The good old days of Rediffusion

In the days before Cable TV and Cineplexes, almost every household and coffeeshop had a Rediffusion set. It was simply a wired box set on a wall shelf. This box had a knob and you chose either the English programmes or the Vernacular (Chinese/ Malay/ Tamil) programmes.

Having not seen a Rediffusion set for some years, I thought it had gone the way of the Dinosaurs. Imagine my surprise one day when I ate my lunch in an old coffeeshop (about 1 km from Jurong Point Shopping Centre) and heard the familiar music of the violin piece
‘Meditation’ coming from a box on a wall shelf –it really was a Rediffusion box (‘Meditation’ signalled the end of each day’s Rediffusion broadcast at 11.00pm).

I know many of you will think I am pulling your leg with this Rediffusion story but here is documentary evidence, from a recent (January 2002) receipt that the coffee-shop owner gave me.

You want me to tell you where the coffee-shop is? Well, you know the usual fee for my consultations — one cup of coffee, and I will spill the beans.

Re-trievia recalled: Excerpts from Year 2002
Tan Wee Kiat