t certain everyday items which were once indispensable become victims to the endless march of time
IT IS SADLY INEVITABLE THAT CERTAIN EVERYDAY ITEMS WHICH WERE ONCE INDISPENSABLE BECOME VICTIMS TO THE ENDLESS MARCH OF TIME
Many household tools and items which were widely used in the past have become obsolete. New technology and innovation means that all manner of things are on the verge of extinction. And while the items detailed below can still be found in many households, their ubiquity is no longer what it once was.
Matches used to be kept in several spots throughout the house at all times. People carried matches with them everywhere they went. Office workers brought them to work. Farmers took them to the rice fields or into the woods. Indeed, two of the things farmers needed most when going to work were knives and matches. The matches were carefully packed to prevent them from getting wet.
One group of people who couldn’t live without matches were smokers. They made sure always to have matches with them so they could light a cigarette anytime they felt like smoking. Without matches, a cigarette was merely a roll of paper. Smokers who failed to bring along their own matches and had to ask for some from others could be ridiculed.
In those days, coffee shops played an important role in Thai society. They were centres of news and gossip, as well as grocery shops where people could buy all sorts of goodies, including sweets, cigarettes and alcoholic drinks.
Drinking coffee, chatting and smoking cigarettes were common. So the shops were obliged to provide matches, which they put in small trays or tin cans. Often, the matches were taken away by customers, so the shops came up with various techniques to prevent this, such as tying up the boxes and hanging them from a spot easily noticed by customers. Such gimmicks helped shopkeepers to keep track of their matches and replenish them when needed.
Some shop owners were thrifty. Instead of providing matches, they provided small gasoline lamps with paper cut into long slim pieces. Smokers lit the paper strips with the lamp and then lit their cigarettes with the burning paper.
Being indispensable in everyday life, matches were a big industry back in the day. Match factories were in operation in all major provinces, with products available under many brands, such as Hanuman, Prik, Ruea Bai, Min Guang, Mickey Mouse, Dragon and Elephant. They came in several different sizes, including mini-packets for the added convenience of users.
Matches were largely superseded by lighters, which are more flexible and convenient. The use of matches gradually diminished. Almost all match factories went out of business. The only Thai brand remaining is The Dragon, and even its production volume continues to go down. It’s likely that it too will disappear from the market one day.
A kee tai (torch) is made from yang na tree sap mixed with sawdust and tree bark. It is made into a long stick and wrapped with leaves. In some areas, it is called a trabong. The sap is flammable, while the bark and sawdust make it stay alight for longer.
Long ago, before battery-powered torches became available, people relied on kee tai as a source of illumination at night, both inside and outside the house or when travelling in the dark. Kee tai were used to kindle the fire in charcoal stoves, with dry wood and charcoal placed on top.
Kee tai are now almost non-existent in Bangkok since the use of charcoal stove is nearly outmoded. They are only really used during the Chinese New Year celebrations. The torch is set alight after offerings are made to ancestors, spirits, gods and goddesses.
Kee tai can still be seen in more remote areas where people continue to lead more traditional lifestyles. They are used to burn weeds and grass and kindle charcoal stoves. However, their use is declining and they will almost certainly disappear entirely before long.
Filter cloth, or cheesecloth, is a loosely woven gauzelike carded cotton cloth. It serves many functions in the cooking process, for example, straining flour, fish sauce and boiled fermented fish liquid. It is used to wrap shredded coconut and squeeze out the coconut milk. It is also commonly used to wrap steamed sticky rice to keep it warm or cover vegetables to keep them fresh for longer.
Filter cloth is very efficient, multifunctional, easy to wash and quick to dry. It was indispensable in the kitchen until stainless steel strainers came on the scene. People then folded away their filter cloth in the drawer and forgot about it. Members of the current generation might have no idea what it is for and how significant it was in the past.
Matches, kee tai and cheesecloth served Thai households well for many long years. They have fulfilled their purposes and it is now time for them to step aside and let new and more versatile equipment to take their places.