Prized possession: Lim checking his Pagol clock from the 1960s at his shop in Jalan Chowrasta, Penang. — KT GOH/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: Antique shop owner Lim Chin Ping has countless items in his inventory but no amount of money will make him part with a vintage clock.
The Pagol clock from the 1960s remains in good condition and is a top item displayed in Lim’s shop.
“I bought the clock from someone about five years ago. I will never sell it. Finding a clock in such a condition is quite impossible,” he said.
“It is a very rare clock and was exclusively distributed.”
The Swiss-made Pagol, which has faded into relative obscurity, was well-known among clock enthusiasts back in the 60s and 70s.
The brand boasted a distinctive coconut tree logo and was hugely popular in Asia but succumbed to the impact of the quartz watch revolution in the 80s.
The 48-year-old proprietor of the shop at the Chowrasta Market building here has a collection of more than 2,000 vintage and antique items ranging from movie posters and flyers, bank notes, coins and toy watches.
The oldest item in his possession is a sale and purchase agreement document for a house from the British colonial period.
“Notably valuable due to its inclusion of a 100 Malayan dollar stamp, the document is a testament to its historical significance.
“I also have numerous documents and letters from the Japanese occupation of Malaya during World War II. I acquired these items through contacts and friends,” he said.
Also among Lim’s collection is an assortment of photographs depicting old Penang.
“My fascination lies not only in the aesthetic charm of these pictures but also in the insights they offer into the fashion and lifestyles of people who lived here in a bygone era.
“I am keen to learn what the people wore then and the transformation of the island in that period,” he said.
