I'm starting this series of brief posts under a "Vanishing World" heading to highlight articles, trades or scenes that have or are disappearing from Malaysia..
Let me start with the "Daching" or handheld measuring scale. Remember them?
Did someone in your family own a Daching? Do you know how it is used? Share your memories of this and other items in our Vanishing World ...
Added Later
Here's a fellow Josephian trying to brush up his Daching wielding skills ...
Let me start with the "Daching" or handheld measuring scale. Remember them?
Fig 1: A Daching in a museum exhibit
Fig 2: Photo of a woman using a Daching
Did someone in your family own a Daching? Do you know how it is used? Share your memories of this and other items in our Vanishing World ...
Added Later
Here's a fellow Josephian trying to brush up his Daching wielding skills ...
all replaced by electronic scales liao !
ReplyDeleteyea, that's rite. Thing like this will be replaced very soon or later. Party using the same symbol is of no exception LOL
DeleteMy grandpa and granny were shopkeepers on Main Bazaar. They had a few of these. I saw them using but I never learn to use.
ReplyDeleteI wonder If anyone still uses the abacus for summing? It's another vanishing article.
ReplyDelete@CLK - I doubt many businessmen use the abacus anymore. All modern with calculators now. However in early primary school in Singapore, I believe they still teach the abacus in maths class to promote mental arithmetic among the young.
ReplyDeleteEven sliderules have totally disappeared
ReplyDeleteI still have my old slideruler. About 30 years old And I still don't know how to use it properly. hehehe ...
ReplyDeleteDon't know where are my slide rules but I still remember how to use them. Had a round one too...
ReplyDeleteYes, I have a set from my dad, in fact two sets..one shown in above pic and a smaller set. He was a business man way back in the 60's. Another rather big set,(need 2 person to carry type) for weighing gunny sacks of rice, rubber sheets, etc is with my brother.
ReplyDeleteIn the hands of many a Chinese merchant, an excellent tool for hoodwinking the masses! I personally saw my next door neighbor who knew how to use one, demolished a trader for using the daching to show 1 kati when it was only 75% of that!
ReplyDeleteNothing compared to the scales which clearly show what something weighs.
A great invention nevertheless by the Chinese, just like the abacus.
Unfortunately, like many of the other great inventions from the Chinese, it was not developed and refined into anything greater and over time, became obsolete.
A lesson for the future.
Not sure how to hoodwink the masses with the daching unless the the plate and that solid lead replaced by lighter or heavier one. Any tmepering with the markings or calibrations on the wood will be apparent and easily spotted.
DeleteI learned to use the daching during primary school days. Pretty easy to use it, only concern is to be able to read/understand the markings. I still see the small one (as mentioned by NL) being used by old chinese medicine shops to weigh dried herbs.
ReplyDeleteLS, you sure you are holding the right string holder? I can see two string holder. So, what's the first one for and the second?
Deletehello Mr Sia ... going into business? selling bak kua?
ReplyDeleteJust to be sure that I was not short-changed by my bak kua supplier :-)
DeleteMr. Sia, can I buy half kati 'bak kua' please? 8 tahil also can la. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteBe careful hoh. Watch his fingers. You might get 1 tahil or two less than you pay for ... hehehe
DeleteIf he does that hoh, I'll break his fingers..........
Delete