Written by: Nikki Ang
The storefront of Chop Wah Him Sheet Metal Works which has remained unchanged since 1975, 28 December 2022.
What does heritage mean to you? For many, the definition of “heritage” might be unclear, and the answer might even be derived from a quick Google search, but that is not the case for Mr Jimmy Chin. When asked about what heritage means to him, the owner of Chop Wah Him Sheet Metal Works simply answered, “Heritage is my life, or you can even say that it’s my everything. It means a lot more to me than just being a part of history.”
Singapore used to be a tiny, impoverished island when it first declared independence in 1965. In spite of that, the country managed to transition itself from a third-world country to a first-world country within the short span of 58 years. Although several factors contributed to Singapore’s rapid progression, its transformation can be attributed to trades and businesses that were active in the 1960s and 1970s. However, technological advancements are slowly pushing such heritage businesses out of the economy, and such trades and businesses are slowly becoming obsolete.
“Business used to be booming! This whole area was filled (with metalsmiths). But now you see? I’m the only metalsmith left here, everyone else closed their shops because there were rarely even customers.”
Mr Jimmy Chin posing for a photo, 28 December 2022
Chop Wah Him Sheet Metal Works is a traditional metalsmith that has been around since 1975, and it is a family business that has been passed down for two generations. The shop, which sits along the busy streets of Balestier Road, is owned by the 75-year-old owner, Mr Jimmy Chin, who has been running the business for “close to 40 years”.
The small, unassuming shop has been a fixture of the community for decades, and it was first founded by Mr Jimmy Chin’s father, the late Mr Kennedy Chin in 1940. Growing up, Mr Jimmy never took interest in metalwork as he found it to be “too laborious and repetitive”. However, as the years passed, he started to grow a liking towards the value of craftsmanship as he watched his father solder metal sheets for industrial, domestic, and commercial purposes.
“They say your surroundings influence your growth, especially as a kid, and that was exactly the case with me. The more I watched my father at work, the more my passion to become a metalsmith grew.”
Ever since then, Mr Chin has been plying his trade for over 30 years.
Mr Jimmy Chin applying acid onto a tin mold, 28 December 2022
But his skills go beyond just metalwork. He is a true craftsman, using traditional techniques and skills to create unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that cannot be found anywhere else.
Mr Tan Soon Huat, a 70-year-old regular customer and longtime friend of Mr Jimmy Chin, recalls a time he “commissioned Mr Jimmy to craft a biscuit container made out of copper”.
“I told him I did not want the container to be made too perfectly; it feels too fake. Like (it is) mass produced. The containers made (by factories) nowadays are too perfect, that’s the problem. There’s beauty in imperfections, I like it that way.”
Despite the rise of mass-produced, machine-made goods, Chop Wah Him Sheet Metal Works remains a beloved and integral part of the Balestier Road community. Mr Chin’s work is a reminder of the value of craftsmanship and the importance of preserving traditional trades.
When asked if there were any plans to pass down his business, Mr Jimmy denied, saying, “The trade is dying, and it is not the kind of environment that young people want to work in.”
“Why would young people work in a dusty environment with no air-con, when they can be working in a stable job, with air-con, and a stable, potentially higher pay?”
While Mr Chin recognizes that the future may seem bleak for his business and the trade, he is determined to keep the business going for ‘as long as he can”, until he is “physically unable to do so”.
After all, Chop Wah Him Sheet Metal Works means a lot more to him than just a source of income. To him, the shop holds great meaning as it represents a piece of his heritage; a business that has been passed down to him, and his passion that has been integrated into his life.
Singapore’s heritage businesses, which have withstood the test of time and overcome numerous challenges over the years, are an embodiment of the country’s success. They are living proof of our history. Will you be visiting a heritage business anytime soon? his passion that has been integrated into his life.
