Tucked between avenues and boulevards, Rue Gabriel Chamon in Antony subtly reminds us of a forgotten innovator. Ernest Chamon, a name whispered among engineers of the early 20th century, is the namesake of this quiet street. Ernest Chamon wasn’t just a businessman; he had a vision. He saw the potential of a flickering, nascent technology: television. In 1927, Ernest Chamon witnessed a demonstration of John Logie Baird’s mechanical television in London. He was so captivated that he immediately decided to establish a television research laboratory at his company, Compagnie des Compteurs. To lead this pioneering venture, Chamon appointed Jean Le Duc, a brilliant engineer. Jean Le Duc quickly assembled a team, including the esteemed René Barthélemy, to delve into the mysteries of the television. Le Duc’s leadership and Barthélemy’s scientific acumen paved the way for France’s first experiments with television. Soon, they orchestrated the country’s inaugural demonstration of mechanical television in Malakoff. Rue Gabriel Chamon, therefore, stands not just as a street name, but as a quiet tribute to the foresight of Ernest Chamon. His early embrace of television research, though now largely forgotten, set the stage for the ubiquitous technology we know and perhaps take for granted today.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.