Five photographs of vehicles assembled by the Israeli automotive plants operated by Kaiser-Ilin Industries Ltd. [Israel, 1950s and 1960s].
● A row of Willys small pickup trucks with "Export" labels on their windshields. Marked on verso with the inked stamp of the photographer Shimon Rapaport of Haifa. ● Three Studebaker Transtar pickup trucks in Eilat (most likely in preparation for export by ship). Marked on verso with the inked stamp of photographer D. Jackoboviz. ● Workers assembling vehicles on the assembly line of the Haifa plant. Photo marked on verso with the inked stamp of Keren Hayesod. ● A line of new jeeps next to the plant in Nesher, near Haifa. ● A vehicle of the brand name Contessa.
Kaiser Ilin Industries Ltd. (originally Kaiser-Frazer of Israel, Ltd.) was an Israeli automotive assembly company, widely regarded as the most important Israeli car manufacturer in the early days of the state. The company was established in 1951 by the Israeli entrepreneur Ephraim Ilin in cooperation with the American Kaiser-Frazer automotive company, and remained in business until 1969, whereupon it was bought out by the Israeli automobile manufacturer Autocars. In the course of its lifetime, before being bought out, the company produced over 100,000 motor vehicles.
23X17.5–8.5X13.5 cm. Condition varies. Overall good condition. Minor blemishes (mostly to backs).
Also enclosed: An invitation to the official opening ceremony of the Haifa plant in 1951 that took place "under the patronage of the Prime Minister, Mr. David Ben Gurion."
Provenance: The Rimon Family Collection.