British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 525

CHAPTER XIII.
16 well equipped mechanical workshops have been established which provide a sound foundation for the diversified manufacture of highly accurate measuring apparatus, advanced optical apparatus, surgical instruments and precision tools.

(v) General engineering works. There are in Palestine a number of engineering firms engaged in the fabrication of an extensive range of articles varying from the construction of large cylindrical tanks down to the reconditioning of files. In certain instances the factories have so expanded their activities as to exceed by ten-fold their 1939 output. A detailed exposition encompassing the whole of their production would involve too great elaboration, but an indication of the many items manufactured may be gained from the following list :-

Aluminium kitchen ware

Aluminium window frames

Balances

Bodies for military vehicles, ambulances and armoured cars Boilers

Bolts and nuts Burners, various Casseroles Chairs

Cookers, electrical Cots

Cranes

Dental burs

Enamel kitchenware Fire extinguishers Furnaces

Geysers

Grates

Hardware

Heaters

Hinges

Hurricane lamps Ice boxes

Kettles

Lamps

Lighters, pocket Locks Lubricators Na.ils Perambulators

Primus stoves and

burners Pots

Razors and blades Steel girders and

frames Steel wool

Steel and composite

bus bodies Stoves Tables

Toasters, electric Tools

Vices Watertanks

Wire and wire

products

(vi) Electrical apparatus and allied products. There has been a noteworthy expansion in the production of electrical apparatus and the constituent parts. With a few exceptions the workshops are not large and are formed around a nucleus of technical specialists. The following articles are the chief products of this industry; switches, ceiling boxes, fuse boxes, lamp holders, plugs, terminal clips, bell transformers etc. Insulating conduits are also produced. Dry battery cells were produced in large numbers during the war - 6 ,600 ,000 in 1943 - for torches and radios, Manfactures of accumulator batteries expanded their output in the absence of imports and have succeeded in improving the quality of their product. Insulated wire and cables are the chief items in the heavier branch of this industry, but a number of small factories have concentrated upon turning out industrial equipment such as welding accessories, large transformers and alternators and reconditioned armatures, motors and ventilator fans.

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