The ebay seller for this,
http://ebay.com/
Angel Garcia Long valley, NJ
Paris Cycles started in in about 1936/7 by Harry Rensch. They did not make the Galibier design until after WW2 in quantity though there are rumours a prototype was made during the war years. In all a total of nearly 9000 frames were built both under the Paris and Rensch names. Paris sponsored a successful racing team in the late 1940¹s and a win in the six day Brighton to Glasgow race brought a high demand for their frames.
Harry Rensch started building under his own name, it appears both brazed and welded frames, in 1935. With the outbreak of W.W.II formal production ceased but some frames were built under the "Paris" name which was adopted when the firm set up again about 1946, and lasted until the mid 1950s. It used low temperature sif-bronze welding which Rensch claimed to have introduced to the cycle trade. The name Rensch appeared only on the top model.
Press release February 1982, Cycling Magazine by The Paris Lightweight Cycle
Company:
"The Paris Galibier is back. The unorthodox frame design as introduced
by Harry Rensch of Stoke Newington, London in 1946, but the business folded
in 1952. Now Paris enthusiast Mr. Michael Kemp. A Century club member has
brought the rights to the Paris Lightweight Company. With Harry Rensch's
former apprentice Tom Board, now a frame builder for Condor Cycles who will
be the main UK agents, they will produce the range of the Paris frames."
"The Galibier is an exciting cantilever design. It uses larger
dimension tubes, with twin top tubes to provide greater strength. The
overall advantage is a shorter wheel-base, 37" is possible, giving a stiffer
ride. Harry Rensch pioneered bronze welding and lug lamination, and the
Galibier model is a bilaminated lugless frame that "exhibits" excellent
aerodynamics
without the "whip" associated with current oval tubes. The only improvements
to the original design suggested by the new company, is the use of
Campagnolo ends and a micro-fusion fork crown."
"Frame builder Tom Board has also made one other important change.
"The only thing different from the original (main frame) is the use of a
steel called T45 (this has a breaking strain of 45 tonnes). This is used for
the drop tube (vertical tube housing the bottom bracket).
"This improves the design and is considerably stronger than 531, but twice
the price".
............................................
"The Paris Galibier is a beautiful frame" Said Michael Kemp, "It is
great to ride, very comfortable. I am delighted to have been able to buy the
rights to the company because I'm sure there is a lot of interest in this
design..... In addition to the Galibier, we manufacture the
full range of Paris frames, i.e., the Tour de France in lugged or welded.
The TDF is more conventional frame with an inch and eighth top tube. (Usual
size is an inch). This frame is also bilaminated. The Professional and Dame
will also be manufactured."
"The directors are Mr. Michael P. Kemp, Tom Board, M. Young (Monty
Young of Condor Cycles), S. Mobley and D. Katesmark."
(Issued with the press release and catalogue were many photo copies
of old articles about
Paris/Rensch from the British Cycling journals of the 1940's/50's.
Interestingly in the Cycling of March 26th. it states that the Galibier had
been in limited use since 1938/39 for both touring and racing purposes.)