*This dissertation is not a peer-reviewed article
The following is a summary of the information provided by Abu-Rajeb Hassuna during an interview conducted in 2007:
The factory operated until the 1948 war and was used for the production of olive oil, tahini, sesame oil, and soap. It was founded by Abu-Rajeb Hassuna’s grandfather. Abu-Rajeb, born in 1927, worked at the facility during its years of operation and was thoroughly familiar with the building and its functioning while it was active. The Hassuna family charged customers who brought olives or sesame seeds to the factory a fee in the form of a percentage of the oil or tahini produced.
Device No. 1 Olive Crusher (Fig. 2)
The olives were crushed by a harnessed horse
that rotated the upper millstone clockwise around the lower millstone. The horse’s harness is missing, as is a metal piece in front of the stone, which originally swept the olive paste away during crushing, clearing the stone’s surface.
Device No. 3 Presses (Fig. 3)
The factory contained two presses: one complete and one missing some of its parts. Rotation of the handles lowered the press beam, and an additional wheel could be attached to increase the pressure. The olive paste was inserted into pressing baskets prior to pressing.
In the space between devices 1 and 2 (see plan, Fig. 4) was an area where each family placed their own olives in separate basins built along the eastern wall.
These basins were destroyed over time.
Plan of the building (Fig. 4)
- West of Device 1 was a sealed doorway that was the entrance to another space that no longer exists.
- Adjacent to the southern entrance door was a walking path oriented east–west.
- Next to Device 2 was another sealed doorway.
- Next to the spherical basin was the southern door.
- Adjacent to the spherical basin was a seating area for the workers.
Device No. 2 Mechanical Crusher (Fig. 5)
A mechanical crusher was used to increase the efficiency of olive crushing.
Hassuna did not recall the exact year of its acquisition but estimated it to have been purchased between 1936 and 1940. The machine was operated by a motor-driven belt. A metal strip installed beside the crushing stone prevented the olive paste from adhering to the stone. An opening at the bottom of the machine allowed the paste to be discharged.
Engine (Fig. 6)
The engine was powered by diesel fuel. A pipe preserved at the site led water from a rooftop tank to cool the engine. The direction of the water flow in the existing pipe requires verification. Although only one pipe survives, it is likely that two originally existed, one for introducing cold water and the other for releasing hot water. The flywheel, connecting rod, and additional mechanical components are still visible.
Facility No. 4 Storage Pits (Fig. 7)
Four pits exist today (marked as no. 4 in the plan in Fig. 4). The pits were used for storing olive oil cans. Three of the pits remain intact.
During the war in 1948, concerns arose that a fuel shortage might halt the operation of the olive press. In order to ensure the fuel supply, diesel cans were stored in one of the pits, and the opening was sealed with cotton. At one point, a worker approached the pit holding a candle to inspect the cache; accumulated diesel fumes ignited, causing an explosion that killed the worker.
A wash basin used for cleaning work tools was identified near Facility No. 6.
Device No. 6 Sesame Peeler (Fig. 8)
The peeler operated inside a bin and was powered by the main engine via a belt and a differential gear.
The engine was strong enough to operate all the machines simultaneously, a capability that was indeed utilized during peak production seasons.
Installation No. 5 Soaking Vats (Fig. 9)
Before inserting the sesame seeds into the peeling machine, they were soaked in vats for 24 hours.
Installation No. 7 Roasting Oven (Fig. 9)
The sesame seeds were roasted in this oven before grinding. Next to oven 7 was a basin where the ground seeds were trodden underfoot after grinding to extract the sesame oil. The treading lasted two to three hours. The remaining residue was used as cattle feed. The oil was marketed in metal tins and was sold throughout the country, including Jerusalem and Nablus.
Installation No. 8 Sesame Mill
The sesame seeds were poured into a metal funnel and fed between millstones driven by the main engine.
Installation No. 9 Soap Maker (Fig. 10)
This installation consisted of two components: a large circular vat to the south (at the top of the photo), inside which a huge round boiler heated olive oil and caustic soda to produce soap in a viscous liquid form. The installation north of the vat was used to heat liquids in an adjacent round basin.
Facility No. 10 Ancillary Rooms (see plan, Fig. 4)
The production of soap was completed in these rooms. The viscous substance was poured onto smooth floors and left to solidify over several days. While still soft, described as “leather-like,” the material was cut into bars using rulers and long, sharp knives resembling machetes. Each bar was stamped with the factory logo using a hammer bearing a raised relief design. This work was performed very quickly by a skilled worker.
The soap bars were then stacked in cone-shaped piles, approximately two meters high, where they remained for about a week to complete the drying process. Once dried, each bar of soap was wrapped in paper and packed into wooden crates for distribution to customers and suppliers. During the remainder of the year, these rooms were used for storage.
