Basileiades was one of the most historic Greek machine building companies and the largest in its field in the country (as well as one of the most important Greek companies) during the second half of the 19th century. It was founded in Piraeus in 1859, and along with similar companies like Ifaistos and Kouppas in the same city, Neorion in Syros , Vlahanis-Petropoulos in Athens , Glavanis-Kazazis in Volos and others founded in the 19th century, mark the contribution of the machine building sector in the Greek Industrial Revolution. The company has also been one of the largest shipyards in Greece, especially during the first half of the 20th century.
8-564: The evolution of Basileiades machine works was connected with the rapid development of Piraeus as an industrial and commercial center in Greece, replacing Ermoupolis in Syros. Except for shipbuilding (with its first all-metal steamship built in 1892), Basileiades produced an extensive range of metal and mechanical products, including steam engines, boilers, pumps, cranes, farm equipment, hydraulic devices, metal bridges, railroad material etc., while it
16-592: The Drapetsona area, and before WWII it operated the largest Greek shipyard. Its facilities were damaged during the war by German bombing, this being the first step to a gradual decline of the company which was finally acquired in 1953 by the Hellenic Chemical Products and Fertilizers Company , AEEHPL (member of the giant Bodosakis industrial group) during the latter's expansion of activities. AEEHPL itself went out of business in 1999 following
24-606: The Railway Museum in Athens). However, the whole venture was short-lived: although the Basileiades company had already proudly announced its "Locomotive producer" status in contemporary advertisements, it soon determined that further production of such steam locomotives would be unprofitable. Progressively Basileiades focused more on shipbuilding and, increasingly, ship repairs, in new facilities it had created in 1896 in
32-631: The earlier collapse of Bodosakis's "empire", having already sold the building and docks to Piraeus Port Authority in 1963. The area where the facilities of this historic company used to be, are still called "Basileiades (or Vasiliadis) coast" (Ακτή Βασιλειάδη). The two dry docks ( 37°56′39″N 23°37′55″E / 37.944070°N 23.6320050°E / 37.944070; 23.6320050 ) are still in use, owned by Piraeus Port Authority S.A. and leased to ship maintenance contractors, and are still sometimes referred as "Vassiliadis Docks". Ermoupolis Ermoupoli ( Greek : Ερμούπολη ), also known by
40-577: The formal older name Ermoupolis or Hermoupolis ( Greek : Ἑρμούπολις < Ἑρμοῦ πόλις "Town of Hermes "), is a town and former municipality on the island of Syros , in the Cyclades , Greece . Since the 2011 local government reform, it is part of the municipality Syros-Ermoupoli , of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is also the capital of the South Aegean region. The municipal unit has an area of 11.181 km . Ermoupoli
48-402: Was an exception: already engaged in railway equipment construction, in 1899 the company undertook an order for a Steam Locomotive for Attica Railways; construction was done based on an original French design. The historic locomotive, called "Hellenis" (Greek lady), was delivered in 1900 and offered its services for nearly 50 years before it was scrapped (only its badge was saved, exhibited today in
56-537: Was founded during the Greek Revolution in the 1820s, as an extension to the existing Ano Syros township, by refugees from other Greek islands because of the War. It soon became the leading commercial and industrial center of Greece, as well as its main port. The renowned Greek Steamship Company was founded in the city in 1856. Thousands of ships were built in the various Syros shipyards . Eventually Ermoupoli
64-583: Was undertaking installation of entire factories and customized machinery building. It was also exporting some of its products, while in its advertisements it called itself "the most significant machine builder in Greece and the East". Although railway wagons had been built in Greece during the 19th century, most relevant constructions were being undertaken by the Railway companies themselves (see also Piraeus Railway Works ). Basileiades's limited relevant involvement
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