BY VIVYNNA ANN CHABU
KUCHING: Anyone who enters AAD Records and Vintage Store located at Wisma Phoenix here will feel like he is stepping into a time machine, where one could go back in time and recollect everything he had as a child.
As customers walk in, they would be entertained with music played on a 1980s vinyl recorder that is still well preserved by Awang Amirul Dzikri, the shop owner.
In fact every corner of the shop holds memories from all across Sarawak, most of all for the 39-year-old antique collector.
Awang said he began collecting as a hobby and that it eventually grew to the point that he needed to build a store to house all of his collections.
“The first thing I collected was a comic book. After I got hold of more money, I started to collect much more stuff.
“I usually buy from old, closed stores, or when I travel, I go to people’s residences and ask if they want to sell them,” he told New Sarawak Tribune.
He said his collection developed into a legitimate business about seven to eight years ago, the store now at Wisma Phoenix after relocating from Satok and Jalan Nanas.
“I chose this location because it is at the centre of the city. I want to make this a tourist attraction plus this place (Wisma Phoenix) is an old building and it matches my shop aesthetics,” he said.
Rare collection of a 100 year old signage
At the right side of a shop, one cannot miss a signage of a local broadsheet newspaper.
“The Borneo Post signage is not for sale. It was the first edition printed with a double-sided sign, and it was distributed to those who published newspapers.
“The sign is approximately 100 years old,” he said.
Another collection at Awang’s shop would be the Daihatsu 1000cc 1970 automobile – one of the shop’s largest goods.
“The car resembles a rickshaw or vehicle that can only be found in a museum. Surprisingly, the vehicle is still operable.
“It needs to be pushed first in order to move, but it can still move. However, the tires need to be pumped first,” he said.
The most wanted collection
One of the most sought after collections, Awang said is the ‘Dunhill’ vintage mirror that is used in convenience stores.
“Many people come to the store and try to negotiate to buy it from me, but it is not for sale,” he said.
In old convenience stores, he explained people used this kind of mirror as CCTV.
“They used the reflection of the mirror to see all the people in the store. This kind of item is hard to get,” he said, pointing out that he also uses the mirror as his CCTV in his store.
Expensive collection worth RM8,000
One of the most expensive item in AAD Record and Vintage store is the Et Kuwahara BMX 1982 bicycle that can fetch RM 8,000.
Another limited collection at the store would be the Sony Walkman-D3, it can cost about RM3,000 and one of the collections Awang adores the most.
“This is the last one, a lot of it is already being bought by foreigners and people from the peninsula. This Walkman was produced in 1986, meaning it is already 38 years old.
“This is the first edition that was supplied for RTM and not everyone could afford this before, it was only reserved for the government during that time,” he said.
Renting for function
The store does not only sell stuff but also provides rental services for events or parties that carry vintage themes.
“They can request rental like old CD, chair, shellac record, props like old sign, or decoration that match the theme of the party,” he said.
Awang prefers selling products physically than online.
He added that his other business, renting out cars, leaves him with very little time to post things online.
“I don’t have enough time to respond to every inquiry they ask online and provide them with all the information they require.
“Furthermore, consumers will hold me accountable if the item is damaged after delivery. In addition, it is old and restoring it to its previous state will be difficult,” he said.
However there is also an exception for online delivery, that is if the item fetches thousands.
“For instance, I typically charge between RM 2,000 and RM 3,000 for the Sony Walkman, and the customers who purchased it did not visit my store but instead, they bought it online,” he said.
Preserving the item
Asked how he preserved all of this antique stuff especially in Malaysia that is known to be humid Awang said he keeps all his stuff in an air-conditioned room and away from sunlight.
“The room would be cold at night but in daylight it will be difficult,” he said.
He also shared how he preserved an old canned tin of “Sudirman” by poking a little hole and releasing all the water inside to avoid it getting rusty.
Recycle, bought and given
Awang disclosed that almost all of his collection is bought, recycled and given to him from all his contact circle.
“This collection of CDs, cassettes, and phonograph records was either purchased after the CD store closed or was given to me by people who no longer wanted it,” he said.
What’s next?
Awang hopes that one day he can open a gallery for his collection.
“However, I am aware that almost half of the stuff is already being sold and everything is scattered around.
“ I hope that this business can turn into a Kuching tourist attraction and attract more outside people to come,” he said.
