grand opening. Thanks to Hong Soon Keong, we have here a photograph taken outside the cinema before the opening. It shows the Band of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Lincolnshire Regiment of Taiping by the kind permission of the Commanding Officer, Lt Col S G Doulson performing outside the Lido […]

The picture shows the Perak XI Football Team (back 1957), in Ipoh. Do you remember them?

Dear Collectors…do you still have your copy? 😉

There are many clock towers in and around the state of Perak. According to the above article from Vicinity Perak, Perak is home to three clock towers which were constructed to commemorate Independence Day. Where are these clock towers you say? Well, they can be found in Kampar (built in 1957), Parit (1959) and Sungai […]

We were told by our donor (Alan Wanless) that this photo was taken in Sungai Siput. The picture shows some of the guests which attended a Merdeka Day celebration, back in 1957. Among those in attendance was a cute doggy (bottom right) 🙂 😉

Did you own such a lapel badge? If yes, do you still have it?

We have here a lovely photo from Shuen Huey Foo, showing some of the nurses from Ward 8 of the Ipoh General Hospital. Do you recognise them? What about the person in the portrait?

While we’re still on the topic of jobs/occupations, here’s something that may (or may not) trigger some memories. Can you guess what it is?

Yes, women worked at the mines too…and not just as dulang washers 😉

While we’re on the theme of occupation/workers in action, here’s a different scenario. These men were apparently victims of the economic slump back in the 1930s.

Wonder what these hard working men are up to…

When was the last time you saw a sign like this?

The photo on the left is from the Yeoh family album, probably from the 1940s. The one on the right is a present-day random image from Google. Seems like suspenders are back in fashion 😉

This cute photograph is from the Yeoh family album. Ladies, were you ever dressed as such for a wedding? Were flower crowns a fashion statement back then?

While we’re still on the topic of childhood memories, take a good look at this photograph. Is this a human centipede / human caterpillar? Was that what this game was called? I do recall playing such a game at school….and it was FUN 😉

Come on now, don’t be shy…I’m sure some of you had a special cup/mug/glass which you drank out of. Well then, we await for your comments… I confess that I have one – a white and blue Transformers mug 😉

Could this be the same brand “rebranded”? Or, two different brands…with the same name? 😉

How many of you remember this desk and chair from your school days? 😉

When was the last time you saw THIS street (pictured above) so quiet? We thank the Yeoh family for sharing this nostalgic photo with us.

When was the last time you had a picnic with your family/friends? Well, why not take advantage of the upcoming public holidays? These children seem to have the right idea….

We thank Ann Kesselring Hamon for the above photo. We’d also like to take this opportunity to wish our friends from East Malaysia Tadau Kaamatan & Selamat Hari Gawai. Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan & Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai!

Imagine waiting in anticipation for your exam results – only to be told they’ve been delayed! Well, it happened back in 1954…

Remember the time (back in school) when you received an award for excellent exam results? I remember getting an award for good PMR results (though I can’t recall what the prize was). Well, back in 1947 Dawn Kathigasu received an award for bravery! The gentleman beside her is Mr A. Aston (British Resident Commissioner for […]

Do you remember this meeting? It was back in 1971. Perhaps someone out there attended the event. We’d love to know more. Oh! Here’s a photograph to help jog your memory 😉

No, we’re not talking about the movie 😉 We’re actually dedicating today’s post to a well-known and well-loved educator. I’m sure most of you will recognise him from the photograph. Happy belated Teacher’s Day…to ALL those dedicated men and women who made us who we are today!

Some forged $1 notes were found in Perak back in 1960. Do you remember that incident?

On this date, in 1948, the movie “The Boy with Green Hair” played at Ruby in Ipoh. Anyone watched this movie? Did Peter’s hair turn back to its original colour? UPDATE: The year is in fact 1949, not 1948 as stated. 13th May back in 1948 was a Thursday, not a Friday; hence, with reference […]

Back in 1969, we bid farewell to a political giant – D R Seenivasagam. Here’s a picture showing part of the funeral procession. Do you recognise the building in the far left?

Where were you in May 1974? Do you remember an incident, whereby a hundred members of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) guerillas gathered and planted explosives which blew up earth-moving equipment along the East-West Highway at Grik, North Perak? Well, we’re not going to show you some graphic photos of what happened; instead, we […]

Heard about the Ipoh Food Festival? Check out the posters below: Here’s a message from the organisers: We have many exciting workshops and experience for tourist to sign up. Some are also free. Including 1) Dine in the Dark (rm15 per pax) Register via WhatsApp name > 012-4128038 Rattan Basket Weaving Workshop [1 seat left] […]

Here’s a nice one from Charlie Choong. Beautiful car, isn’t it? Did YOU ever try to get a nice car/motorcycle to impress your date? Don’t be shy…I’m sure you may have a story or two to share with us 🙂

Here is Percival Moss, with his ‘faithful ride’. Moss was a tailor who sewed uniforms for the Malay States Guides and other military organisations, back in the early 1900s. We thank his grandson Bernard for sharing this photograph (along with many others of the Moss family, who once lived in Taiping). Any guesses as to […]

This is a souvenir programme from 1938 – the year Ruby Theatre was opened. What’s so special about the Ruby Theatre? Well besides being built by Lau Ek Ching, it was also known as Ipoh’s Ultra Modern Talkie Palace! What’s a ‘talkie’ ? A film with sound, of course 😉 As Wikipedia states: “The primary […]

Well….not quite. But forget the circus for a while; do you remember the days when advertising was done via vehicles? Like this photograph below (from Hong Soon Kheong): Do you remember those decorated vans, which advertised movies at the local cinemas?

When The Falcons had to end due to their manager quitting, the band members, Joe Chin, Michael Ho, Christopher Choong and Thomas Ham decided to concentrate on their education, leaving the stuffed Falcon (the band’s mascot) with Christopher. But not long after that, Joe and Michael found two other guys, (Kenny Ham, Thomas’ brother and […]

Audiences said what set her apart was her complete immersion into the emotion of her songs. Most of her songs are sentimental love ballads, wistful, nostalgic melodies, and her entire composure and movements would reflect the mood of her music. She often cried as she sang on stage…. (read more here) This time, we’re featuring […]

Continuing our ‘Then & Now’ series, here we have a comparison of two movie posters. Both were action/adventure films from different years. On the left (courtesy of Edwin Seibel) is a 1957 poster for Moby Dick; on the right is none other then the poster for Avengers Assemble. Anyone know how movie posters were made […]

On the left (courtesy of Ruth Iversen Rollitt) is a 1st Class ticket stub from Sun Cinema, from 1958. On the right is a Google image of a Gold Class ticket stub (2015). How times (and ticket prices) have changed….

“16 mm refers to the width of the film; other common film gauges include 8 and 35mm. It is generally used for non-theatrical (e.g., industrial, educational) film-making, or for low-budget motion pictures. It also existed as a popular amateur or home movie-making format for several decades, alongside 8mm film and later Super 8 film.” – Wikipedia […]

This play opened in 1938. Some of you may be too young to recall this…or were not even born yet. Then, there was a 1952 film produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille. A similar production came out in 2017 (titled “The Greatest Showman”), which also revolved around the famed duo Barnum & Bailey. For […]

Since we’re still on the topic of famous names, how many of you remember Harold Jansz? And how many of you have seen him in action?

In the 1960s, a magician by the name of John Calvert drove from the Ipoh Airport to Lido Cinema…blindfolded! No, I’m not kidding; the above picture was taken at Cockman Street showing Calvert in an Austin Gypsy..with his eyes covered. We’re not encouraging you to try this stunt…but we’re wondering if anyone out there remembers […]

When was the last time you saw these objects in action? This was before those fancy coffee-making machines became popular, of course. However, some local coffee shops still stick by this method of brewing your perfect cup of java. Here’s a Google photo of how these objects go together.

The above menu was chosen for Mr & Mrs Michael Lim’s Golden Anniversary. Judging from the list of dishes, I dare to say no one went home hungry that night 😉 Let’s ask the “married ones”…what was YOUR wedding menu like?

I’m sure some of you already know what the above picture is. Yes, this is a kuih bahulu mould. Anyone wants to share a good kuih bahulu recipe here? 🙂

This picture needs no introduction. If anyone of you has ever tried cooking in one of these clay pots, do share your experience with us (and maybe some recipes too?).

Some of you may be able to guess WHERE this place is. So don’t keep those guesses to yourselves. On another note, what did YOU do during your younger days…when you had a Boys/Girls Night Out?

….that Alfred Bird invented this product (pictured above) because his wife was allergic to eggs? Since this product has been around for quite a while, has anyone tried this? What does it taste like?

How sharp are your eyes? Can you identify some of the familiar/popular buildings in this aerial view photograph? Some of you experts out there may already know which part of Ipoh this is too 😉

Could it be Gopeng Road? Tapah? Batu Gajah? Or…nowhere near Ipoh? You tell us 🙂

Does this place look familiar? We have no idea where it could be, and we’re hoping someone could tell us. Notice the Esso sign (extreme right). It was probably part of a garage. There’s also the decorated arch.

Thanks to Ipoh Remembered, we have the above photo to keep you entertained this weekend. Some of you may have already guessed WHERE this place is. Can you also guess the year? And just for fun, we’ll let Ipoh Remembered keep tally of your score….. 😉

Don’t know what to do the coming long weekend? Well, why don’t you head on out to Ipoh Old Town. Lots of exciting events will be happening on the 19th and 20th of January 2019 – you wouldn’t want to miss it! Curious? Want to know more? Visit the Sama Sama Perak Facebook […]

In June 1957, there was the Perak Derby. Here are some photos (from Nick Band) which were taken at the Perak Turf Club. Anyone remember the Perak Derby?

“..Besides their intended use, they could be used for cleaning equipment, polishing shoes, cleaning hands and face, signalling for attention, as a sweat band, neckerchief, as protection from dust inhalation, to repair footwear, cut out pieces to patch clothes, cut up as emergency firearms cleaning patches, Molotov cocktail wick (fire-bomb), hot cooking utensil holder, a […]

We’ve heard from the fans of model aeroplanes and model cars. Now we’d like to hear from those who played with model ships. Did you have your own fan club?

We were told that this photo was taken at Jubilee Park. Could it be so? You tell us 🙂 In the meanwhile…does anyone know WHO this pretty lady is?

Special thanks to SK and Ooi Kean Chye for these photos. On the left is NTPS Pasir Puteh back in 1962, on the right is the same school today (2019). SK also shared with us: “In the 1962 picture, in between the buildings in the middle was where we took our pictures. On the left of […]

Students from NTPS Jalan Pasir Puteh are probably grinning at the screen now. As for the former students…has the school changed much over the years? Maybe some of you have old photos of the building back then…do share them with us. On that note, how many of you remember YOUR first day at school? Was it […]

Ever had one of these in your home? This one shown above is of course for children; the adult-sized ones are larger. I do wonder if such an object is common in modern homes today….

If they ever came to life (like in those Disney cartoons), perhaps these vehicles would have been good friends 😉 Here we have a bicycle, a car and a van; all three of them ‘worked’ for Ho Yan Hor. We’d like to hear from the car-lovers out there – can you identify the type of […]

Believe it or not, Mercantile Bank existed in Taiping too 🙂 Does anyone know if this bank is still in business? Or…maybe it goes by another name now?

Many of you managed to ‘solve’ our Monday puzzle. Let’s see how many of your can guess THIS one. Ruth, if you are reading this…don’t give up the answer too soon 😉

Familiar area? Yes? No? Well, I don’t blame you if you can’t recognise this place. It is SO VERY DIFFERENT now. For those of you who know the answer, feel free to drop us a comment (or two). By the way, this place is in Ipoh…

Let’s hear from the Boy Scouts. What were your favourite memories back then? (Or, maybe you have an interesting campfire-tale or two to share?)

Thanks to our donor, we have an interesting photograph here. These boys (and their Teacher perhaps?) are in the middle of a cross-country run. Any guesses as to what building that is in the background? 🙂

Some of you may already recognise this person. For those who don’t, here are some fun facts about him: he was an architect and developer he once worked for the Ipoh Town Board as a draughtsman he also owned Caxton Press (along Belfield Street) he and his family lived at Dulcieville Lane Yes, he is […]

Do you remember the year these Alfa Romeo cars came to Malaysia? Perhaps the car-lovers might be able to tell us more. Maybe someone out there was standing in the crowd watching this promotion. And…if you were one of these pretty girls in the photograph, we’d love to hear from you too 😉

…in Taiping. These were taken by Percival Moss, a tailor who sewed uniforms for the Malay States Guides and other military organisations. We thank his grandson Bernard for sharing them with us. We estimate the date to be early 1900s.

No, we’re not being ‘bitter’ about it…but did anyone realise that this beautiful floral clock is no more? For those who’ve never had the chance to see it, here are two pictures for you; both are from Ann Kesselring Hamon. The lady in white (left image) is Ann’s mother Florence Kesselring. As for the right […]

Remember this memorial? Any idea where in Ipoh Town it stood? Or…maybe you might know WHO built it?

Ever wondered what was at the back of the Ipoh Railway Station? Well, here’s a late 1930s view (picture courtesy of Winson Saw):

Anglo Chinese Girls School? Well, if you didn’t know what the ACGS building looked like here’s an old photo. Looks like the Methodist Girls School building? That’s because it IS the MGS building 🙂 ACGS was named MGS back in 1959.

Yes, the building in the background is none other than the Veterinary Research Institute at Tiger Lane. Our donor estimates that this photo was taken around 1955. Have you been to this place? If so, do share your thoughts with us 🙂

Yes, folks…believe it or not, this is what the YMCA building looked like back in 1954. Pity the beautiful garden is no longer there today 🙁

How many of you out there lived / grew up in Simee? We’d love to hear some of your childhood adventures (or, misadventures…especially the funny ones 😉 ). Maybe someone out there may also know HOW Simee got its name?

No, this was said to be the temporary building for the Anglo Chinese Girls’ School, back in the 1950s. For those of you who don’t know, Anglo Chinese Girls’ School (or ACGS Ipoh) later became Methodist Girls’ School (MGS). Of course, the MGS building now looks nothing like this one pictured above. MGS Alumni, we’d love to […]

We’ve all heard (and seen videos) of shopping-adventures (and misadventures too). For those of you who’ve been to Emporium Perak, do share some stories with us 😉

Perhaps this was once a familiar sight in Ipoh town – dulang washers walking through the town, either going towards or coming back from the river. Anyone wants to guess which part of town these ladies are passing through?

Many of you may have seen the Kuomintang Parade photos on our database. Here’s another one, from Ann Kesselring Hamon’s collection. What’s so special about this, you ask? Well, it’s in colour! ps: Recognise the street?

Hypothetical scenario: Imagine you’ve just inherited a LOT of money…and you’ve decided to build a beautiful mansion. Well, let us ‘help’ you with some interior decoration ideas 😀 We have here some photographs of what the inside of the Kinta Kellas Estate bungalow once looked like. Yes, this wooden bungalow once belonged to none other […]

We believe these musicians were part of the Perak Hui Zhou association. While we try to find out more about this, perhaps someone out there could help us out. Does anyone remember this public performance? And if you do, do you recognise the buildings in the background?

Where were YOU back in 1979? Did you witness the Castrol ASEAN Rally? Do you remember seeing this car (picture above) in action? Although the photo is not too clear, but do you recognise the driver? 😉

Some of you may recognise it. Some of you are still scratching your heads. Worry not, this is in fact the ruins of a brick bungalow built by none other than William Kellie Smith. Last I recall, these ruins were within the grounds of the famed Kellie’s Castle (hope they haven’t disappeared or made way […]

Yes, you read it right. This is the old Town Hall…in Taiping 🙂 We think this photograph was taken in the early 1900s (we could be wrong). Anyone from Taiping reading this? We’d like to know what’s become of this building.

In the back row, right, is a gentleman by the name of Charles Green. History-buffs may tell you that ‘Greentown’ was named after him. This photograph was taken in 1902, after a cricket match. Do you recognise anyone else in this photograph?

Come on, dancers…don’t be shy! Tell us ALL about your ‘fancy moves’ 😉

What’s so rare about this one? If you look closely, you can see the words “Chan Sam Lock Photo Service” on the blinds (below the large Chun Mee signboard). Yes, Chan Sam Lock started out as a half-shop along Brewster Road once upon a time….

We received this via email from SK (who sent it to us on behalf of the donor). According to SK, Gurpal is looking for his former classmates. Anyone out there from Lower Six Science 2? Gurpal is looking for you. Incidentally, SK told us that this picture was taken in April 1967 – Gurpal’s last […]

Yes, “Visit Malaya” posters existed back in 1961! Here’s one which some of you may have seen… (you can read more about this poster here).

Chettiar (or Chetty) is a title used by various mercantile castes and social levels in South India – especially in the state of Tamil Nadu. They claim a legendary relationship with the Hindu God Murugan; according to the legend, Murugan married Valli (who was from a tribal group), hence her tribe was later called Chettyars […]

“Fancy travelling down the memory lanes in Ipoh? Commander Ian Anderson would bring you through the tourist trails of Old Ipoh, to allow you to relive the good old glorious Ipoh. The speaker will guide the audience along the first published tourist trails of Ipoh in 1914, continuing with a look at the differences created by […]

We thank Lennie Brooks for these pictures. Her father once served in the 15/19 Hussars as their Company Sergeant Major Instructor. Back in 1955, they lived at No. 20, Chung Thye Phin Road – yes, at Chung Thye Phin’s mansion nonetheless. These pictures show a mosaic of Chung Thye Phin and also an interesting marble […]

Ms Monroe once sang about diamonds being a girl’s best friend. From this photo, it seems like this lady loves the car (instead of those precious stones). But I must say, between the precious stones and a beautiful car….I would choose a car (but that’s just me!)

According to the writing on the back, this postcard dates back to 1930. Quite a view, eh?

Some of you may remember Fung Lum Restaurant – at 118 Brewster Road, Ipoh (they also had a branch KL). But what about Maple Leaf Coffee Court? Have you been to this cafe? Was it run by the same people who ran the Fung Lum Restaurant? Or, maybe it was part of Rendezvous?

Some of you remember your ‘O’ and ‘A’ Levels (and how HARD you worked to get good grades!) Then there are others who did the Government Examination for Chinese Schools – and received a certificate like the one shown here.

Here’s a photo taken in Kampar. Recognise the car? By the way, the lady leaning against the car is our donor’s mother.

Here’s a picture of the FMSR Locomotiv Class G. The locomotive was built by R. Stephenson. It was placed in Perak Railway with the name FMSR 47 in July 1901. It was scrapped on November 1931. A series of 34 4-6-0 locomotives were built by Kitson (16), Hunslet (5), Neilson Reid & R. Stephenson. And […]

When was the last time you saw / or even used this?

Ever wondered what happened to the building that housed the first Post & Telegraph office back in 1883? Yes, I’m talking about that building in Jalan Stesen, Taiping. Well, it is now a Telegraph Museum!

Did it always come in 32 lb cylinders? How much did they cost? Was it delivered to your house, or did you have to get it from a supplier?

As a follow up to our previous blog post, we’d like to share something Ipoh Remembered sent us. This is a Cadbury advertisement printed in 1919!

Yes, this is indeed a Cadbury tin. Have you seen it before? If you have, do you remember how much these chocolates cost back then?

Could this have been a branch of Cold Storage? Or, perhaps Cold Storage’s competitor? We don’t know, so we’re hoping someone out there could help us out. Our anonymous donor didn’t say much about this photograph (and unfortunately, we are no longer in contact with this person). I’m sure someone out there visited 47 Cockman […]

I was. What about YOU?

According to the article, many of the wooden houses in Greentown would have to make way for development. About 16 houses would be demolished and the area would then house the ‘new’ municipal council building (present Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh building). Anyone remembers the ‘new’ municipal council building?

Following your enthusiastic comments on an old blog post, we decided to put up something else from the Triumph Owners Club (Perak) Magazine. These are from the Driving Tests at the Military Square, Ashby Road, Ipoh (back in 1975). The car on the right was said to be a Triumph Herald 1200 saloon. Car lovers care […]

…you saw a Malayan Money Order stub? Bring back memories? We’d like to hear about it 🙂

Here’s another one from the Yeoh Family album. I know…it’s a funeral procession (no, we’re not feeling morbid today). What caught my eye was the signboard on the extreme right – ANY Co Gift House. I’ve certainly never heard of it (perhaps too young to remember… 😉 ). Do any of YOU remember this shop?

Yes, those in the leading car in this parade were the Perak State Table Tennis Team. Incidentally, the team won the National Table Tennis Championship back in 1967. The winners went on parade through Hugh Low Street – passing the premises of the Oversea Chinese Banking Corporation. The President of the Perak Association, Towkay Chong […]

Yes, you read it right – Anglo-Chinese Girls’ School. Maybe you’re more familiar with its current name – Methodist Girls’ School (MGS). Anyway, here is a nostalgic photograph taken during the sports day. The guest of honour is none other than Mrs Florence Kesselring.

Anyone remember this comic/magazine? Was Roy named after a famous football star? If you were one of those who followed this series, did he make it to Mexico? [ Yes, FIFA World Cup is upon us! 😉 ]

Yes, there was such a place called Perak Club. It was founded in Taiping, in 1880. Thanks to Bernard Moss, we have some pictures of it on our database. Here’s one of the pictures – just to show you what the building looked like.

I’m sure you’ve seen this before. The question is, have you seen one with the words “E II R”?

No, we didn’t make this word up 😉 ‘Sinalco’ is said to be an abbreviation of the Latin sine alcohole, which means “without alcohol”. Sinalco is the oldest soft drink brand in Europe (it was first marketed in 1902!), and is produced by Sinalco International, Germany. Perhaps the advertisement might give you a clue as to how these […]

No, we’re not trying to scare you 😉 Although not strictly a Psychological Warfare tool, like the air-dropped leaflets, this brochure certainly formed an early part of the psychological fight against the communists. For those of you who remember the Malayan Emergency, have you seen similar posters in and around your neighbourhood?

Yes, pun intended 😉 How many of you remember THIS product?

This picture was taken from a postcard, which was sent in 1936. Of course, this may not be the exact year the picture was taken. What drew my attention to the picture was the person sitting on the river bank – wonder if he/she was fishing…or simply appreciating nature?

Here’s another Kaulfuss postcard for you. Do you recognise the building in the background? Wonder if it’s still there in Gopeng…

No, we’re not predicting the coming election results 😉 This is an article from 1963, from the Straits Times, which reported that PPP (People’s Progressive Party) retained Ipoh.

Not quite. This picture was taken at an actual event, which was held at the Lido Theatre in Ipoh! Does anyone remember this event? If you are this 12 year old who won this competition…we’d LOVE to hear from you too! 😉

Yes, there was once a cinema hall named Princess Theatre. No, not in Ipoh…but in Kampar. Remember what it looked like? Here’s a picture (courtesy of Charlie Choong) to jog your memory 🙂

In this 1959 photograph, our donor (Charlie Choong) can be seen posing on the steps of the Birch Clock Tower. Note the bust in the background 😉

Back in the day, if you didn’t know what to eat on a Saturday night you could just head to the Station Hotel. Their dinner menu on 15th October 1955 would definitely NOT leave you hungry 😉

Anyone remember this parade? Special thanks to Charlie Choong for these photographs.

Toolbox? Not quite…it’s actually a set of instruments used by draughtsmen. Yes, before computers took over, building plans and such were drawn by hand! This Rotring set is boxed in a leatherette case with a velvet lining; incidentally Rotring is a German technical writing and drawing instruments company based in Hamburg.

We once featured an old railway ticket. Today, we’re showcasing a platform ticket. 🙂 Yes, it cost 20 cents!

Yes, that’s what it says on this advertisement! Have you come across similar advertisements in the past?

We believe that this was the Ipoh Federal Building on Club Road (now Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang). Would anyone happen to know more about this place?

Our donors told us that this was taken in the 1950s, outside the Perak Education Department offices. Seated 4th from the left is Sinniah S/O Sinnathamby (Inspector of Indian Schools, Perak).

Yes, we’ve featured calendars with pretty women before. No, we’re not selling this particular calendar. What we’d like to know is: have any of you seen this calendar, which was printed for G.E.C.? If so, do you recognise the famous face gracing the month of July?

from all of us at

I remember picture cards, posters, and even the more modern audio/visual teaching aids. But I’ve not seen one like this (pictured below). This teaching aid was said to be used to explain the concept of pi π. Let’s hear from the teachers out there….have any of you used such aids?

Recognise this drawing? Were you any good at it? Did you have ‘flying’ competitions with your friends? Ok, own up…how many of you played with paper planes? We’d also like to hear from the model airplane enthusiasts. I’ll admit I had paper dolls once. Spent hours designing, colouring and cutting out clothes for them 😉

I’m sure many of you can guess what this is 🙂 Yes, these are cake pans used to make the famous Nian Gao – which is made from glutinous rice. While it can be eaten all year round, traditionally it is most popular during Chinese New Year. It is considered good luck to eat nian gao during this […]

Here’s another photo from Michael Ho’s collection. This one was taken on 14th July 1966, during a dinner held in honour of Rev Bro Assistant Superior General. We think this was probably held at the school hall of St Michael’s Institution. Do you recognise any of the gentlemen in this group?

Enjoy this nostalgic photo from 1957. Happy Thaipusam from all of us at:

Today’s blog picture is from Sybil de Roquigny (via email). She tells us that this is the embankment (with a flight of steps) in front of her grandmother’s house; if you stand at the top, you get a good view of the Kinta River. Sybil’s grandmother – Chow Yoon Soo – was the second wife […]

No, not another Royal…not the King of Rock & Roll either. We’re talking about the King of Fruits! Yes…the DURIAN! This photograph was taken in 1995, according to our donor. From the buildings in the background, can you guess where this place is?

Have you ever had a musical box? This one pictured here is a Music Box Teaching Clock, which plays the tune “Grandfather’s Clock” while teaching the young ones how to tell the time the fun way!

Do you know these VIPs? Ok, we’ll make it easier for you 😉 Seated on the extreme right is none other than S P Seenivasagam. Next to him is of course Sultan Idris and the lady beside him is his Consort (Che Puan Negara Aminah). And how can we forget Lau Pak Khuan – […]

Let’s see if the Michaelians remember this one (see pictures below): Recognise the costumes? The actors? The title of the play? I only recognise Bro Pius Kelly, standing in the back (between the ‘gentleman’ with the top hat and the ‘maiden’).

Is your teacher in this group? If yes, do point him/her out to us? The only one I recognise here is Bro Ultan Paul.

Yes, that’s what I’d like to ask our local coffee drinkers out there. How come this particular bag of coffee came in 11 kilos? I always thought such goods were packed in either even numbered weights or in multiples of 5 (or basic 1 kilo or 1/2 kilo). Could it be a misprint? Or, did this […]

This was not a posed photograph. In fact, this was a common scene during the Second World War – when expatriates stopped at the Ipoh Railway Station, on their way to Singapore. When Penang was invaded by the Japanese in 1941, all European Service Families had to be evacuated. It may not be clear, due […]

click to enlarge This photo was taken on 8th December 1954. It was taken during the Marian Year Pageant. Were you part of this pageant? Recognise anyone in the group?

This was not taken in Ipoh, but we thought of sharing this rare find with all of you. These photos were part of a series, taken back in 1956 (some were faded, some were damaged). Here we have HRH the Duke of Edinburgh visiting a dredge in Jinjang. The gentleman in the dark sunglasses […]

A rechargeable battery, storage battery, secondary cell, or accumulator is a type of electrical battery which can be charged, discharged into a load, and recharged many times, as opposed to a disposable or primary battery, which is supplied fully charged and discarded after use. It is composed of one or more electrochemical cells. The term “accumulator” is used as it accumulates and stores energy through a […]

That’s what I used to call this ‘gadget‘. Have you used something like this for presentations? This was BEFORE everyone mastered MS PowerPoint 😉

click image to enlarge We thank SK for sharing these stickers with us. Familiar, aren’t they? These stickers apparently came with MAD Magazine. Did you collect them? Were they part of a series?

Looks like the grand opening of a store in Ipoh. The back of these photographs say it’s the Premier Store, Ipoh (dated 11 Jan 1968). Any idea where in Ipoh this place was? The gentleman cutting the ribbon is none other than Sultan Idris Al-Mutawakkil Alallahi Shah, and the lady beside him is his consort […]

We’re talking about the lady on the left (in the glittery outfit). Recognise her? She’s none other than Sakura Teng – the Go-go Queen from the 1970s. Do you remember her? Were you a fan?

At one time, putting your long hair up in a bun was a popular style. Coloured pins, hair nets, fancy clips and alike were a rave. But have you ladies ever used something like this (pictured above) to secure your bun? A rather unique accessory, don’t you think?

Here’s something for our local football fans. This article is from Mingguan Malaysia, dated 9 April 1972. Perak and Selangor were set to meet at the Merdeka Stadium. Did anyone of you catch the game? Did you have a chance to meet your favourite footballers?

The photo on the left was taken back in the 1940s, showing St Joseph School in Batu Gajah. The one on the right was taken from the Star Metro (dated 4 November 2017). This building was built as early as 1928, believe it or not. According to Star Metro, efforts are underway to restore this […]

Yes, one look at this machine and all that comes to my mind is: a bowl of shaved ice, drenched in brown sugar syrup and topped with jelly (of various shapes, sizes and colours), kidney beans, sweet corn and peanuts. Oh, and not forgetting a dash of santan too! Ah, bet some of you are […]

The year was 20 June 1962, when King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit arrived in Kuala Lumpur. This was part of their state long visit. On 24 June, the Royal couple stopped by Ipoh. (pictures below taken from New Sunday Times, 22 October 2017)

That’s what the caption of the photograph said. This is a rather interesting view of the Kinta River, with the houses on both sides of the bank. If you squint, you can see the bridge too. Which bridge this is, your guess is as good as mine 😉 Special thanks to the National Archives, […]

This is a photograph of a pure natural bristle toothbrush, made in England by Saxony. How many of you have seen such an artifact, eh?

We thank Thomas Lee for sharing this photograph with us. These happy children seem every excited about their lanterns. Did YOU own such a lantern when you were their age?

This postcard, from the J. J. Series, shows Selibui Road in Ipoh. We believe the postcards from this series ranged from 1905 – 1910. From what we found out from the book ‘Perak Postcards: 1890s-1940s‘, this photo probably shows the early intake dam and waterworks in Selibin (Silibin today). To quote from the book: “Water […]

Heard of this brand? Yes? No? These matches are locally made. Don’t believe me, check out the next picture. Yes, this brand is made in Teluk Intan.

Not to be confused with the German composer Wilhelm Richard Wagner, this souvenir is from Wagner Piano – a local company set up by A C Hoe and his wife. Now, the mystery: if you look at the picture closely, you’ll notice the words “established since 1920”. But according to the Wagner Piano story, this […]

As the story goes…… “in 1889 two brothers, Édouard Michelin and André Michelin, ran a rubber factory in Clermont-Ferrand, France. One day, a cyclist whose pneumatic tire needed repair turned up at the factory. The tire was glued to the rim, and it took over three hours to remove and repair the tire, which then needed to be […]

When was the last time YOU saw such a suitcase? I do wonder how much one could put in one of these…

Have you heard of the Iskandar Shah School?

No, we’re not joking. This delicacy can be found right here in Ipoh – at Restoran Nasi Lemak Ayam Kampung, Jalan Ali Pitchay. Have any of you tried this? Do tell us about your culinary adventure!

This photo is from Michael Ho’s collection. Here we have a Form One class from St Michael’s Institution, back in 1980. Michaelians, do you recognise yourselves?

This camera had 4 (yes, 4) lenses, and a built-in flash too. Yes, I’m talking about the Polaroid MiniPortrait 403. Did you have your portrait taken with one of these cameras?

We’re not encouraging you to take up smoking; we’re just curious to know if any of you remember Lucky Strike Filters 😉 Could you buy these tins off the rack at your local grocery store? Or were they sold by the man who rode on a cigarette tricycle? Should you wish to see a real cigarette […]

Come visit us at Sarang Paloh. Our exhibition will be from today 5th Sept till 10th Sept 2017, 5pm – 9pm. This exhibition is part of the festivities of The Other Festival, organised by Kakiseni. ps: bring along your cameras 😉

Here’s a picture (from Mohd Taib) of Hugh Low Street, back in August 1957, all decorated for the occasion. wishes all of you Happy Merdeka! Can you believe it’s been 60 years already?

Have you seen the Federation Flag? Do you remember what it looked like? We have one in our collection (see below) Notice the difference between this flag and our present one?

…you saw something like this? Some of you may already know what this is. Well, let me just say that our famed Star Barber once used this tool…

Have you heard of the Perak Institute of Electronics (PIE)? We’re hoping someone out there can help us out with this little mystery…

We thank Sybil for this class photograph, showing the students and teachers from the HIJ Convent (now SM Convent), Ipoh. Sybil managed to provide some names (click here); however, we still need more 🙂 Convent Alumni, you girls up for the challenge?

Here’s another NST picture, showing the ‘hello girls’ (as they were called). These girls worked at the Ipoh Telephone Exchange once upon a time. Dewi (wearing a checkered dress), and her sister Jamilah (face towards to camera) both worked 6-hour shifts at the Exchange. This picture is dated 1st November 1953.

This NST picture shows people collecting their rice rations from one of the 19 distribution points in Sungai Siput. The gentleman in the foreground is See Khoon Lim, the then chairman of the local council; on his left is K. Sockalingam, then police chief of Sungai Siput. This picture is said to be dated 10 August […]

Do you have a favourite birthday memory? We’d like to hear about it…just for nostalgia’s sake. Here’s a nice photo of Honey Lim, celebrating her 2nd birthday.

How many of you remember The Drifters? How many of you saw them perform at the Rex Cinema? How many of you remember the dragons on the walls, which ‘watched over’ the cinema goers?

When I visit the local kopitiam, I can’t help but stop and stare at such hawkers (like in the above photo). It’s fascinating to watch them cut up the meat with their ever-sharp cleaver, and they are really quick (I wouldn’t dare attempt such a feat at home, lest I loose my fingers!). Is it […]

Yes, you read it right! Don’t these ladies look lovely? Special thanks to Ong Wei Mei for the above photograph, which was taken in 1966.

Back in the day, many of us were ‘recycling’ old tins and boxes. Like this W&R Jacob & Co biscuit tin – which was turned into a sewing kit. What else did YOU ‘recycle’ or ‘reuse’ back then?

Does anyone remember these lovely ladies and their hula hoops? Well, I’m sure some of you do. These ladies performed at the Lido Theatre; at one time, it was common to see such performances at cinemas.

Not a fashion-buff, but perhaps Kian Fatt was one of those modern-day clothing stores back then. Does anyone remember this place?

Have you heard of ‘Bullock Park’. No, I’m not making it up…this is what it says on the back of this photograph.

I wonder how many of you remember this advertisement. We got this off the back back of an old exercise book. What other products were advertised on the back of exercise books during your school days? During my school days, the backs of our exercise books had no adverts – just the Rukunegara and probably […]

…a rotary dial phone? I remember having one at home….and I also remember how my small fingers kept getting stuck in those number holes 🙂 Well, here’s some nostalgia for you (see picture below).

Today, if you want to know the schedule at your local cinema all you need is the Internet 😉 Yes, everything is available online now – you can even buy your tickets online too! What about back then in the 1930s? Here we have a flyer from 1938, advertising movies showing at the Sun Cinema […]

PS: Those of you heading back to your home town, drive safely…

Special thanks to Oon Eng Hock (and SK) for sharing the above photograph with us. Anderson Alumni might remember this special day…when the then Education Minister – En Mohd Khir Johari – (extreme right) visited the school for this exhibition. Oon is standing behind En Khir, and behind Oon is none other than the Principal […]

Here’s something cute for you, hope it chases away your Monday blues!

We thank Graham Barton for sharing this picture with us. He was once part of the 12th Infantry Regiment Workshop REME, at Gunung Panjang, Ipoh. Is that a ‘Beetle’ in the background, or do my eyes deceive me?

Familiar? Yes, we did have a Capitol Cinema in Ipoh once. But not anymore. However, the cinema shown in this picture does not look like the one in Ipoh. But I could be wrong. Where do you think this cinema is? Is it still there?

When was the last time you saw THIS thing? Those who do remember are probably eager to share a comment or two…

Car-lovers, can you guess what type of car this is?

Any Alumni from the Malayan Teachers’ College – Brinsford Lodge out there? If you’re reading this, do you recognise these gentlemen? We thank Mohamad Sharizan for the above photograph.

picture courtesy of: Mohamad Sharizan bin Mohd. Supian No, this isn’t a scene from the movie Grease…..neither is this a very young version of John Travolta 😉 We just thought of sharing this cute picture with all of you.

In 1893, an actual Merryweather was ordered from London and delivered to Ipoh. Horse-drawn and manned by Sikhs (under Police supervision), it was capable of pumping up to 600 gallons of water per minute. It was also said to be the fastest vehicle (at that time) in the country! What does a Merryweather look like? Well, […]

This steamboat is ‘powered’ by charcoal. Yes, I kid you not! This brass object is divided into the base, pot and lid. The soup is placed in the pot, which is heated by the charcoal in the base. I’ve never eaten out of one of these…have you?

Ever wondered about the origins of your favourite laundry detergent / soap? Such soaps once came in bars, before the modern powdered and liquid form. Which is why I’d like to draw your attention to the picture above. Recognise this brand? Have any of you used it before?

No, not the dessert craved by chocolate-lovers….rather the type of camera – the Brownie No.2! This one here is a special edition model, made in conjunction with the Silver Jubilee of King George V. Did YOU have any souvenirs from any special occasion?

Calling all you nimble-feet folk! How many of you remember the Celestial Dance Bar?

Ever seen something like this? It’s a collage made from Japanese Occupation stamps! We thank Ruth Iversen Rollitt for sharing this with us. Incidentally, this souvenir was made by one of Ruth’s late father’s draughtsmen.

We thank Ann Kesselring Hamon for this photo – taken at an alumni gathering of ACS boys. The gentleman in the centre is none other than Ralph Kesselring! According to Ann, this photograph was taken in 1956. Do you recognise some of the faces?

Believe it or not, this model dates back to the late 1800s. No, we’re NOT pulling your leg 😉 Apart from the dust and rust, it’s still functioning….even the little bell rings clearly!

How many of you have heard of Cow & Gate? Apparently it was started by two brothers from Surrey, UK.

This picture was taken off Heritage Asia magazine, back in 2004. The description reads as: Perak, as in many parts of Malaysia, has a large number of pre-war and colonial shop-houses. Distinctive in their decorative sturdy look with sculpted openings and large columns guarding the shaded five-foot ways, they were the mainstay of retail business […]

We featured Van Houten some time ago, and many of you shared your thoughts on it. Today we’d like to know if any of you are familiar with Droste Cocoa – a product by a Dutch company founded in 1863. Was it as famous as Van Houten?

I’m sure many of you are familiar with this gadget…

Ian Horgan is trying to reconnect with a long lost mate, whom he shared a room with back in 1979/1980 in England. Here’s what he wrote: I am writing to you to ask for your help in finding an old room-mate, Alan Tan. I shared a room with Alan back in 1979/80 in a house […]

Could this have been one of your well-loved toys as a child? Or, maybe you prefered model aeroplanes? I recall ‘falling in love’ with LEGO, as a child. Before that, my brother and I fought over Hot Wheels toy cars 😉

We thank Ian for sharing these photos with us. Ian Sheldrick used to study at BACS Ipoh from October 1962 – October 1964. The photos he shared with us were taken during the school’s Sports Day. Any BACS Alumni out there? Are you in any of these pictures?

No, I didn’t make that up! Apparently (as stated in good ‘ol Wikipedia), the ‘HP’ in this popular brand actually stands for Houses of Parliament! Just a show of hands – how many of you knew this little trivia? 🙂

“Commonly made of bamboo, plastic, wood or stainless steel, Chopsticks were first used by the Chinese. This later spread to various parts of the world through cultural influence or through Chinese immigrant communities. How does one use chopsticks? Well, the lower chopstick is stationary, and rests at the base of the thumb, and between the ring […]

from all of us at

This photograph – from Sybil de ROQUIGNY-IRAGNE – was taken at Kam Loong Restaurant, back in the 1960s. They were celebrating a relative’s 60th birthday! Yes, the Year of the Rooster is upon us…and some of us are already in a party-mood 🙂 Does anyone have a funny story to share…about something that happened during […]

…a collector of those Nestle labels? The one we have below had a simple recipe printed on the back. My aunt and I used to collect some of these back then. Then I decided to paste them in an old diary. Do they still print such things today? On a lighter note…were you also a recipe-hoarder? […]

We thank Pat Price (from Sydney) for this picture. Price was formerly an engineer with Anglo-Oriental. This dredge was said to be in Kampong Gajah, Perak. Perhaps you’re wondering why the dredge buckets are all lined up on the extreme right. Back in 1976, one of the dredge buckets broke; hence, fixing the problem was […]

…that the YMCA Ipoh building used to be along Cockman Street? Check out the pictures below 🙂 Apparently, this premise later became the home for Lido Cinema. Does anyone remember this building? Here’s a group photo of the YMCA members, taken outside the Cockman Street building.

I’m sure everyone recognises the gentleman seated in the middle. 🙂 Yes, he’s none other than Rev Bro Vincent Corkery – of St Michael’s Institution. The photograph was part of a tribute to Bro Vincent, congratulating him on his award (he was conferred the title ‘Dato’ back in 2014). In this same tribute were some […]

from all of us at:

Looking at this picture (from Lay Jin Chew), I couldn’t help but wonder how much Ipoh’s landscape has changed over the years. Could that bridge (far left) be part of the Hugh Low Bridge, or part of the Birch Bridge? I would also like to draw your attention to the area on the left of […]

…when many a shop used doors like these (picture above). Remember them? Reminds me of those saloons in Western movies. 😉

Rather BIG for an egg beater, don’t you think? Or, maybe just to fold egg-whites into the batter..in really large bowls! But I haven’t seen pastry/cake shops use these. What do YOU think?

How many of you remember this guide book? Was it a must-have among students back in the late 1950s / early 1960s?

We’ve heard from the car lovers, the food lovers, the history buffs too. Now, we’d like to hear from the music lovers…have you ever played the mandolin? The one shown here is said to be from the 1930s.

Of late, Ipoh old town has been getting increasingly popular — it’s great, but everyone also goes to the same spaces for the same experiences.We know there is plenty to learn of Ipoh old town, many more places and stories to explore and uncover. So we’ll be working with Doodle Malaysia to draw out a […]

We took this off the 1977 edition of the AMCIAN – the Ave Maria Convent school magazine. This is an aerial view of the school building and the surroundings. We’ve had a lot of feedback from SMI, ACS, NTPS, and even HIJ Convent Alumni over the years…but not much from the Ave Maria Convent girls. […]

On the occasion of HRH’s birthday, DYMM Paduka Seri Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Al-Maghfur-Lah from all of us at:

This sundry shop was once at 40 Jalan Lee Kwee Foh, in Canning Garden. But that was back in the 1960s – 1970s. This shop was later taken over by a book store. Does anyone remember the sundry shop…or even the owner?