Mangaluru farmer’s house is a mini museum | Mangaluru News – Times of India

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MANGALURU: From a Grandfather ‘s C lock and a wide array of ancient utensils to a 1978 Lambretta scooter, this farmer’s house is a treasure trove of antiques.
Meet Shashi Bhat Padar from Vittal Padnur village of Bantwal, about 30km from here, who has converted his house into a mini museum. He owns 120 clocks made in different parts of the world, including a 5ft Grandmother’s Clock made in Germany and a 6ft Grandfather’s Clock made in Japan.
He told STOI: “Fascination towards preserving antiques grew about 15 years ago, after a visit to a relative’s house. I saw that they had five ancient clocks and felt that I could also start collecting these ancient ones.”
He added: “I purchased my first clock from Shivajinagar in Bengaluru in 2007. All the clocks are in working condition and are on display in my house. There was a point when I wanted to rebuild my house, but my mother and other family members were against it. So, one will find these collections in a 65-year-old house. This is indeed a priceless possession,” he said.
As his passion grew, he got in touch with antique collectors and buyers from across India. “I am now a part of 60 WhatsApp groups and hence in touch with people from across the world. Among my clock collections are a precision clock from Master Clock, Nayaks Clock, timepieces from The Ansonia Clock Company, USA, Seikosha from Japan,” he added.
Wide variety of copper, bronze utensils among exhibits
Pendulum clocks, cuckoo clocks and chime clocks that indicate the half and quarter hours by playing short melodies on bells or gongs, in addition to striking the hours, and musical turning dolls cuckoo clocks are also part of his collection, he said.
Other than clocks, he owns a wide variety of copper and bronze utensils and unique lamps, including the latest edition of an ‘aarti diya’ burner lamp with 11 wicks, which he had purchased from Guruvayur in Kerala. It weighs around 50 kg.
Also in his possession is a collection of 150 varieties of kerosene chimney lamps that are 80-100 years old.
He also owns antique utensils, including tiffin carriers, mugs, traditional wooden shavige and ‘chakli’ makers, ghee pots, ancient agricultural tools, weighing scales, four gramophones and several musical instruments, including a 100-year-old piano and a 75-year-old accordion, he said.
Bhat said that he had started collecting vintage vehicles also, but gave up because maintenance was a challenge. He owns a 1978 Lambretta scooter and a 1969 model Jawa bike — both in working condition.
At his farm, areca, coconut, pepper and cocoa are grown along with vegetables. “I dedicate the weekend towards maintaining and cleaning these antiques,” he said.

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