A few weeks ago I heard of the death of one of the few remaining Parisian frame-builders, but have only just received confirmation that it was Edmund Polchlopek, from Pontault-Combaut, just to the east of the capital. Apparently he was killed in a motoring accident. Whether he was on his bike or driving, I'm not sure.
Edmund was best known for his lugless short-wheelbased frames with their exaggerated curved seat-tube and very unusual design and construction. He was also one of the first builders to use the "Macsteel" tubing, produced by Gauthier-Trousel. This tube was later marketed by Rezze in his Excell range...the very fine gauge steel being lined with carbon fibre.
Polchlopek also produced his own variation on the oval chainring. The shape was a very pronounced flattish oval, but he manged to make them to fit most modern cranksets, including the TA 5-pin ones.
Inspired by his ingenuity, I thought it was just a matter of simply "crushing" a round chinring into an oval! I tried..and tried ..and failed!
Norris Lockley, Settle UK