The Hotpoint Electric Heating Company (generally known simply as Hotpoint), formed in 1911 in California, USA was the market leader for domestic appliances well known for its refrigerators and washing machines. Hotpoint launched many appliance industry firsts, including the first refrigerator on wheels in 1953, designed to make it easier to clean behind the refrigerator.The fridge in question was acquired by the Loh family who used to work and live in the two storey shophouse located at 436 Joo Chiat Road. The ground floor housed the family business, an old and well known bicycle shop called Song Seng Chan, while the upper floor were the living quarters of the household members. The fridge was located in the living room. Apart from some surface wear and tear, it is still in good working condition according to the owner. Worthy of mention is the fact that the set of ice cube trays and other components of the fridge, as well documents related to its purchase, are still intact. As a background Song Seng Chan was an old and well known bicycle shop in the eastern part of Singapore that has served generations of Singaporeans especially the Katongnites. They sold and repaired bicycles, as well as toys and electrical appliances. The family patriarch, Loh Jin Hwee came from China when he was 8 and opened the bicycle shop in 1932 when he was 19 at 479 Joo Chiat Road. The shop at that time was known as Chop Song Seng. After the war they moved into a nearby shophouse (436 Joo Chiat Rd) and renamed the shop Song Seng Chan. After more than eight decades in business, the shop closed its doors for good in June 2013.Refrigeration is not common in Singapore before the 1970s. Not many could afford the appliance, and food was stored in meat safes or purchased fresh from the market. Hence this example of a refrigerator imported in the 1950s is rare and serves to enhance our understanding of social history pertaining to shophouse living in Singapore.
