Lesson from a Matchbox

Posted by claudia under Hobbies and Toys
(7) Comments • (5788) Reads • Permalink

Do you know you can learn quite a bit about the history of Singapore from matchboxes too?

Mr Yeo with part of his collections

When I visited Mr Yeo recently, he brought out big boxes filled with matchboxes and match labels. In these collections of small, old and empty matchboxes, he shared interesting stories and takes on the history of Singapore.

Many decades ago, matchboxes were one of the common souvenirs found at hotels, nightclubs, restaurants and even airlines and many other businesses. I’m guessing it might even be one of the most used corporate gifts in those days.

Among Mr Yeo’s collection, there was one matchbox that was given by the Singapore Artillery. He jokingly mentioned that perhaps those days, they encouraged people in the military to smoke or perhaps they used these matchsticks to light up their nights in the forest during training. We’re all unsure of the actual reason why matchboxes were given out but it’s still interesting that it’s used in the military.

There’s also matchboxes for Kentucky Fried Chicken! We can’t figure out why they have matchboxes then.

Taking a closer look at these matchboxes, you’ll notice the number of digits for Singapore’s postal code back in those days. A quick search within Yesterday.sg, I found out that 2-digit postal codes were used before 1979. And I’m sure these matchboxes were around much earlier than that.

Here’s one match label from the hotels…

Besides discovering the numbers, these matchboxes also shows you how the logos of hotels and places have changed over the years. Here’s one with the logo of Hyatt Hotel from back then.

Do you have matchboxes from long ago too? What stories do they tell you?

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(7) Comments

Posted by: Icemoon
Posted on: November 12th, 2008

There is a matchbox in the ration pack of SAF. Not to encourage people to smoke or light up the night (there's the torch for that), but to light a fire to cook maggie mee. Which is why the matchbox is packed with the hexamine solid fuel. About King's Hotel, I read it is Kwek Leng Beng's favourite. :P

Posted by: Shih Tung
Posted on: November 12th, 2008

KFC was a sit-down restaurant rather than a fast-food style restaurant when it first opened. There were no non-smoking sections back then either.

Posted by: Yeo Hong Eng
Posted on: January 15th, 2009

It seemed that it was one the cheapest ways of advertising a product during the bygone era as most people smoked. When cig lighter became available and more convenient the deathnail for match users were sealed. Some samples of my Singapore match boxes in my collection include weddings, New Year Greetings, airlines, hotels, bars and restaurants, hair cutting and hair saloons, shippings, banks and credit cards issuers, wine, cigarettes, motor agents and workshops, stereos and computer systems, art and paintings, SEAP Games, film stars etc I feel that these matchboxes are part of Singapore heritage and is fast disappearing. My suggestion is that Singapore Heritage takes immediate steps to acquire and preserve this little tools of bygone age.

Posted by: may
Posted on: January 16th, 2010

my friend found old matchboxes from my friends house collected by his auntie and he wanted to sell, some are over 60 years and some even showed singapore postal codes such as 8 & 9. please let me know if anybody is interested.