Once upon a time, before World War II, there lived a photographer who had a studio across the Chung Thye Phin Building in Ipoh, Perak. He mingled with the locals, took their photographs, asked about their families and got to know everything about everyone.
What no one knew then was that this photographer was a spy who was tasked to gather information for the Japanese Army Intelligence.
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Made In Ipoh
The restored three-storey Kapitan Chung Thye Phin Building in Ipoh today. Photos: Made In Ipoh
The Mandarin 2nd Class attire of Kapitan Chung Keng Quee, father of Chung Thye Phin.
Replicas from the Kapitan's study room, with antique working desk and chair.
A section of the Made In Ipoh gallery-museum featuring vintage pedal cars, tin-toys and games.
The Kapitan was permitted to print and issue 10-cent notes for circulation in 1918.
A collection of traditional Chinese medicine once available at the Medical Hall set up by Dr R.M. Connolly at the invitation of the Kapitan, which later merged with Oldfield Dispensaries.
Made In Ipoh obtained the optical equipment and optical chair from Star Optical when the business closed down about a decade ago.
The grandparents of Made In Ipoh's owners, in their Peranakan wedding finery. The portrait was taken in 1910s.
Scott's Emulsion was one of the product sold in the Medical Hall of Phin Kee Chan. The original artwork has a man carrying the fish on his back. This Insta-ready poster at the gallery-museum allows visitors to get creative with their photo-taking.
The immersive photoshoot experience is a throwback to Japanese spy Masaji Fukabori's Mikasa & Co photo studio.
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