Two pairs of Harash Ofan Cycles (HOC) in front of the bicycle store. (Still from the 1935 film The Land of Promise / Le’chayim chadashim. Thanks to Philipp Messner who kindly provided me with this still.)
Yechiam Halevy with his HOC bicycle as a boy in the age of 11, circa 1960. (thanks to Lahav Halevy for the photos)
HOC advertisement – 60’s (bicycle for the whole family)
HOC (HARASH OFAN CYCLE), last of three local manufacturers mentioned here before (DAHAR and ICM)
HOC is the first factory that started a serial production of bicycles in Israel. Factory begins with the small business established by Menachem Goldberg (1872 – 1961), import of bicycles and bicycle parts from Britain to the land of Israel, in 1921 in Tel Aviv. In 1950, due to new restrictions imposed on the importing business, shortly after the establishment of the state of Israel, HOC plant was established, in order to produce locally “national” bicycle and to take part in the industrial development of the young State of Israel. In highest activity of the plant, approximately 40% of the country’s bicycles were produced by HOC.
Family of Menahem Goldberg, the founder of plant, continued his way, through his son, Benzion Goldberg, grandson, Yair Goldberg. Currently managed by the Y. Asher, who joined the family business after marriage to Granddaughter of Menachem Goldberg in 1962.
The factory is still active today and manufactures various types of bicycles, mostly working type, tricycles and others. Its located in the industrial area in Petach Tikva
Ofanut (OFANAIIM=bycicle in Hebrew and NUT needs no explonation) is a new blog about bycicle culture in Tel Aviv, by a good friend of mine Daniel Davidovsky. So lets all join him for a ride.
