Greek vehicle &amp; machine manufacturers 1800 to present: A pictorial history

Labros Skartsis

Greek vehicle & machine manufacturers 1800 to present: A pictorial history

Labros Skartsis

2012

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245 pages

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Abstract

"Few or no records of important elements of Greece’s industrial past exist today, with the increased risk of total “disappearance” of relevant historic memories. In an effort to cover the most characteristic sectors of vehicle and “mechanical products” manufacturing in the country since 1800, an archive collected over a period of over three decades, is utilized in this work. Individual manufacturers and their products are presented, grouped into selected categories, in a concise manner and with the aim to provide an informative, easy reference material. """

Figures (522)

The following general rules have been used, although they do not apply in all cases, either due to "customary" application for certain words, or selected spelling by the companies themselves (alternatives are accordingly shown in parentheses).

Part of an advertising brochure for AK Hellas T200

Attica 200 (1962). The car seems at home in the old part of a Greek provincial town Dimitriadis 505 (1958). The car is exhibited in a Trade Fair; Mr. Dimitniadis (to the right of the car, with glasses) and Greek minister for Industry, Mr. Nikolaos Martis (extreme right) can also be seen. Despite the "interest", this was one more venture that received no state support.

G.N. Georgano (Ed.), "The Complete Encyclopedia of Commercial Vehicles", Krause Publication, lola, Wisconsin (1979)

1966 Attica (Bioplastic) advertisement, depicting models produced, including the two cabrio versions of the Attica 200 Mr.Dimitriadis’s company designed and built a light four-wheel passenger automobile (model 505) in 1958 with the intent to produce it. However, the plan was abandoned, since — according to Mr. Dimitriadis — a tax imposed on four- wheel automobiles at the time, limited the car's market prospects. Soon thereafter he built a light sports car on a Morgan chassis for his personal use, and in 1962 he considered producing a Greek-designed 50cc four-wheel car (see Daponte Chapter), however, once more he did not proceed, citing financial risks.

Auto Diana was atruck manufacturer based in Thessaloniki, in operation between 1975 and 1984. Its main product was the Unicar model (not to be confused with a Spanish body manufacturer with the same name), a rather heavy-looking 4x4 multi-purpose truck. This robust vehicle had a payload of 1500 kg and used Mercedes-Benz Diesel engine and Dodge axles. Its fate, as was the case for similar Greek contemporary multi-purpose trucks, was sealed when a change of Greek law in 1984 modified tax treatment for such “farm” vehicles. Production was terminated the same year ending a "career" of decent sales among customers in the Greek countryside.

Autokinitoviomihania Ellados The new company made a rather ambitious appearance in the Greek press, announcing the introduction and production of a Greek automobile named Mini Jeep Scout 127, a versatile passenger-utility vehicle based on the Fiat 127. In teality, the above presentation was rather misleading: the car was not "Greek", as it was to be produced under license of the Italian Fissore company (which, in turn, had acquired the design by another Italian coachbuilder); it was nor really "built", as initially most parts were imported from Italy and assembled, with little local content; the company was hardly an "industry", as it started operation in a tiny facility; and, finally, the brand name Mini Jeep appeared only on paper (and that only for a brief period, since there was a conflict with the rights to the name by the U.S. Jeep company), as the vehicle carried the Fiat logo.

Automeccanica Zebra's outside the Automeccanica factory (1981) Automeccanica (despite its “Italian’-sounding name) was a Greek automobile producing company. Founded in 1979, it was one of the companies that produced the "passenger-utility" type of vehicle popular in Greece at the time for fax categorization reasons. Its creators were former executives of Autokinitoviomihania Ellados. Automeccanica built the Zebra model, a bassenger-utility car based on the Daihatsu Charade, as well as assembling the Charade itself. In 1985, when the law favoring the "passenger-utility” vehicles changed, Automeccanica stopped its production (after about 2,000 units had been built) and started license production of the Soviet Lada Niva model, while it developed its own cabrio-version of the car. In 1988 it acquired its former "father’ company, Autokinitoviomihania Ellados and the latter's factory in Thiva. Automeccanica went out of the car production business in 1995.

1979 advertisement for the Autotractor truck

Balkania Autotractor KZ (license-built Mahindra model)

Another Dracoulis-designed bus: Biamax F600 trolleybus. Also chassiless 1962 model. (Special thanks to Apostolos Kourbelis and Nikos Fatsios) A technically advanced beauty: Biamax R514 (1960 model, chassiless)

One of the most successful models: Biamax F580 (1966 model, ladder-type Biamax chassis)

This Biamax bus, depicted in a 1965 Ethiopian stamp, used Mercedes-Benz LP338 chassis rather than its own; it nonetheless is one of relatively few vehicles in the world to be “honored” in such a way (Image: Apostolos Kourbelis collection)

The 1976 ARCO (C.AR) laspis was supposed to feature engineering innovations and combine "family" with "sports" character; however, it was an uninspired design, and its production was considered too risky (left). Not even a prototype completion for the 1991 Baby-Car has been verified (right: image: Konstantinos Malandrinos collection).

Neon Autokiniton magazine, March-April 1962 issue

Left: part of the DIM Motor Co. factory in Acharnes: right: a DIM 652 during a test drive DIM Motor Company was created by Georgios Dimitriadis as a successor to his earlier company, Bioplastic S.A., which had produced the Attica automobile. The DIM represented one more effort by Mr. Dimitriadis to design and develop a modern car entirely by his company’s own means. A 400 cc, air- cooled, 2-cylinder, 30 hp engine was also developed in-house to power the vehicle, but due to delays in the engine development, the car was introduced with a 600cc engine and other mechanical parts of the Fiat 126 model. A 650cc Fiat engine was also used, in an improved version. The car was finally introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1977, and for this reason received more publicity than most Greek vehicles, appearing in many international publications.

Advertisement introducing the DIM to the Greek market (1977)

EBIAM 4x4 truck (1979), typical of Greek designs of the late 1970s

DINAP (AHNAMN, D. Apostolopoulos O.E.) was one of the smaller Greek machine and truck manufacturers with its factory on Liosion St, in Athens. The DINAP 1200 was a three-wheel truck produced in the second half of the 1960s. It was powered by a 1200cc, 34 hp air-cooled Volkswagen engine and could legally carry 1,000 kg. This load was higher than the equivalent for most other three- wheel trucks, but this made little difference since such vehicles were frequently loaded with up to 3 tons !

Steyr Hellas 680 MH Marathon military truck (derived from Steyr 680 M, with a number of units produced with Greek-designed cab as pictured) Steyr Hellas Ermis 3-ton truck (1980)

It started business as Steyr Hellas S.A. assembling and manufacturing trucks, motorbikes and farm tractors (Sfeyrand Puch models). Significant orders for trucks and buses by the Greek Army and state authorities soon gave momentum to the company - some say, at the expense of other manufacturers. Progressively depending more on orders from the Hellenic Armed Forces, the company focused more on military vehicles, with the tractor division declining only a few years after its rapid expansion. In1986 Steyr Hellas was almost fully nationalized, changing its name to ELBO.

Emporiki Autokiniton was a major Greek automobile trading and_ industrial company (the name means Automobile Trading Co. and stands for its original activities). The predecessor company was founded by the same family in 1919 as a car dealer and, later, bus body and firefighting vehicle superstructure manufacturer. Body manufacture ceased after VWWII, when the company focused on car trade. In 1963 Emporiki Autokiniton was officially established as importer of Mazda three-wheel trucks, and, since 1968, license manufacturer of the trucks in its small factory in Athens. A new chapter in the company history started in 1971, when vehicle production started in an industrial scale in a new, modern factory in the north of Athens.

This is not a particular manufacturer, but a category of buses built in Greece during the early post-WWII years. They filled an urgent need at the time, as virtually the entire bus stock had been destroyed during the war.

Korres P3 (2009) exhibiting its extreme all-terrain capabilities

Korres P2 (2004) with proposed body panels (left) and during an exhibition (right)

MAVA company was the Greek importer of Renault automobiles. In 1979, it decided to enter the car production business, introducing a passenger-utility car, a type then very popular in Greece for tax categorization reasons. MAVA assigned the creation of the car to Georgios Michael, a Greek designer credited with the design of Neorion Chicago, as well as that of several other Greek vehicles. Michael and his team completed the development and prototype construction, on Renault mechanicals, in record-time and the car, named Farma, was introduced the same year. MAVA had insisted that the car should be presented as a "Renault model" and thus the prototype was tested and approved by the French company. The Farma, accordingly bearing the Renault logo, was produced in a variety of versions, including "passenger" and "van" types. It had a 4-cylinder 845 cc 34 hp engine and could reach a top speed of about 110 km/h. A total of 4500 were built, including the "pure jeep-type" > model introduced in

http:/Awww.renault.com/en/PassionSport/Pages/renault-meconnues.aspx

The elegance of this 1964 Mavroudis-FIAT coach is representative of the company’s design tradition. Mavroudis also had limited “involvement” in the FIAT chassis, as it shortened it to comply with contemporary Greek regulations.

A 25 year old MEBEA first generation light pick-up truck with cab. This characteristic photo was taken near a Greek provincial town in 1990.

The MEBEA Bingo (1972) was designed and produced for Asian markets

In 1962 it was renamed Mego, introducing more "conventional" light three-wheel trucks. Since then it has designed and built a large number of 50 cc moped and motorcycle types and light 50 cc three-wheel trucks (sold with or without cab), using mainly Sachs engines, as well as bicycles. Production stopped in 1988. The company was subsequently renamed Gorgolis S.A., concentrating in import and distribution of motorcycles.

The Motoemil factory in Thessaloniki (1970) (Photo courtesy Antonios Antoniadis)

Motoemil trucks inside the company factory (1970) (Photo courtesy Antonios Antoniadis)

FARCO Farmobil production in Thessaloniki (early 1960s)

By the early 1980s the Pony-Citroén was used by several state organizations, as well a: the Hellenic Military (left) and Police (right; Photo: Konstantinos Papagiannopoulos) Pony-Citroén production at the NAMCO factory in Thessaloniki (1979)

NAMCO Multi-trac 4x4 for DEI (Public Power Corporation)

Bulgarian-built Pony Super's (1994) (Photo: NAMCO S.A.)

Bulgarian-built Pony Super (1994 brochure) (Image: Ivan Kolev collection)

NAMCO Pony Super (2-door, 2011 model, production scheduled)

Naxos (loulianos Tziotis & Bros O.E.) was founded in 1961 and used to be an important Greek 50 cc 3-wheel truck manufacturer until it was eclipsed by MEBEA. Its products used //lo engines and followed the typical Greek motorcycle- truck pattern. In 1966 the company moved to new facilities within the greater Athens area, where it operated until 1972.

Pantelemidis vehicles featuring his novel chassis design: 1955 truck (left) and 1956 ARMA bus chassis during a public exhibition — advertising campaign (right) Pan-Car was a producer of automobiles and light trucks, operating between 1968 and 1994. As was often the case in Greece, its name comes from that of its founder, Panayiotis Caravisopoulos. In 1968 it was one of many Greek companies that produced three-wheel trucks, using Volkswagen engines. In 1977 it introduced beach buggy models built on Volkswagen chassis, which were produced for several years. In 1992 it attempted to produce a jeep-type automobile, also with Volkswagen mechanicals. The model faced a problem common to such ventures in Greece, i.e., receiving type certification for production. This failed venture, along with serious financial problems, forced the company to go out of business in 1994.

Petropoulos (the full name of the company is Petro: Petropoulos A.E.B.E.) is today a major importer an istributor of vehicles and heavy machinery, having been, at the same time, on f the “historic Greek engine and vehicle manufacturers. Hay tinerponovaor

1968 advertisement for PITSOS 50 cc 3-wheel truck

The latter were introduced in 1968 and were available with the company’s characteristic cab, in light van, or in “open” versions. They sold fairly well, although, despite the company's fame and resources, never became serious competitors to MEBEA’s models. In 1976 PITSOS was acquired by Germany's Bosch-Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH and its range of products was progressively reduced; this strategy involved termination of production of some “non-core” products, which brought a quick end to PITSOS's vehicle production venture.

Record A.E.B.E. (brand also spelled in Greek as Pexop) was the name of acompany producing agricultural machinery and _ vehicles, founded in Heraklion, Crete in 1957 and dissolved in 1999. (Note: Special thanks to Nikos Christofilis and Ilias Kafaoglou)

ROS (its badge was only in Greek, the brand spelled PQS) was the trade name of vehicles produced by the company Stavros Konstantinidis O.E., based n Athens. The ROS three-wheel trucks were the most successful of its kind in Greece, having been produced by the thousands. ROS surpassed in sales even ‘Greek classics" like A/ta and Styl Kar, and the characteristic shape of its trucks could be seen for several years in every corner of the country. Indeed, the ‘Rosaki" (meaning “little ROS”, as was fondly referred as by its owners) was one of the most robust and reliable vehicles ever used in Greece. In the mid-2000s, 30 years after the end of three-wheeler production, several ROS trucks were still n use in excellent condition, more than any other three wheeler type.

The ROS trucks featured metal cabins and 1000 cc and 1500 cc engines. They were all front-engined in contrast to most other rear-engined Greek three wheelers. A relative of the company founder, Ilias Konstantinidis also made his own /lion brand producing ROS designs. ROS terminated production in 1976 when the type could no longer suit the needs of Greek professionals and competition from imported trucks became stiffer.

The Saracakis facilities in Athens (1970) eo Saracakis Brothers Group of companies is a major Greek Ww Commercial and Industrial group, for two decades a traditional competitor to Biamax (between themselves the two companies virtually dominated the bus market in Greece). Two of the most talented Greek vehicle engineers who had worked for Biamax, A. Rizos and |. Dracoulis also worked for Saracakis, Dracoulis having designed the company's characteristic '2' logo, recognizable throughout the country. OMADL EMXEPHEEON TAPAKAKH

This company is presented as a representative of the several smaller Greek manufacturers of 50 cc 3-wheel utility vehicles. It was based in the town of Argos and used Sachs engines for its products. It was founded in 1962 and operated until the early 1970s. In addition to building complete vehicles, which included light three-wheel trucks, the company remained a major bus and truck body, trailer and semi-trailer builder, also assembling 4x4's, tractors, motorbikes, construction equipment, etc. lts best known bus bodies on Volvo chassis were the articulated models for Athens and Thessaloniki , while the company boasts the world’s first low-floor articulated bus. Saracakis survived the storm of the early 1980s, after the Greek market was opened to used imports, which virtually wiped out the Greek commercial vehicle industry, but its import and trading sectors became predominant. Cost factors, nonetheless, lead to the termination of complete vehicle production in 1995, and only occasional manufacture of bodies since 2006.

Scavas is the name of sports cars designed by engineer Vassileios Scavas, which were never industrially produced.

1995 Sfakianakis coach in Egypt (one of the few exported products

Sfakianakis buses produced for the Hellenic Fire Service

$S500 city bus produced in 1979, when the company was still using the Bussing Hellas name. The front (body) design clearly follows the lines of contemporary MAN models.

2003 Sfakianakis SS5OOLF intercity bus (Photo: Apostolos Kourbelis)

Sfakianakis Police Bus, one of many specialized types developed for state authorities and organizations

1958 Karakatsanis (STYL KAR) truck, one of the most successful Thessaloniki-builf models

What was left of the 1969 STYL KAR sports car prototype (Photo: M. Arvanitopoulos, "History of the Motorcycle in Greece") STYL KAR 1300 (1968 model exhibited), undoubtedly the company's “bread winner’

The Sfakianakis industrial division had managed to survive for decades without any state support, despite fierce competition from imports; a flood of cheaper imports, though, eventually made bus manufacture unprofitable. This division was greatly shrunk in 2006, after the group had very successfully diversified into other business areas including vehicle import and sales and the services sector.

1936 Tangalakis-Austin light car 1955 Tangalakis advertisement, exhibiting one of the "classic" Tangalakis bus models

1962 Tangalakis coach (on imported chassis partly modified by the company)

A member of N.J. Theocharakis Group of Companies (traditionally Datsun/ Nissan importers in Greece), Teocar started manufacture of truck bodies in 1976 and assembly of Datsun (later Nissan) models in 1980. The company subsequently invested heavily in a new factory in Volos, which was equipped with state-of-the art machinery.

Theologou Nikos Theologou (left) with workers of his factory in an "advertising" photograph (1920s)

Theologou light car: first (¢a.1915, left) and second (ca. 1918, right) version Theologou (company name usually appearing as "N. Theologou") was one of the first vehicle manufacturers in Greece. It was created by Nikos Theologou, a Greek mechanic who had previously lived and worked in the U.S., and founded this company after he returned to Athens. One of his first undertakings was to design and construct a light passenger car, which was built in two “versions”: the first (ca. 1915), chassis only, rear engined, and the second (ca. 1918), apparently a transformation of the first car. completed with body, front engined using a different (probably motorcycle) engine; it seems that the car was built for his personal use and there was no further production. His company, nonetheless, produced a variety of bus and truck bodies, mostly on Ford chassis in the 1920s. By the mid-1920s N. Theologou was already facing strong competition by larger companies, including Tournikiotis and Athena in Athens, Bouhagier in Patras and others, which also produced vehicle bodies (mainly buses and trucks), and was eclipsed by them by the end of the decade.

Alfa was founded in 1976, originally producing vehicle bodies, but it soon ventured into vehicle design and development .Its customers included ELBO, for which it developed both bus models and production technology. In 1986 it announced its plans to produce a 4-seat city car it had designed: however, the

TZEN is the brand name used for the cars built by Antonis Tzen, a Greek engineer, racing driver and car collector. His first creation was announced in 1963; it was an elegant sports car designed by Greek architect P. Varouhakis, to be constructed on a modified Volkswagen chassis with a SAAB engine. Plans for its production did not materialize, while it has not been verified that even the prototype was completed. From 1968 Tzen transformed a small number of SAAB and Fiat models into cabriolet, while in 1970 he attempted to produce another sports car - which appears to be a copy of a Custoca model, derived in turn from Ford GT40. As was the case for several similar efforts, he faced the extremely difficult task of receiving type certification for production in Greece. To “bypass” that, he was building the cars on existing Volkswagen chassis, producing a small number (10 according to Tzen). A 50cc three-wheel car was also built ca. 1980.

TUCER (Technical University of Crete Eco Racing) is a team within the Technical University of Crete in Chania, which since 2007 develops and builds prototype “eco-friendly city cars”. Its first car, the 2008 Eco Racer | was gasoline-powered. followed by the hydrogen-powered Eco Racer II (2009), ER10 (2010), ER11 (2011) and ER12 (2012). The cars have very successfully participated in international events, including Eco Marathons and have won safety awards: however, efforts aiming at series production have so far been fruitless due to Greek state regulations and lack of interest by industries. This brand was created by Mr. Theodore Savvidis in 2007. The TSV Seven is a modified Lotus Seven replica with 2000 cc Opel engine. According to its manufacturer, the car can be built on order.

Typical early 1920s Peerless-based truck (newspaper photograph of a vehicle involved in an accident)

Glavanis & Kazazis 7170 armored trailer for ammunition transport, one of two types produced by the company (a total of 148 units), supplied to the Greek Army in the late 1930s (Photo: Costas Zimeris) Glavanis & Kazazis has been one of the most prestigious machinen, manufacturers in Greece, in operation between 1893 and 1980 with foul factories, in Volos (where its headquarters) and Athens. Areas of specializatior included engines, metal structures, and agricultural and military equipment. The company was a crucial supplier to the Greek Armed Forces during preparations after the outbreak of VWWVII, undertaking production of bombs, weapon parts anc specialized items such as armored trailers for ammunition transport. The latter produced in two types, followed an earlier similar Glavanis & Kazazis product also supplied to the Armed Forces.

HMMVVV production line at the ELBO factory in Thessaloniki

Hellenic Army Arsenals tellenic Army technical facilities and factories have been responsible for a large umber of modifications, upgrades and superstructure constructions for vehicles. The Peerless/Vickers armored car is connected with their first — certainly slementary — involvement in the field of armored vehicles. A number of vehicles vere imported in their original form from the U.K. in 1923, where they had been constructed by adding Vickers armor on U.S. Peerless truck chassis. In 1926 hey were transformed into “proper” armored cars by the Hellenic Army, by adding a rather crudely-made top part and other details, to provide the crew with complete all-around protection. The vehicles were mostly used for internal security duties, and were kept in service until the late 1930s.

Testing during evaluation of the Panther

7 Adelfia mobile crane (Photo; George Avramidis)

1950s brochure for ATLAS threshing machines (left) and prize awarded at the 195 Thessaloniki Trade Fair (right)

ATLAS threshing machine (1959 model) Part of a machine shop inside the ATLAS factory in Serres (1950)

BIOMAN Tiger Ila 1500 Kg dumper (left) and Tiger Ilc heavy forklift (right)

Ch. Fotoglou & Sons O.E. is a machine manufacturer founded in Volos in 1957. Since 1965 it specializes in quarry & mining machinery, producing a variety of types.

Viomihaniki Epitheorissis (Industrial Review) magazine, November 1972 issue Lymberopoulos

Glavanis & Kazazis has been a historic machinery manufacturer, in operation between 1893 and 1980. It produced engines and metal and mechanical structures, as well as a wide variety of agricultural equipment.

The Katsoulis brothers, engineers in the town of Amalias in Peloponnese, developed in 1934 a new threshing machine type, which, as claimed, featured a more economic and efficient operation than imported ones. Its cost was kept low, as no imported parts were used for its construction.

: company, specializing in design and construction of a variety of hydraulic = lifting equipment for industry, agriculture, repair shops etc. Products for agricultural use include self-propelled vehicles, developed since 2007. e Technoydravliki (also using the Ydrotec brand) is another Larissa-based

Since 1903 the Mamos company was building passenger car bodies (as shown in this part of a 1916 advertisement), especially luxury models. Focus later shifted to buses and specialized superstructures. 4 SPECIALIZED VEHICLE SUPERSTRUCTURES (MAIN COMPANIES)

ELBO military fire fighting vehicle built on ELBO/M.A.N. (M.A.N. license) chassis ELBO fire fighting truck built on ELBO (Steyr license) chassis

BIM Moschos excavator for tractor BIM Moschos vehicle mounted cranes

Luxury hearses, like this late 1930s model on Opel chassis, were characteristic Mavroudis products. A Mavroudis hearse was used in a royal funeral in 1964.

Sivitanideios 1952 refrigerated truck body (left) and 1956 fire-fighting vehicle built on truck chassis (right). The production of 50 fire-fighting vehicles was seen as a major technical accomplishment, which, however, proved highly unprofitable.

Its first models were built on International Harvester chassis (which was assembled by the company from SKD kits). Temax has been dominating the fire fighting vehicle market in Greece for decades, while other produced types include water trucks, rescue, riot control and other specialty vehicles, all built on truck chassis.

The ELBO-Steyr 8075 (license manufacture of the Steyr 8075 model) was one of the models produced during an effort, in the late 1980s, to revive the tractor division, As was the practice for license-built models, the vehicle carried both brand names. (Photo: Triantafyllos Metsovitis)

Diana V3 12 hp light tractor with truck bed

Malkotsis is the trade name for Technica S. Malkotsis A.E., which has historically been the most significant Greek engine manufacturer. ItsEMseries (which the company developed employing the services of a British consulting firm) included engines specifically designed for powering of vehicles, used in Malkotsis's own farm tractor models (Malkotsis EM-2 and EM-4) introduced in 1959. The tractors, however, were produced for only a few years, due to difficulties in funding and other problems related to a complete lack of state support. Malkotsis faced financial problems later, due to competition from cheaper imports, and was acquired in 1991 by Drakos-Polemis A.E., a pump manufacturer (see Chapter), which used all Malkotsis infrastructure for its production purposes.

This is one more from of basic “multi-purpose agricultural vehicles’ once very common in Greece, These early 1960s and early 1980s (respectively) Minotavros types used the company's two-wheel tractor models.

-35's ready for delivery outside the company factory in 1960. Only about a hundred units were produced.

Tractor production at the Petropoulos factory in Athens (1960)

The I-35 was produced with progressively increasing local content. Its 35 hp Perkins engine was also partly manufactured by Petropoulos.

The Petropoulos 1-35 is presented at the 1960 Thessaloniki International Trade Fair

Petropoulos 1-55 tractor (1960) (Photo: Fanis lordanidis)

Since 1956 the company had invested in farm tractor production. Model M-35 introduced in 1956 (with production starting in 1959), as well as the more powerful [1-55 that followed shortly, were based on International Harvester designs, although powered by Perkins engines. However, a legal dispute in the early 1960s over competition rules with Malkotsis, another Greek tractor manufacturer claiming a share in the fast developing tractor market, resulted in production delays that almost bankrupted the company. Petropoulos eventually abandoned production of its own tractor series and occasionally continued with tractor assembly.

Record [= 6 light tractor & multi-purpose vehicle (1967) (Photo: Stavros Yiakoumis/E. Roupa and E. Hekimoglou, "History of the Automobile in Greece")

Basileiades "Hellenis" locomotive (1900)

Characteristic photograph of the Basileiades “Hellenis”

Record A.E.B.E. was the name of a company producing agricultural machinery and vehicles, founded in Heraklion, Crete in 1957 and dissolved in 1999.

Hellenic Shipyards/Siemens (license production) Electric Multiple Unit (2004) Hellenic Shipyards/M.A.N. (license production) Diesel railcar (1991)

SPAP Diesel locomotive (1961) (Photo: J. Scrace /"Oi Ellinikoi Sidirodromoi")

Since 1986 Elefsis Shipyards produced hundreds of freight rail wagons of this East German-designed type

1976 advertisement for EBKO products (Image: Nikos Fatsios collection)

Kaoussis HAS 60 mobile waste transfer station

Piraeus Area Railway Works Early development of railway transport in Greece involved a number of different companies, which had created their own workshops for maintenance anc constructions. The most important were Railway Works in Piraeus, originally operated by Athens-Piraeus Railways (SAP, which later transformed into Hellenic Electric Railways, ElS), and Piraeus, Athens and Peloponnese Railways (SPAP, forerunner of OSE), which, in addition to maintenance, repair and rebuilding have entirely constructed a significant number of railroad cars, mostly betweer 1880 and 1960.

The Aquarius SS 5000 V-8 was a “monster” motorcycle introduced in 1995, buil by mechanic Spyros Skiadopoulos in Korinthos (Corinth). A 520 Kg machine powered by a 5000 cc 210 hp Chevrolet engine, the Aquarius was certainly one of the largest motorcycles ever built, requiring a long and challenging development work between 1993 and 1995. It nonetheless was destined t remain a one-off.

1984 Lefas motorcycle (370cc Lefas engine) Lefas

1994 Lefas motorcycle as rebuilt in 2005 (900cc Ducati engine) featuring unconventional frame design that incorporates Lefas's development.

1962 Marinos Kalothis (Markal) 3-wheel utility motorcycle (newspaper advertisement) Markal Marinos Kalothis was one of several Greek manufacturers that built 3-wheel utility vehicles that could be classified either as “motorcycles” or “trucks”. It started operations after WWII as a bicycle and, later, motorcycle repair shop, and built its first vehicles in the early 1960s; since 1970 the Markal trade name was used (derived from the manufacturer's name) and the vehicles were using Sachs engines and were structured in the classic Greek “truck with motorcycle controls” style. Production ended in 1982.

The Maratos family, based in Thessaloniki, has a long tradition in motorcycle improvements and relevant constructions. Marinos Maratos, in particular. generated a significant number of modified vehicles, as well as some rather intriguing designs; the latter include an innovative (for its time) motorcycle built in 1950 using a German Triumph 350 cc engine and other existing - as well as some in-house fabricated — parts, two unusual three wheelers (built in 1969 and 1979) and a novel engine design. "| Teleftaia Motosikleta tou Thanassi Lefa (The Last Motorcycle by Thanassi: Lefas)", R&D Team Greek technology magazine, issue 14, June 2006

Tsimonidis & Vittorias, founded in 1954, was an importer and producer of motorbikes and three-wheelers. After a merger, it was reorganized as MEBEA in 1960 and progressively its production included light trucks, passenger automobiles, motorbike engines, agricultural machinery and bicycles, until the company dissolution in 1983. Its mopeds and motorcycles (including the Sport, Komet, Junior, Apollon and other models) mostly used Zilndapp engines as well as MEBEA's own, built under Minarelli license.

Left; 1961 MEBEA Sport for the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (Photo: Babis Kelafis); right: 1970 Hellenic Postal Service MEBEA Hermes.

Mego Viva, introduced in 1980 to replace the EK model: one more success story Mego EK, a popular moped first introduced in 1966

Apostolidis 1950 (left two) and 1970 (right two) Diesel engine models (Photos Oldgrengine Apostolidis Engines Photo Collection)

This was once one of Greece’s most famous machine builders, founded by Nikolaos Argyriou in Piraeus in 1877. It produced a wide variety of machine types, with products including several types of steam engines ranging from light models to engines for small steamships.

Rockin Customs Unique Motorcycles is an Athens-based custom motorcycle manufacturer. The company has designed and built some extraordinary models, including the Indigo (introduced in 2011), designed to look like a dragster, powered by a 1650 cc 120 hp Rev Tech engine.

Advertisements for Axelos semi-Diesel engines (Photos: Costas Zimeris) Axelos

Axelos semi-Diesel boat engine (1936) This reputed company, founded in 1923 by Nikolaos |. Axelos, belonged to a group of machine works that flourished in the Volos area before WWII. This city had become such a center for machine manufacture that some media, in typical pre-WWII era exaggeration, termed it “Greece’s Detroit”! In business until 1970, Axelos produced a variety of machinery, cranes, agricultural equipment and engines, operating two factories (in Volos, where its headquarters, and Piraeus).

Several Greek companies produced steam engines during the second half of the 19" century, with Basileiades machine works being the historically most significant manufacturer. This renowned company operated between 1859 and 1953 and, through its long history and varied activities, has undoubtedly left its mark on the evolution of industry in Greece.

Glavanis & Kazazis semi-Diesel engines (Photos: Costas Zimeris)

1950s Galanos engines (Photo: Nikos Anagnostou / Ermoupolis Industrial Museum) One of the most historic and prestigious Greek electric motors manufacturers, EVI (Elliniki Viomichania llektrokinitiron, Hellenic Electric Motor Industry — brand in name spelled in Greek as EBH) was founded by A. Zachariadis and S. Perpiroglou before WVVII in Moschato, Athens, and operated until 1980.

Parts of advertisements for Malkotsis Diesel engines (1960)

The KHM pavilion at the 1970 Thessaloniki International Trade Fair

P. Mastrantonis was one of the best known machine works of Piraeus producing steam engines, in operation during the late 19" and early 20" centuries.

This was an Athens-based engine maker, particularly known for the quality of its post-WWII Diesel engines.

When the new rotary engine developed by Manolis Pelekis, a mechanical engineer in Athens, was introduced in 1981, Greek press reports talked about a “revolutionary” new concept. The engine was a result (as argued) of 17 years of research by Mr. Pelekis, and its prototype was built at the Geniki Promitheftiki (a Greek company sponsoring the project) factory in Olnofyta; it was indeed original in its design, while it was claimed that it combined much higher performance with smaller volume. However, despite initial funding pledges (including funding through EEC programs) the project stalled and was eventually abandoned, as it faced technical problems regarding its optimization for mass production.

Roditis Volos-based Roditis machine works, in operation between 1886 and 1971, has been mostly known for its extremely reliable boat engines. Its first semi-Diesel models were introduced in 1926, with production eventually covering a wide variety of semi-Diesel and Diesel, water-cooled and air-cooled types.

Stylianos Perrakis machine works was a significant manufacturer (1900-1930) based in Piraeus, specializing in steam engines. In addition, the company produced a variety of machinery, including customized constructions, and (like other Piraeus machine builders) operated a small shipyard. Dimitris Dervenis, “Viomichaniki Paradosi Michanologikou Exoplismou Ploion sto Volo (Industrial Tradition of Ship Mechanical Equipment Manufacturing in Volos)’, www.dervenis.net

This is a small company based in Sparta, founded by engineer Panos Zarafonitis. Since 2003 Synicon has been developing a novel Piston Rotary Engine, in cooperation with NAMCO. A “final” design of the engine was presented in 2013.

1951 (left) and 1957 (right) advertisements for ELVIMA electric motors

Several Greek companies design and assemble ‘ bicycles today, including Field Bikes in Thessaloniki, Ideal Bikes (an internationally renowned brand) in Patras, Orient Bikes in Larissa, as well as Clermont in Thessaloniki (which has been a true manufacturer in the past). In contrast, FIDUSA is a company that still actually manufactures its products, which are mostly “high end” bicycles. This reputed small company was founded in 1986 in Rhodes (“Fidusa” is an ancient name of the island of Rhodes) by George Voyiatzis, a former bicycle champion, and produces a wide variety of bicycle types utilizing materials including carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites; customized designs are also developed, based on the rider's body type, in order to maximize performance. The bikes have established a reputation for quality and are exported to several countries, while many victories in races have added further to the prestige of the FIDUSA brand.

Agrafa Area Arms Manufacturers Typical Greek late 18" century pistols (Photo: Nikiforos Bafas)

In this April 14, 1938 document regarding evaluation by a scientific committee, the term "epeupeoig SieuBuvovevng aepoBoAidoc” (“invention of guided rocket”) is used (Image: Nikos Christofilis archive) Evangelos Artemis was an electrical engineer who, according to certair evidence, was involved in the development of what seems to have been an earl version of guided missiles. He studied in France and worked in Germany and the UK, but returned to Greece in 1933 to present his ideas about his “rocket invention. It seems that his rockets were not fundamentally different fron contemporary constructions, but featured a guidance and conirol systen apparently based on the use of beams, able to rapidly change the rocke direction. Military documents do confirm the initial approval for testing and the provision of financial and technical support, suggesting a strong interest for the design by the Greek Armed Forces.

CHROPE! guns shown in a company publication

The EBO Fairfox 2000 was a superb hunting rifle introduced in 1984. As the company focused on military products, only about 10,000 were produced until 1990, virtually all exported. Today this type is considered a collectible item.

A proposal in 1975 by a Greek chemical company, Chropei of Piraeus (see Chapter), for the adoption of its own-developed rifles and submachine guns, was rejected after testing indicated that its weapons were not up to desired standards. Similarly, the Greek state did not support Pyrkal, which was already producing the FN FAL rifle under license. Subsequently, EBO was founded by the state in Aigion in 1976, after an agreement to initially produce under license Heckler & Koch models adopted by the Greek Army, but with the intent to also design arms

The EBO Kefefs sniper rifle introduced in 1995 owed some of its features to the company’s Fairfox hunting rifle. It was produced in two variants, for military and police personnel,

ECON Optics tank night vision periscope and mortar sights (1990)

Elviemek EM-01 Grenade (left) and EM-14 Rifle Grenade (right) Elviemek has been a major Greek producer of explosives, founded after WWII. The company was internationally known, mainly for its grenades and mines.

Efarmoges Proigmenis Technologias A.E. (sometimes using the EPTAE acronym) was a small defense company based in Volos, in operation between the mid-1980s and the mid-1990s. It developed a series of advanced systems, including an anti-aircraft missile system (1990), an advanced RPV (1988), a multiple rocket launcher (1990) and, reportedly, a “stealth attack vessel” (early 1990s), none of which was produced, as well as aircraft parts and aircraft rocket missile pods, which were some of the very few of its products actually ordered by the Hellenic military. Efarmoges Proigmenis Technologias (Advanced Technology Applications) digital imaging equipment, metal products, explosives etc. However, this growth was followed by an equally rapid collapse only a few years later, leading to one more dark page in the history of Greek defense industry. Parts of the company were nonetheless reorganized into Thalis Sensors (later Theon Sensors) that operates to date, with exports of electro-optical systems to several countries around the world.

1833 Nafplion-built gun probably incorporating imported barrel (Photo: Yiannis Rouskas)

75 mm Schneider-Danglis 06/09 Mountain Gun The 75 mm _ Schneider-Danglis 06/09 was a Greek-designed and French- manufactured mountain gun.

Electrical testing during production of naval mines at the Kontoyiannis factory (Photo: Stylianos Kontoyiannis collection) The Stylianos |. Kontoyiannis Machine Works and Shipyard, was founded in Perama in 1921, and was an important manufacturer of specialized machinery. Since 1936 it constructed 240 moored naval mines, originally designed in 1932 by Navy Officer G. Moraitis (types “M” and “Argonaftis"). These mines were deployed by the Greek Navy and proved very effective during WWII. Depth charges were also reported as company products. The company faced financial problems after the war and reduced its activities until it transformed, in 1958, to a new company, NAFS/ Shipyards, one of the main companies in the Perama Shipbuilding Zone (see Chapter), in operation to this date.

Pistol and rifle by P. Ktoros (late 1830s) (Photo: R. Elgood, “The Arms of Greece and Her Balkan Neighbours in the Ottoman Period”)

Detail of a Lentzis double barrel hunting gun (Photo: Constantinos Lentzis) 1972 Lentzis double barrel hunting gun (Photo: Constantinos Lentzis)

Papaioannou Favorie hunting gun (version introduced in 1948)

Three different "generations’ of the Papaioannou Favorie

The characteristic Favorie logo

The Ymittos (Hymettus) factory of the former Maltsiniotis Bros company in the late 1910s

Diagram of an early 19" century Dimitsana Gunpowder Mill (Image: Ethnos Newspaper

Top part of a 1936 AEKKEA-RAAB company letter addressed to the Greek Civil Aviation Authority. Company headquarters and other details can be seen (Image: Michalis Pararas archive). Left: 1936 AEKKEA-RAAB Schwalbe Il multi-role military aircraft (temporary registration); right: 1938 AEKKEA-RAAB Grunau Baby glider, produced with certain differences from the original German design (Photo: Costas Pikros collection)

AEKKEA-RAAB R-27 single-seat fighter (1935) (this is only an arbitrary reconstruction based on the Raab-Katzenstein RK-25)

It is clear that it is difficult to call Leonidas Arniotis, a famous theater owner anc entrepreneur of the early 20" century, a “constructor”. However, his (unsuccessful) efforts are, in a way, part of Greece’s aviation history. They involve a partly damaged Blériot X!, which he bought in 1909, further seriously damaged during failed flight attempts. As the plane had to be largely rebuilt, Arniotis used the chance to introduce a number of his own “improvements (thanks to a team of carpenters and blacksmiths he had assembled), including 2 home-built propeller, in the design. Thus, he proclaimed himself “inventor anc airplane builder” before his most famous attempt on September 27, 1910. Al attempts nonetheless, including these made since December 6, 1910 after he further modified his contraption into a seaplane (at least attempting something more original), failed, making Arniotis a subject of ridicule by the Greek press.

To Vima newspaper, March 8, 1969, p.4 (Note: Special thanks to Constantinos Arniotis and Dimitris Voyatzis)

The BSK Defense (H)Yperion is an advanced target drone, made of composite materials and powered by BSK Defence's own VRJ-300 turbojet engine. It has a top speed of 1150 Km/h and an operating range of 120 Km. (Photo: Konstantinos Panitsidis) This ts an innovative small defense company, founded in Chania, Crete in 2008 as a successor to a similar company (Velos O.E.) founded in 1982. It has developed and built a number of advanced systems, including UAV’s (Phaeton, Ideon, Kyon, Erevos), USV’s (Seirios 65 and 95), target drones (Nemesis, (H)Yperion, Panas), electronics and UAV engines, while in 2010 it designed a cruise missile type. However, the future of its products, especially its new developments, is highly dependent on Greece's options in defense spending, currently connected to the country's dire economic problems.

Left: the "nEUROn" Next Generation Fighter Experimental UCAV is a joint development by EAB (HAI) with Dassault, EADS, Saab, RUAG and Alenia; right: the upgraded F-4E Phantom || (Peace Icarus 2000) is considered a formidable fighter-bomber

loannis Kamvysis exhibiting his “invention” (1931)

Mechanical engineer loannis Kamvysis from Kerkyra (Corfu) introduced in 1931 a simple but rather unusual invention, which he named “Aeroiptamenon” (closest translation being “Aeroflyer’). It consisted of a hydrogen-filled balloon able to lift a little less than his body weight, an attachment mechanism, and a wings/tail set which — since the balloon required additional power for flight - allowed a controlled flight like that of a bird , or “like Icarus”. He made a successful flight on December 23, 1931 over the Neon Phaliron velodrome (near Piraeus) and subsequently applied for a patent. Apparently there was no further development of the device.

The 1927 EAF (KEA) Chelidon was considered inferior to alternative types, thus only one was built (Image: Dimitrios Georgiadis)

Production of the KEA Avro 621 was a major activity of KEA between 1938 and 194( (shown with post-October 1940 markings) (Image: Dimitrios Georgiadis)

The 1931 EAF (KEA) Atlas was a lower-cost derivative of the Armstrong Whitworth Atlas; this model was reportedly plagued with problems (Image: Dimitrios Georgiadis)

The “Aristotelis" (Aristotle) was built in 1932 and was supposed to be the first human: powered aircraft to actually fly. Its designer was Aristotelis Chatzoglou, a Greek aircraf engineer living in France, who in 1929 had invented and built a test “engine’ that transformed human power to propeller rotation in a supposedly very efficient way. In May 27, 1932 he returned to Greece and convinced the government to build and test his invention. The airplane he designed was supposed to have excellent gliding capabilities while requiring minimal human effort to power its “engine”. The 210 kg (including pilot) plane was constructed by EAF, and according to newspaper reports (of up to November 14, 1932), its test flights had been scheduled for late November 1932 at Tatoi airport, near Athens. However, no further reports exist since that date, suggesting that tests were not successful and the project was scrapped.

Aircraft builders Platon Kourouvakalis and Costas Pikros have independently designed gliders, while they joined forces to create the rather unusual Anemopsaro (“Gliding Fish”) seaplane glider in 1969. Its main structure was designed by Kourouvakalis, with Pikros designing the part under water.

A sketch of Nikolaos Lyrantonakis’s device, drawn by Lyrantonakis himself, is shown in this article (Acropolis newspaper, June 7, 1937)

Nikolaos Lyrantonakis with his actual device (August 1937)

Before Greece was an independent state, in 1803, Pachomis (his first name has not survived), a Greek goldsmith in the town of loannina, attempted to imitate the Montgolfier brothers; thus he constructed a hot air balloon, complete with a basket for passengers. His public show ended in a disaster though, as his aides could not contro! the burner, which caused a fire that destroyed the balloon. Pachomis’s attempt was immortalized thanks to a satirical poem written by the famous Greek poet loannis Vilaras, ridiculing his failure.

Passenger ship built by Basileiades in 1918 (Image: Nautilia.gr) Basileiades is one of the most historic Greek machine building companies. It has indeed been the largest in its field in the country, as well as one of the most important Greek companies, during most of the second half of the 19th century.

Elefsis Shipyards in-house designed Jason-class Tank Landing Ship series (first launched in 1987) (Photo: Hellenic Navy) 205 m bulk carrier (first ship of depicted type built by Elefsis Shipyards in 1974)

The R/V “Aegaeo” is a research vessel operated by the Hellenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR), built in 1985 at Chalkis Shipyards. It is a floating laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment, involved in oceanographic and deep-sea research.

The Greek NESTOR Institute for Deep Sea Research, Technology and Neutrino Astroparticle Physics, has developed the “Delta-Berenike”, a self propelled special purpose vessel, for its activities as a leading participant in the KM3NeT, the European Deep Sea Neutrino Telescope. The “Delta-Berenike” is a ballasted vessel with a central well. It can remain stationary within +1m and operate with up to 5 Beaufort wind, and has been designed as a stable platform for the deployment of the components of the cubic Km Neutrino Telescope at a depth of down to 5200 m. It has the shape of an isosceles triangle, 51m on the sides and 44m at the base, and is equipped with three 322 hp Caterpillar Diesel motors powering three Schottel 360° pumpjets. Moreover, it is equipped with three Deutz Diesel generators, as well as several winches and cranes and a Dynamic Positioning system that permits precise navigation in the open sea. Elefsis Shipyards completed the basic structure that had been built in nearby Perama, and installed its equipment.

Elefsis Shipyards “Harmony” Superyacht (2000) Elefsis Shipyards built, British-designed, Roussen-class Fast Attack Craft series (first launched in 2002) (Photo: Hellenic Navy)

Merchant sail ships built in Galaxidi in 1844 (left) and 1875 (right). The latter is the famous “Aiolos’, a very large ship for its time, designed by naval architect Constantinos Papapetros. (Images: Nautical Museum of Galaxidi)

ELMON NEMESIS rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB), armed with 12.7 mm machine guns (left) and NEMESIS PB Patrol Boat, armed with 7.62 and/or 12.7 mm machine guns (right); both have been designed for the international market

Other company divisions and activities include ship repair and conversions, and industrial constructions. The latter has undertaken specialized metal and mechanical structures for the Greek industry, as well as rolling stock.

Manolis Gryparis's (left) efforts to develop a submarine lead to satirical cartoons, like this (right) published in ASTY newspaper in 1885 Founded in 1996, Golden Yachts specializes in luxury yachts, either refitted or entirely constructed at its shipyard, in the greater Athens area.

The “O’Rama” was built by Golden Yachts Shipyard in 2009

1970s Hannibal boat (Photo: lossif Papadopoulos / Rib and Sea)

Photos from press reports about Hannibal boats victories in 1971 speed boat races ir Piraeus (Photos: lossif Papadopoulos, Rib and Sea)

The characteristic Hannibal design can be seen in this boat built in 1970

“Pagosmios Elpis (World Hope)’, a 188 m tanker, was built in 1961, four years after HSY establishment being the company’s first large oceangoing vessel

HSY built twenty-seven units of this British-designed cargo ship type (SD 14) between 1968 and 1971

Bulk carrier type built by HSY. Nineteen ships of this type were built by the company between 1973 and 1979.

Merchant vessel built in Hydra in 1816. Greece was not yet an independent state, and the ship flies the Graikothomaniki (Greek-Ottoman), the flag used by Greek merchants during that period of Ottoman rule. (Image:Piraeus Maritime Museum)

Steamship built by Ifaistos in 1885 (Image: Nautical Museum of Galaxidi) The depicted vessel was assembled rather than constructed in Greece. It is the “Nordenfett |”, the first submarine of the Hellenic Navy and one of the first in the world (actually, when this type of vessel was still largely in an experimental stage). It was built in Sweden and shipped in parts to Greece in 1886, where Ifaistos machine works undertook the task of final assembly. Due to poor performance, it was never utilized and was scrapped in 1901. (Photo: Hellenic Navy)

“Hydriada” was the world's first autonomous desalination (by reverse osmosis) unit powered by renewable energy sources. It is a floating system with a wind generator anc solar cells, designed to remain stable in high winds and waves. It was developed in Greece by a consortium co-sponsored by the European Commission and the Greek Government, involving a partnership of several Greek research institutions and private enterprises (lead by Technava S.A. in Piraeus). The project started in November 2002 and construction was completed by Lamda Shipyards & Marine Services S.A. in 2006. The system was installed in 2007 by the island of Herakleia (near Naxos), successfully operating ever since.This much-acclaimed project, involving zero chemicals for pre- treatment of the raw water, claims several breakthroughs, including fully unmannec operation (marine-standard PLC and sensor arrays allow the implementation of a state- of-the-art control system, enabling autonomous operation of the plant, as well as remote monitoring and control from any part of the world), efficiency (as claimed, it requires approximately 3.5 kWh for each ton of produced potable water) and flexibility (designec to handle a range of power inputs). However, probably due to the current financia constraints, no further orders have been placed so far by the Greek government.

Launching of the A5 patrol/customs vessel (first of its class) at the Lavrion Shipyards ir July, 1930 The two A& class Italian-designed patrol/customs vessels were built at the Lavrion Shipyards in 1930 for the Hellenic Navy. They were armed with a 76 mm gun, a machine gun. as well as depth charges. Both were destroyed during WWII (1941), the first bombed by RAF after it had been seized by the Germans. (Image: Piraeus Maritime Museum Archive)

The Magna 35C Lightning is one of MotoMarine’s characteristic pleasure boat models

The “Neorion" Diesel-powered cargo ship was built by (and named after) Neorion Shipyards in 1959 (Photo: D. Motos collection)

Neorion Goulandris-class Patrol Vessel, donated to the Hellenic Navy (two vessels, commissioned 1975 and 1977 respectively). It was powered by 2 x1350 hp Diesel engines and armed with a 20 mm gun.

The Neorion central building in late 19" century (Photo: D. Galon Archive

The Neorion “Alysia* superyacht was designed by Voula (Athens)-based Alpha Marine and was, according to Forbes Magazine, the world's most expensive yacht in 2006. A separate Neorion subsidiary has been created for superyacht construction, which built the first ful SOLAS yachts in the world.

Between 1943 and 1944, when Greece was under Axis occupation, about 25 cargo ships were built in Perama, under orders of the German command, for use by the German Forces. These were built of reinforced concrete, as this was considered a cheaper construction solution. BIO (see Chapter) in Athens was reported as one of the companies that produced the engines. Several ships faced technical problems during usage, connected with their unusual construction material, while the particular Greek companies involved were later treated as collaborators with the occupation forces. (Image: Astypalaia.wordpress) Builders of traditional boats have also been present in Perama, like the famous Psarros yard, founded in 1927. The depicted boat was originally built by Psarros in 1955 for fishing and other uses, and has recently been transformed into a tourist vessel.

The "Titan" 220 ton (displacemant) tugboat, built in 1937 by the Salamina Nava Shipyard for the Hellenic Navy, was designed as Tugboat type K7 by V. Fragoulis and A. Tzetzos. It was destroyed in VV/WII, after it had been seized by the Germans. (Image: Piraeus Maritime Museum Archive) Perama/Salamina Area Shipbuilding Zone

“Asteri’, a 48 m ocean going salvage tug, built by the renowned Anastassiades & Tsortanides Shipyard (Perama) in 1971 (Photo: Constantine A. Philippou Collection)

Part of the “Asteri” ship plans, by naval architect D. Anastassiades (Image: Constantine A. Philippou Collection)

An example of a cargo ship type built in Perama; ten ships of this type were built starting in 1974 by the United Shipyards of Perama-ltea for a Norwegian customer

The “Castalia”, was designed by Ermogenis & Negas naval architects and built by Kynosoura Dockyards in Salamina, in 1974 (a smaller sister ship had been built in 1972 at the United Shipyards of Perama-itea). Originally used by Hellenic Mediterranean Lines, it became one of the most “famous” Greek-built ships as it changed name and operators around the world over a dozen times.

Navy lighthouse tender vessel built in 1976 by the Koronaios Bros. Shipyard in Perama (Photo: Hellenic Navy)

Navy Oil Tanker built by Kynosoura Dockyards (Salamina) in 197¢ (Photo: Hellenic Navy)

General cargo ship built in 1979 by Argo Shipyards in Salamina

“Pan Orama’ (1993), one of many luxury yachts built in Perama Another example of general cargo ship, built in 1990 by the United Shipyards of Perama-ltea

All Oceanographic/Hydrographic Research Vessels currently in service with the Hellenic Navy, like the “Naftilos” (“Nautilus"), built by Anastassiades & Tsortanides Shipyard in 1976, have been built in Perama (Photo: Hellenic Navy)

Navy Training/Transport ship built by Salamina Shipyards in 1979 (Photo: Hellenic Navy)

High Speed catamaran ferry, designed by Alpha Marine (Voula, Athens) and built by Vericos Shipyard (Perama) in 1996

Hopeful signs in an otherwise bleak environment in Perama: the “Variety Voyager’, a luxurious 76-passenger mega-yacht sailing the European and Middle East waters, built in 2012 by ELTHOM Shipyard (left); the "Pytheas", an oil products tanker built in 2013 by Kanellos Bros., a shipyard that has exported a number of ships (right) (Photo: ELNAVI)

The “Elegant” superyacht was built in 2005 by Lamda Nafs Shipyard in Perama, ani designed by Nafpigiki Hellas (Piraeus) and Lally Poulias This ferry, currently the "Northern Adventure”, built at Atsalakis Shipyard (Perama) in 2004 has served operators in Greece, Italy, Trinidad & Tobago, Spain and Canada

The “Othon” (later “Athenai") armed steamship was built in Poros in 1838 for the Hellenic Navy (this image has been erroneously used in Greece to represent other ships of similar appearance)

Shipbuilding in the Thessaloniki area did not reach the level of development of its counterpart in the general Piraeus area, with most shipyards engaging in repairs or building of smaller ships. Notable companies include the Chomatas (alsc spelled as Homatas) Shipyard which has built a significant number of passenger ships since the early 1960s and Macedonia Shipyards, mostly specializing in ferries and tugboats. Builders of smaller and traditional boats include Mavros. maker of fishing boats since the early 1900s, which has also built some excellen' racing sailboat models. Epta Imeres magazine (Kathimerini newspaper), August 27, 1995

There is evidence for significant shipbuilding activity on the island of Spetses since antiquity. Its evolution as a maritime power and shipbuilding center during Ottoman rule, as well as its contribution during the 1821 revolution, are similar to that of Hydra (see Chapter). For several years after Greece’s independence, Spetses was actually the county's main shipbuilding center after Syros. Replacement of traditional sail ships by steamships brought, as in other areas in Greece, a gradual decline, however, Spetses was able to maintain until recently a significant number of “traditional” shipyards, building specialized smaller ships and boats. Survivors today include the Belesis-Kourbelis (founded in 1800) and the Nektarios Kleisas (facility operating since 1730) yards, which, like others on the island, are threatened by new regulations and increased competition.

The “Okirroi (Ocyrhoe)”, a 96m double ended ferry was built in 2011 by Kouris Shipyards (a company originally founded in 1920) in Amaliapolis, Magnesia Volos Area/Magnesia Region Shipbuilding

Founded in Volos in 1972, Akrivos Machines is one of Greece's main manufacturers of marble and stone processing machinery, as well as an established exporter.

Selection of historic and/or significant companies

Androutsos bending (left) and pantograph (right) machines (current models)

Alexandros Androutsos founded this company in Piraeus in 1968 (since 2004 it is based in Corinth) to produce specialized machinery, mostly for metal industries.

Argyriou 1889 well pump (left) and 1891 helmet (center) and air pump (right) for sponge diving 1889 Argyriou grape press (left) and olive oil presses (center and right)

1896 advertisement for Argyriou machine works

Argyriou 1892 lathe (left) and 1893 weighing scale (right)

Axelos centrifugal pumps (left) and mechanical winch (right) (Images: Costas Zimeris) Axelos This was one of the famous machine building companies that had flourished in Volos, in operation between 1923 and 1970. Mostly known for its engines, Axelos operated two factories, in Volos and Piraeus.

1878 advertisement for Basileiades machine works, with references to awards receivec by the company

Early 1900s advertisement for Basileiades machine works

Founded in Piraeus in 1859, Basileiades is one the most historic Greek manufacturers. The company (also a shipbuilder) operated a foundry and produced an extensive range of metal and mechanical products, while it was undertaking customized machine building and installation of entire factories. It was also exporting many of its products, while in its advertisements it called itself "the most significant machine builder in Greece and the East".

BIO products and metal constructions shown in a 1938 advertisement

The D. Issigonis (A. lonyovng) machine works, an important company in the Greek community of Smyrna (now Izmir, Turkey) was technically in Greek territory only between 1919 and 1922, when the area was under Greek rule. It was founded in 1854 by Dimosthenis Issigonis (born on the island of Paros) and became a major manufacturer doing business with many Greek areas, producing steam engines and other machinery. Dimosthenis Issigonis has acquired British citizenship through his cooperation with British firms in engineering projects: thanks to his British citizenship, his grandson, Alec, was evacuated along with his family by British forces ahead of the invasion of the Turkish army in the city in 1922. Alec ended up in Britain, where he became world famous as a car designer, historically associating the Issigonis name with the Mini and other classic British cars.

N.B. Sarafopoulos, "Istoriko Lefkoma Achaikis Biomichanias (Historical Album of Achaean Industry) 1825-1975", Patras Science Park, Patras (2009)

Elix (Rotor) machine works, founded in Piraeus by S.P. Fronimos, specialized in canning and food processing machinery during the interwar years.

ENESSIS P&P automatic album binding machine

EBAM (Elliniki Biomichania Agrotikon Michanimaton, or Hellenic Agricultural Machinery Industry - not to be confused with EBIAM, a vehicle maker whose brand name was coincidentally made of the same words) was founded in 1966 by two engineers and one economist. It designed and produced olive oil separators, a type of machinery which had not previously been built in Greece. Despite its initial success in the Greek market, the company was short lived. Theoklis Skenderidis, “Odigos tis Ellinikis Viomichanias (Greek Industry Guide) 1933-1934", Skenderidis, Athens (1934)

ERGON A historic small company founded in 1930 by Papadopoulos Brothers in Athens, ERCAM (originally also using the Louthiros brand name) has produced a wide variety of mostly light machine types for various sectors. Recently the company has concentrated in machinery for food, medical and cosmetics industries.

Al. Eugeniadis & Th, Protopappas was a Piraeus-based machine maker which after WWII specialized in woodworking machinery. The company also manufactured other specialized equipment, remaining in operation until 1960. “Metaxenio to Nima tis Exelixis (A Silk Yarn of Evolution)”, To Vima newspaper, May 28, 2000

For many years the company was seen as a Greek industrial success story. At its peak, in the late 1980s, the ETMA Group of Companies employed about 2,000 and produced a variety of Rayon and synthetic fiber yarns. It also operated in-house machine works constructing equipment which included coning machines and, since 1980, a small number of complex Rayon spinning machines. The latter were copies of British models used by ETMA which had been imported earlier, with several improvements introduced by the company.

bd a machinery company with _ international reputation located in Acharnes, near Athens and main facilities in Greece and Germany. It was founded in 1985 and its main activity is the development and production of electronically controlled machines for straightening, cutting and bending of steel wire, mesh welding etc., with worldwide sales.

P. Fedis (N. ®€5n¢) was a foundry and machine maker based in Thessloniki, in operation during the first half of the 20" century. It produced hydraulic turbines under license, as well as pumps, agricultural equipment and other specialized mechanical products.

Gatzelakis machinery for production of traditional Greek sweets

A well known Piraeus-based machine manufacturer founded by Georgios Gilis, in operation between 1930 and 1985.

Gilis olive oil processing machines and centrifugal pump types (1935) Ae Founded by Georgios Kalogeropoulos in Athens, also PPBION = using the Dedalos (Daedalus) brand name, this was L,AAQE, an example of a smaller machine and equipment hOTEPOMOYADY tiyatarov—ae maker of the early 20" century.

HYDROCUT Vega 3015 Combo (Waterjet & Plasma) cutting system

KAMEX 120 ton horizontal hydraulic press KAMEX KAMEX (not to be confused with other companies with KAIMIEX e the same acronym) was founded in 1990 and is located in the greater Athens area. Its main area of activity is the manufacture of compacting systems, mostly for recycling purposes.

Examples of KEMIM industrial machinery installed in Greek factories This is a notable machine builder founded in 1978 by Nikos Michalis, located in the greater Athens area. The company has developed significant expertise in the design and construction of specialized equipment and machinery (including production lines for turnkey projects) for a wide variety of industrial applications. KEMIM is a supplier to major companies having equipped several factories around Greece, also exporting some of its products.

The entrance to the Kontoyiannis factory in the 1920s (Photo: Stylianos Kontoyiannis collection)

1887 advertisement for Kouppas pumps. The company initially also used the name Ergani Athena (Ergane Athena, or Athena Worker, one of the cult titles of the ancient Greek goddess), while the family name was originally spelled with a single "p’. Achilleas Kouppas next to a mobile steam pump for wine making (early 20" century (Image: Institute for Neohellenic Research, Research Notebooks)

Various types of LINOS flour mill machinery and equipment can be seen in this earl) 1960s brochure

Kouppas, also spelled in English as Couppas or Coupas (originally Kouppas Bros., later Achilleas Kouppas Machine Manufacturing A.E.), has historically been a prominent Greek industrial machinery and equipment manufacturer, founded in Piraeus in 1882.

This was a reputed machine manufacturer founded by Nikos Lipovatz in Piraeus specializing in olive oil processing machinery during the 1950s and 1960s. Malkotsis

Giamalakis & Lykiardopoulos patented "revo-lutionary" deep well pump (1931), built at the MAX machine shop This machine manufacturer (not to be confused with P. Mastrantonis of Piraeus) was founded by Nikolaos Mastrantonis in Thessaloniki. It flourished in the interwar period, specializing in textile and printing machines. MAX was once a famous large auto parking garage on Pireos St. in Athens, founded by A.B. Polemis in 1920. One rather unusual feature was its well- equipped machine shop for engine repairs and rebuilding, where some interesting specialized machines were also constructed. Mastrantonis

MD Automatik machinery models for the food industry

MITROUSIS EUROair 3.0 Portable Air Compressor MITROUSIS EUROMIX 4.5DB Floor-Screed Conveyor

Major projects carried out by the company since 1965 include design, fabrication and erection of conveyor tracks for bauxite, fabrication and installation, as part of consortia, of mining equipment (excavators, bucket wheel excavators and stackers), fabrication of electricity pylons, fabrication and erection of metal supporting frames and systems for bridges, ship launching, loading equipment, and lifting/ transporting platforms.

1900 Moschoundis scale (left) and 1937 advertisement for Moschoundis products (right)

N.M. Gavalas is a machine maker founded by Nikolaos Gavalas in 1948 in Kamatero (near Athens). The company specializes in quarry machinery, having traditionally been one of Greece's main manufacturers.

Paramina Screw Compressors Christina Agriantoni, “Oi Aparches tis Ekviomichanisis stin Ellada ton 190 Aiona (The Beginnings of Industrialization in 19"" Century Greece)", Commercial Bank of Greece — Historical Archive, Athens (1986) A 5 Al Vil iy. Paramina was founded in 1966 and is a prestigious Pe WOeewers manufacturer of air compressors and compressed air systems, with notable exports. In 2005 the company moved to new facilities in Aspropirgos, near Athens.

Pe Founded by loannis and Panagiotis Maltezos in Piraeus in ModréCoc 1930, P. Maltezos (as the company is called today) has been one of Greece’s main manufacturers of industrial steam boilers - steam generators, also producing water treatment systems.

Polaris C & Z Purlins Stacker (left); Polaris Spica. an advanced, Delta-type Robot, designed for fast and accurate motion (right)

Part of Primolia Eurobloc patented olive oil processing complex (1967) This company was founded in 1959 by Nikos Tsatsoulis and Athanassios Thanopoulos, to produce olive oil processing machinery. Its first models were based on Italian designs, to which it added its own improvements, followed by several original developments. The company benefited from a campaign to modernize Greek olive oil producers in the 1960s, and established a reputation for quality and innovation, holding 7 patents and producing some of the largest olive oil processing complexes built in Greece. A new factory was built in Piraeus in 1967 as the company expanded, while some exports were reported, to Middle Eastern countries. However, Primolia was one more company that was hard hit by the 1980s crisis in Greek industry. By the late 1980s it already faced serious financial problems, and was forced out of business in 1993.

Polaris Engineering ABEE (not to be confused with other companies with the same or similar names) branched off a construction material manufacturer in 1999. It was a particularly innovative small company based in Athens, which designed and manufactured specialized industrial machinery including robotic systems, until 2010.

1930s EPK (Pyrkal) radial drilling machines A relatively small company founded in Athens in 1985, specializing in design and construction of metal processing machinery. Examples of specialized Prisma Machines types

RAFAEL woodworking machines One of Greece’s main manufacturers of woodworking machinery, RAFAEL was founded in 1954 in Thessaloniki by Vassileios Rafailidis. The company has developed several innovative products and is an established supplier to Greek state organizations and private businesses, as well as an exporter, mainly to European and Middle Eastern countries.

A variety of machinery and equipment were constructed since 1949 by ROSTRO for ETMA, a historic Rayon manufacturer in Athens

The construction by ROSTRO of pumps and other equipment for the Agios Thomas pumping station for the Athens Water Company in 1951, was both a challenge and a temporary relief for the company, which at the time was facing financial difficulties. This was part of a greater project to improve water supply for the city of Athens; with participation of other major companies, including BIO, Kouppas and Theofanidis.

1920 S. Barbetas water pump (Photo: Nikos Anagnostou / Ermoupolis Industrial Museum)

S. Barbetas sheet metal bending machine once used at Neorion Shipyards (Photo: Pandektis.ekt)

Sclavos - equipped fabric dyeing facility

Founded in 1925 (originally Sideridis & Askaridis), Simos Sideridis was a renowned industrial machinery manufacturer, equipping many Greek factories, especially before WWII. Its main focus was heavy machinery for brick and other construction material production, as well as a variety of specialized industrial equipment, usually designed and built to order. After WWII fierce competition from imports decreased its market share, leading the company to diversify its activities. Simos Sideridis went out of business in 2003, after nearly eight decades of continuous operation.

Agricultural equipment produced by Stamatopoulos (like these depicted in a 1889 advertisement) contributed to improvement in farming efficiency in Greece

1930s Spinthir textile machines. Spinthir Spinthir (Spark) was founded in Athens in the 1920s by Th. Papavangelou, and was Greece’s main textile machinery manufacturer during the interwar period. Several types of equipment, including dyeing machines, were produced.

The Systems Sunlight Xanthi manufacturing plant

TINS GOMIPAany Was TOUNGCU Hl VOIOS Wh 1OOL DY NICICHOS OlaltialOPOUlIOS, all engineer, graduate of the National Technical University of Athens. Originally it was a manufacturer of farm equipment that brought a “revolution” to agricultural production in the area of Thessaly. Operating a foundry (it was advertising its capability to produce “any machine or automobile part’), it expanded production to include a wide variety of machinery, engines and military equipment, while in the 1930s it became a major manufacturer of shells for bombs. Stamatopoulos had started operation of its blast furnace (“unique in the Balkans”, as claimed) in 1929, for steel production. This renowned industry had the fate of most machine works in the Volos area after WWII, facing financial problems due to intense competition from imports, eventually going out of business in 1961.

Examples of TECHNORAMA industrial machinery

1967 Theocharis olive oil processing machinery (Italian-designed models)

1988 Theocharis olive oil decanter centrifuge

V. VASSOS Tsolomitis Bros. Tsolomitis Bros. edge bander (1992, left) and hydraulic hot press (current model. right)

Athens-based V. VASSOS S.A. (B. BAZOX A.B.E.) was an importer fe of construction equipment since the early 1950s, also operating an industrial division. By the early 1970s the company had become a significant manufacturer of specialized equipment, including concrete mixers, conveyor belts and hydraulic lifts, with two factories, in Athens and Thessaloniki, and exports to several countries. It was during the same decade, though, that it orogressively shifted its focus to bus and other vehicle body production, a field hat faced disaster as the Greek market was opened to used imports after 1981. VASSOS—CHRYSOCHOOS (as the company had been named since 1979, after Costas Chrysochoos became a partner) terminated production in 1985.

1898 advertisement for Anastasiadis hydrotherapy equipment E.E. Anastasiadis was a metal products manufacturer based in Athens, in operation between 1878 and 1910. Its products included a variety of home appliances and simple machines, as well as knapsack sprayers.

Ct CARAD 4 Carad Hellas has been an important Piraeus- based manufacturer of appliances, founded in 1969. Originally producing TV sets and Bauknecht models under license, since the mid-1970s and for almost 3 decades it specialized in space-saving designs such as mini dishwashers and laundry machines. The company often cited its exports to several countries around the world as proof for the quality of its products.

Dim. S. Chouvardas (Any. 2. XouBapddg A.E.B.E.) has historically been an important Greek home appliances company, with branches in Athens and Thessaloniki. It was founded in 1930 and its activities included imports, manufacturing, as well as operation of its well-known department stores. Production of appliances (Standard electric kitchen stoves, ice box refrigerators, heaters, gas stoves etc.) first started in 1950, but stopped only a few years later. A new production line was started in 1965 producing Zenith oil heaters, and, since 1969, license-producing Century TV sets - using many imported parts - and refrigerators. Since the 1980s the company ceased all manufacturing and continued with its import and trading, and, more recently (as a much smaller company), real estate management activities.

Athens-based G.D. Coukakis & El. Markou machine works mainly produced gears and other specialized metal parts. Since 1900 the company also manufactured a number of household items. including faucets, tubing, heaters, as well as a variety of iron products.

ELCO 70455C kitchen stove (left) and TITAN 60 L water heater (right)

Parts of 1948 advertisements for ESIF kitchen stoves and other appliances ESIF (EZH® in Greek) — N. Fountoulis & Co., was a significant manufacturer of home appliances in Greece after WWII. The company, based in Athens, later also produced industrial refrigerators and other electric equipment until eclipsed by its competitors by 1965.

ESKIMO refrigerator, kitchen stove and heater (1965) Sixties style: 1968 advertisement for ESKIMO refrigerators a ESKIMO was the brand name of electric appliances = ESIGMO (refrigerators, freezers, kitchen stoves, heaters etc.) produced by a company originally founded in 1955 as |, Stavropoulos & Co. and since 1958 known as VIOMETAL ESKIMO. Its spectacular development (by 1973 it employed over 1500 and held a 27% stake of the Greek home appliances market) was followed by a disastrous merger with Izola, a former competitor, in 1977. The new company (ELINDA) faced financial problems and eventually went bankrupt, while a branch of the former company survived, focusing on trade and TV assembly. In 2001 it merged with F.G. Europe, a Greek electric and electronic appliance trading company.

HAUSCOM Ippos 1 automatic Greek coffee maker (left) and REX (HAUSCOM) 35AA2 mini washing machine (right) GARBY E.P.E. (Ltd) was founded in 1997 succeeding an earlier manufacturer of small kitchen appliances. In 2000 it acquired ANKA S.A. a kitchen furniture manufacturer and was renamed GARBY ANKA. The company, based in Athens, is a significant Greek manufacturer of a variety of small home & commercial kitchen equipment (including planetary mixers, refrigerated meat mincers, vegetable processing machines, potato peelers, kneading machines, meat band saws etc.), as well as mini bars and kitchen furniture, with exports to several countries around the world.

PENS VUTNIVaty Wao PUI HT PO BT PIO Gs Ft. Fi OUR. LI. Ss Fourlis & Co. O.E. and today it operates as a major Greek Group of companies involved in trade and manufacturing, with subsidiaries in neighboring countries. Its main field of activity has been home appliances, with activities including import, trade, assembly (between 1967 and 1982) of TV sets and manufacture (since 1968) of kitchen range hoods.

GARBY planetary mixer BS (left) and Potato Peeler AL 5 TP (right)

In 1950 Izola was a major manufacturer of metal tubing and other metal products. This characteristic advertisement features a drawing by Fokion Dimitradis, a famous Greek cartoonist.

* This is a renowned Greek company, with worldwide In terklima activities and exports, founded in 1978 and based in the Chalkis area. Interklima mainly develops and produces air conditioning and related equipment, including air handling units, packaged air-to-air units, fan sections, fan coil units, light commercial and residential units cooling towers, centrifugal fans, air-to-air cooling only and heat pump units, air cooled water chillers and heat pumps and finned tube heat exchangers.

The characteristic elephant logo is shown in this 1952 advertisement for Izola products

The Izola factory in Kallithea. The company operated a factory on this site between 1937 and 1977,

Exhibition of historic |zola appliances (left) and early 1970s Izola sandwich toaster (right) A “Superautomatic" Izola washing machine, shown in a 1967 advertisement

Kombi biomass boiler with auto feeder (left), energy fireplace (center) and compact hot air generators (right) KLIMATECHNIKI A.E. was founded in oe KLIMATECHNIK! Thessaloniki in 1961, originally producing heating and air conditioning systems. Today and it is mostly manufacturing small appliances, including range hoods and mini ovens, with its own Davoline brand name, as well as on an OEM basis for foreign companies. Its products are exported to over 40 countries around the world.

Additional Reference Theoklis Skenderidis, “Odigos tis Ellinikis Viomichanias (Greek Industry Guide 1933-1934", Skenderidis, Athens (1934)

This Athens-based manufacturer founded by Dimitrios Komninos, produced a variety of metal items during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including safes and bed frames, as well as cook stoves. As suggested by references in the Athenian press, the latter enjoyed a reputation for their quality and efficiency.

1960 MELPO kitchen range hood (left) and current model (right)

Athens-based Oratios Nisiotis and, since 1908 Leonidas Nisiotis company, was Greece’s main manufacturer of metal utensils and other simple metal household and restaurant items in the early 20". Its advertised products included an elegant “mechanical” coin holder.

Advertisements for Petropoulos Bros. coal stove (1904, left) and water purification equipment (1909, right) An Athens-based company (not to be confused with other Greek makers with the same last name), Petropoulos Bros. was one of the best known Greek manufacturers of heaters, ice box refrigerators and other household equipment during the early 20" century.

Early 1930s advertisements for Olympos fridges and refrigeration equipment Olympos has been one of the few Greek manufacturers of electric refrigerators before WWII, in addition to its “classic” ice boxes, also manufacturing and installing commercial refrigeration equipment.

Various Phillis products are shown in a 1951 advertisement

Until WWII PITSOS produced simple (metal) household items, as seer in this 1916 advertisement (cookers and lamps are also mentioned)

1950 Phillis model K1 electric kitchen stove The name of this company was derived from its owner, P. D. Filis, in an obvious effort to look similar to other, international brands. It was an important manufacturer of metal products and simple mechanisms in the interwar period; after WWII, and until the early 1950s, it became the main manufacturer of home appliances in Greece (including electric kitchen stoves, electric clothes irons, space heaters, refrigerators and water heaters), also exporting some of its products, before being eclipsed by competitors like Izola and Pitsos.

Humbie products such as its - once famous - gas stoves were crucial for PITSOS post- WWII development. In a 1948 advertisement (above left) the “big nations of the world’ look with amazement and jealousy at this great accomplishment (!), while in one in 1950 (right) the creation of these products is devoted to the Greek women. Hand sprayers (below left) were another example of a variety of PITSOS household items and devices.

Above; 1964 PITSOS advertisement featuring Mrs. Chrysa Paradeisi, a well known author of recipe books (the message is, more or less, “a great cooker for great recipes’). Below: 1965 was a special year for the company as it celebrated 100 years of operation.

1990 PITSOS POF kitchen stove (left) and modern PKNB49AC20 refrigerator (right)

Different PITSOS washing machine models shown in a 1974 advertisement

Company logo 1886 (left), 1940 (center) and current (right) (Images: Prapopoulos Bros) Oikonomikos Tachydromos magazine, March 7, 1963 Prapopoulos Bros. A.E. (S.A.) was founded in Patras in 1886 and is today one of the oldest Greek companies with continuous operation. It is also one of the few remaining historic companies of Patras, once a great industrial and commercial center of Greece. In addition to its basic product, knapsack sprayers, as well as a variety of other metal products (which have won prestigious awards in international expositions), the company has also produced several metal household items, including gas stoves, kitchen utensils and garden sprayers.

Left to right: Serton mini washing machine, contact grill and fan heater Once an important manufacturer of hydraulic equipment founded in Athens in 1876 by Emmanouel Saloustros, this company produced sinks, heaters, water heaters, tubing and a variety of metal equipment, receiving a number of awards in the early 20" century. Serton was founded in Piraeus in 1976 by Dimitrios Panagopoulos, and moved to Mandra, near Athens, in 1982. It is a significant manufacturer of metal and plastic products, including a variety of (mostly small) household appliances (sandwich toasters, contact grills, hot plates, quartz convector heaters, fan heaters, mini washing machines etc.). The company exports most of its products, mostly to European countries. 2 sarion

SUPER-LUX, founded by Nikolaos Evangeliou, was another Athens-based manufacturer of appliances (mostly ice box refrigerators and heaters), in operation between 1945 and 1960. The company’s most prestigious products were its “modern” oil heater models, first introduced in 1951.

1938 advertisement for THERMIS heating systems and other metal products

THERMIS products, of 1938 (heater, left) and 1955 (cast iron central heating boilers, right)

THERMIS products shown in a 1988 advertisement

Early 1950s TITAN ice box fridge and coal stove

VIK (BHK in Greek) stands for “Viomihania Ilektrikon Kataskevon”, or “Electric Constructions Industry”. It was founded by A. Christodoulou in Athens in 1956 and became a very successful producer of heaters, ventilation systems, ice cream makers, electrical transformers, pumps. electric motors and othe electrical equipment. In 1963 it was the first Greek company to export high voltage transformers, after production of the latter had become a major company activity, supported by orders by DEI (Greek Public Power Corporation). In 196¢ VIK was acquired by Germany's AEG-Telefunken.

Audio Technologies CDP-7 CD Player (with Philips CD Pro Il mechanism)

Audio Technologies ESL-18 electrostatic loudspeakers EKAL Audio Technologies |A-90 stereo integrated amplifier

Black Pearls Birth 100 integrated amplifier (left) and Virgo CD Player (Philips CD PRO I! mechanism) (right)

Black Pearls was founded in Athens in January ® R&eek Peers Ps 2012 and joined the ranks of Greek high-end pive seer into yoursens=* audio equipment manufacturers. Its products have received quite positive reviews, while its first exports were made in 2013.

Audio Technologies VP-12 stereo vacuum tube line preamplifier

A well known department store operating in Athens in the interwar period, the Georgios Kontouzoglou Company also operated a manufacturing facility for lighting fixtures, as well as radios and gramophones. Most probably it used many imported parts for the latter, essentially assembling its products.

Part of a 1985 brochure for an ORPHEPHS piano Pianos were “produced” - although it seems that they were only assembled from imported parts - by Androutsos in Thessaloniki since (at least) the early 1930s. However, ORPHEPHS (Orpheus) Hellenic Pianos is considered to have been the only notable Greek piano maker; a “proper” manufacturer, it was established in 1983 by loannis and Stergios Pontikis, with its headquarters in Thessaloniki and its factory in the town of Servia in Northern Greece. The pianos (produced in four different models) were built using about 80% Greek-made parts, and established a reputation for quality, while orders by state institutions added to the company's prestige. Production, however, lasted only until 1990; the company continued its operations for a few more years selling and repairing pianos, switching to the manufacture of furniture thereafter. loannis Pontikis has been promoting music education nonetheless, and has founded a number of music schools around Greece.

The merits of the remote control are described in this 1971 PITSOS advertisement

This patented 1972 design was a combination of stereo tape recorder and TV set. Mainly imported parts were used for its assembly. The company P & V Pantazis Bros. A.E., based in Athens, became quite successful in the Greek market during the 1970s, (basically) assembling TV sets and other electronic products.

Roister PL Series speakers Roister: Roister was founded in Athens in 1978 and has evolved intc the largest loudspeaker manufacturer in Greece, producing Home Cinema Systems, Subwoofers, Active Sound boxes etc. The company belongs to a generation of Greek audio equipment manufacturers, some with a noteworthy international presence, including ELINA, Link Technology, Audic Technologies, TLA, Audio Spectrum, Cosmos Audio, Spicom, Analysis Audio, Crystal Acoustics, Tsakiridis Devices, Ypsilon, Mythos, Bluetone, TuneAudio, Harmonic Audio Labs, Black Pearls and others.

Ypsilon CDT-100 CD transport (with Philips CD Pro Il mechanism) and DAC-100 digital- to-analog converter

Tsakiridis Devices Alexander remote contro! preamplifier Tsakiridis Devices Aeolos integrated amplifier

Avery characteristic Athena movie projector advertisement. claiming that the product was used by one-fifth of Greek movie theaters (Image: Nikos Theodosiou)

Part of a brochure for the Athena AZ movie projector (Image: Nikos Theodosiou)

Specifications plate for an Athena movie projector (Image: Nikos Theodosiou)

Picca (not to be confused with other companies and models with the same o: similar names) was created by, and named after, Dimitrios Picopoulos Picopoulos founded a camera repair shop in Athens in 1935 and introduced his own Picca cameras in 1954. The cameras were hand-built with metal body, with the only imported item being their German lenses. Competition by cheaper imported plastic models brought a quick end to this venture only two years later a successor service company, Picopoulos Camera Service, nonetheless continues operation to this date. A total of about 400 Picca’s had been produced and surviving examples are today considered collectible “classics”.

AKTOR (fulfiller) was the brand name of luxurious, high-precision wall clocks built by K. Trakakis in Athens, first introduced in the Greek market in 1971. It was claimed that the entire clocks, including their electric mechanisms, were handmade by the manufacturer. As stated by Mr. Trakakis, three different patents were obtained during development of the products.

Kasvikis Athenai (Athens) was the brand name used by Christos Karamanos A.E., a company founded in 1906 specializing in municipal and church clock manufacture. As mentioned in its advertisements, its products had received a “golden award” at the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair. After VWWVIl the company changed ownership and went out of business a few years later. Subsequently, former Athenai employees established the Hellas church clock maker. Athenai

Greek vehicle & machine manufacturers 1800 to present: A pictorial history

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