Pezon et Michel

TAKEN FROM http://xoomer.virgilio.it/ppotocco/pezon%20english.htm

P et M was founded in Amboise, near Paris, after the end of 1st World War, as a continuation of a production-and-sale activity started in 1895 by messers Pezon, Serpette, Bourrellier and L'Heritier (the earlier company had an own production of pike and carp rods, as well as rods for "au toc" fishing, and distributed fly rods as Milward, from England).

First bamboo refendu fly rods were manufactured for P+M by two craftsmen, whose small enterprises were acquired between 1924 and 1930 and moved to Amboise, H. Garreau from Dijon and F. Robillard of Macon.
Rods manufactured in these years were clearly "inspired" by traditional English rod types, which use at that time was widespread. Following items were available:


Darling 9', two pieces
Midship 9' - 9'6" - 10' - 11', three pieces
Teddy 9'-9'6''-10'-11', three pieces
Willy 11', three pieces
Week-end 9', three pieces.

During this period, rods are completely hand-made in non-tempered bamboo, and it's easy to find even visible differences in rods of same type.
First refendu rods manufactured autonomously by P+M were Luxor spinning rods: built in non-tempered bamboo as well, proved to be too smooth and slow in their action, still far from standards desired for "modern" fishing rods…
Between 1935 and 1937, an electric oven begins to operate: this allowed a sharp control of temperature used in bamboo temper process. It's the first step toward the creation of a structure that, in future years, will produce fly rods unique for their manufacturing knowledge and accuracy in raw ... show more

TAKEN FROM http://xoomer.virgilio.it/ppotocco/pezon%20english.htm

P et M was founded in Amboise, near Paris, after the end of 1st World War, as a continuation of a production-and-sale activity started in 1895 by messers Pezon, Serpette, Bourrellier and L'Heritier (the earlier company had an own production of pike and carp rods, as well as rods for "au toc" fishing, and distributed fly rods as Milward, from England).

First bamboo refendu fly rods were manufactured for P+M by two craftsmen, whose small enterprises were acquired between 1924 and 1930 and moved to Amboise, H. Garreau from Dijon and F. Robillard of Macon.
Rods manufactured in these years were clearly "inspired" by traditional English rod types, which use at that time was widespread. Following items were available:


Darling 9', two pieces
Midship 9' - 9'6" - 10' - 11', three pieces
Teddy 9'-9'6''-10'-11', three pieces
Willy 11', three pieces
Week-end 9', three pieces.

During this period, rods are completely hand-made in non-tempered bamboo, and it's easy to find even visible differences in rods of same type.
First refendu rods manufactured autonomously by P+M were Luxor spinning rods: built in non-tempered bamboo as well, proved to be too smooth and slow in their action, still far from standards desired for "modern" fishing rods…
Between 1935 and 1937, an electric oven begins to operate: this allowed a sharp control of temperature used in bamboo temper process. It's the first step toward the creation of a structure that, in future years, will produce fly rods unique for their manufacturing knowledge and accuracy in raw

materials choice; afterwards to this capital technological innovation, begins the production of new "Luxor Luxe" spinning rods and of first items of "Parabolic" series fly rods.

During this time, another key event takes place: Charles Ritz joins the company.

Charles-Cesar Ritz was born in France, in 1891, by Swiss parents, and will discover fishing quite late, in his twenties. In 1917 Ritz moves to United States, where he will remain until 1928: his first employment will be at New York "Ritz-Carlton Hotel", managed by his family… And in his leisure time he starts entertaining a deep devotion for fly rods restoration at beginning, and then for rods construction. In these days he met Jim Paine, beginning a discussion on tapers (term that identifies the conical profile of the rod, that features the rod's action and "behaviour").

By his American stay, Ritz will earn a great technical development, and a huge growth of what will be his "angling culture and education".


Once back to France, between other interests strictly related to fly fishing, stands the committed cooperation with the magazine "Au Bord de l'Eau", a milestone in the matter, founded in 1935 by Tony Burnand and Roger Pujo. And just Pujo will suggest to Ritz to pay a visit to P+M works; one month after his first visit Ritz was hired as Technical Consultant, and will leave an everlasting mark on all production since that day.

Initially partnered with master craftsman Edouard Plantet (who by his way had learned "the art" by Garreau, owner of the workshop above mentioned as first supplier and then partner of P+M), Ritz begins to carefully devote himself to study and design of tapers; soon the couple will be joined by Pierre Creusevault, technical consultant and esteemed tester (as world champion, cast with fly rod in all cathegories). The cooperation of these three big-names in brief leads to the creation of the first "marvel", the "Parabolic" action that quickly outclassed (by a lot…) "old" and heavy English-action fly rods, and not only: Parabolic will be preferred even to American-made rods, known for a more "modern" casting action.
The first prototype of "Parabolic" is an eight-footer rod, two-pieces, "normale" action (the meaning of this term will be after-written), and represents the "official start" of P+M as refendu fly rods manufacturers. Production of this first masterpiece required the setting up of highly sophisticated and precise machinery, with the main intent to supply a large number of high-quality prototypes to be tested; these prototypes are studied and produced with slight differences, then are committed to testers and often are put to the test even by selected friends of P+M staff, people well known as able in casting and angling, that will give a valuable feed-back to manufacturers.
MORE INFORMATION GO TO http://xoomer.virgilio.it/ppotocco/pezon%20english.htm