tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post6604839794181175377..comments2023-12-23T22:32:53.531+08:00Comments on Taking Up The Challenge: Those Who Know Buy NationalVictorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10339178864363140977noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-36315339805167531862008-07-22T10:18:00.000+08:002008-07-22T10:18:00.000+08:00Peter - I thought that for certain goods, especial...Peter - I thought that for certain goods, especially if they have electronic parts, they will spoil easily if you don't use them for a prolonged period?<BR/><BR/>Hmm... if what you said is true, it's no wonder many people scrap their cars after only 3-5 years of usage.Victorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10339178864363140977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-30768071545256622622008-07-21T21:47:00.000+08:002008-07-21T21:47:00.000+08:00I mean 120,000km.I mean 120,000km.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-60977006565134256102008-07-21T21:46:00.000+08:002008-07-21T21:46:00.000+08:00I am not sure whether it's because there's too muc...I am not sure whether it's because there's too much electronics involved that has contributed in short life-span of most products. I think most things are made to last for 'X period of time".<BR/><BR/>Even a Mercedes car these days can gibe trouble the moment it crosses 120km. The first sign of trouble is when the engine runs at a very loud decibel like a taxi. Those Mercedes or BMWs that have very silent engine sound despite its age, chances are the car is hardly driven. Time for engine overhaul and that could set u back $15K.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-8781375806003210552008-07-21T09:14:00.000+08:002008-07-21T09:14:00.000+08:00LKK - I agree that old stuff were made to last. No...LKK - I agree that old stuff were made to last. Nowadays, a lot of stuff are made in ..., not Japan. They are cheap but quality suffers.Victorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10339178864363140977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-3832217323464288072008-07-18T14:26:00.000+08:002008-07-18T14:26:00.000+08:00Yes, the old reliable National is so much better a...Yes, the old reliable National is so much better and the new one....sad to say - good things are hard to come by nowadays.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-54289778637600115692008-07-18T00:01:00.000+08:002008-07-18T00:01:00.000+08:00Sathiya - Yes, many electric appliances were alrea...Sathiya - Yes, many electric appliances were already widely available in the 1960s because of the availability of electricity (which was also needed to light up the neon National sign).Victorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10339178864363140977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-49959355989646145642008-07-17T23:58:00.000+08:002008-07-17T23:58:00.000+08:00Shilpa - Does North Bridge Road really look barer ...Shilpa - Does North Bridge Road really look barer and <B>broader</B> in the old photos? "Barer" maybe, but "broader"? You must have been away from our little island far too long. :pVictorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10339178864363140977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-4371534612878343972008-07-17T23:55:00.000+08:002008-07-17T23:55:00.000+08:00Chun See - No, I have never heard of the tagline "...Chun See - No, I have never heard of the tagline <I><B>"National creates better living"</B></I>. Hmm... I wonder who came up the better tagline <I><B>"Those who know better buy ..."</B></I>? Maybe it should have used <I><B>"Those who know BEST buy ..."</B></I><BR/><BR/>Thanks for that interesting story about Japanese management style and the founder of the National brand, Konosuke Matsushita.Victorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10339178864363140977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-21659421929895518912008-07-17T23:49:00.000+08:002008-07-17T23:49:00.000+08:00Peter - I remember the open Stamford Canal very di...Peter - I remember the open Stamford Canal very distinctly. Once I even waded in it waist-high waters to catch <I>longkang</I> (drain) fishes. Ah... maybe I should write a separate blogpost on it.Victorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10339178864363140977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-4603778716042766562008-07-17T09:50:00.000+08:002008-07-17T09:50:00.000+08:00At one time I think there was a competitor that ca...At one time I think there was a competitor that came up with a line that said, "Those who know better buy XXX". But I cannot remember which brand. Which probably goes to show that National's line is more impactful.Lam Chun Seehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01762020157703342970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-15507534366053983872008-07-16T17:39:00.000+08:002008-07-16T17:39:00.000+08:00Good informative post and the pics are really good...Good informative post and the pics are really good to see.<BR/><BR/>//Shouldn't you be patriotic every day?//<BR/>Yes, ofcourse. Same applies to Mother's day, Valentines day etc. ;)<BR/><BR/>//I remember my family bought our first electric rice cooker in the 1960s. It was a National, of course//<BR/>Oh, I didn't know that electric rice cooker existed in 1960s itself.<BR/><BR/>My father still has a National Tape Recorder, which he must have bought in 1970s and it's still working. Amazing quality.Sathiyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13505622746218519267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-72893583404723411282008-07-16T00:37:00.000+08:002008-07-16T00:37:00.000+08:00Capitol, Capitol, is that facing St Andrew's Cathe...Capitol, Capitol, is that facing St Andrew's Cathedral? The street in the picture definitely looked barer and broader leh... my my..Shilpahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01775487084298169773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-68299462685842638922008-07-15T22:40:00.000+08:002008-07-15T22:40:00.000+08:00No. I cannot see your Recent Comments.No. I cannot see your Recent Comments.Lam Chun Seehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01762020157703342970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-59031658005878970262008-07-15T20:44:00.000+08:002008-07-15T20:44:00.000+08:00Chun SeeU forgot Japanese management style emphasi...Chun See<BR/>U forgot Japanese management style emphasize on hosting very very long meetings to give everybody the chance to air his/her views.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-32649384350191125252008-07-15T17:32:00.000+08:002008-07-15T17:32:00.000+08:00Victor, do you remember at one time, National's ta...Victor, do you remember at one time, National's tag line was <I><B>National creates better living</B></I>? Do you know the story behind his slogan?<BR/><BR/>Later when I started to learn about Japanese management and productivity philosophies, I learned that this line was influenced by their founder, Konosuke Matsushita. This man was much admired by Japanese businessman. His philosophy was that his company's products must contribute to society's happiness and well-being. That's why they emphasised a lot on quality.<BR/><BR/>Although K.M. wasn't very well-educated, he wrote many management books which became well-sought after by Japanese businessmen. Matsushita the company, set up an institute called PHP Institute with offices in many countries including Spore. They publish productivity books and videos which I used a lot in my work. PHP stood for something like Peace Happiness and Prosperity again reflecting the founder's philosophy.Lam Chun Seehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01762020157703342970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-39377665171026665842008-07-15T07:31:00.000+08:002008-07-15T07:31:00.000+08:00The government has gazetted the Capitol Centre (si...The government has gazetted the Capitol Centre (site of National signboard/showroom) for redevelopment. So expect very soon the bulldozers moving in.<BR/>This location has seen so many changes in the last few decades. Before the National Showroom came up, there was the Union Jack Club, the equivalent of the Britannia Club on Beach Road.<BR/><BR/>Pinto- Peninsular Plaza is next to Capitol Center. Peninsular Shopping Center is next to Peninsular Hotel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-29283016401400325952008-07-15T06:06:00.000+08:002008-07-15T06:06:00.000+08:00The 1967 color photo shows a road bridge and a can...The 1967 color photo shows a road bridge and a canal - the canal is Stamford Canal (the Raffles City MRT exit on the side opposite the St Andrew's cathedral, the covered pavement) and the road bridge at the corner of Beach Road and Stanford Road (opposite the Singapore Recreation Club).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-15328678426875057692008-07-15T00:24:00.000+08:002008-07-15T00:24:00.000+08:00Peter, thanks for the photos. They helped to make ...Peter, thanks for the photos. They helped to make my article more interesting.<BR/><BR/>I have just added a few more photos and amended the article.Victorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10339178864363140977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-57993606981833657182008-07-15T00:22:00.000+08:002008-07-15T00:22:00.000+08:00Pinto - Okay, we are convinced that you are below ...Pinto - Okay, we are convinced that you are below 30. :pVictorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10339178864363140977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-80196364016318873782008-07-15T00:21:00.000+08:002008-07-15T00:21:00.000+08:00YG - Wow, you must have used the SB-10 (a one-litr...YG - Wow, you must have used the SB-10 (a one-litre cooker?) for a few decades now. The durability of the product is truly proven.Victorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10339178864363140977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-18723274376226878572008-07-14T20:21:00.000+08:002008-07-14T20:21:00.000+08:00The National Showroom attracted many people becaus...The National Showroom attracted many people because when TV was introduced to Singapore in 1963, not many households could afford.<BR/><BR/>So besides the Community Centers, the houses of the rich, the TV distributor showrooms were where people would congregate every Saturday evening. Behind the showroom were many street vendors.<BR/><BR/>The other showroom I remembered was Kee Huat Radio Sdn Bhd which distributed the Blaunpunk brand. Kee Huat's showroom was at the now Meridien Hotel; facing Oxley Rise.<BR/><BR/>Roxy-Sharp's showroom was at Tanglin Halt, right in the heart of its factory. The Lorenz brand from Cycle & Carriage Ltd was at a row of shophouses which used to be the Somerset MRT Station carpark facing Orchard Road.<BR/><BR/>There was even a TV Carnival or trade show at the Kallang Park (I think where the squash courts are located today).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-29692050865477540822008-07-14T09:16:00.000+08:002008-07-14T09:16:00.000+08:00Never knew that existed! By the time I was old eno...Never knew that existed! By the time I was old enough to remember the area, that place was a multi-storey car park. I see the Bata stayed even in the same corner of the new building (Peninsula or Peninsula Plaza... I always get confused by the names.)pintohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14676823759744680169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13303109.post-6370030342183182862008-07-14T08:58:00.000+08:002008-07-14T08:58:00.000+08:00we are still using the national rice cooker model ...we are still using the national rice cooker model sb-10. it was made in malaysia. ours does not have the viewing glass on the cover.yghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07054865524193859788noreply@blogger.com