The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 13, March 28, 2004, Article 10

WHO WAS DUVAL?

  Dick Johnson writes: "Thanks to Chris Eimer for the link to the
  Duval-Janvier octagonal medal in last week's E-Sylum.  I have
  the smallest variety of this medal in my collection and always
  wondered who Duval was.  In writing on Victor Janvier and his
  contribution to minting equipment technology I mention the
  Duval-Janvier firm without identifying Duval's contribution.

  I had surmised (never do this in writing, inevitably you are
  wrong!) that Duval was the money partner for Janvier's
  metalworking enterprise.  After all, his name came first.
 Could he have been Janvier's backer?

  Two years ago, IBM sent one of their vice presidents for an
  extended stay to Paris. His wife, who is a member of my
  genealogical club, accompanied him. "Nancy," I said,  "would
  you check out a name while you are in Paris?" She agreed and
  I gave her the details.  This was not a burdensome chore, I
  thought. We frequently do this for each other in our club. In
  America this is a two-minute search in a business directory or
  a city directory.  She searched THREE Paris libraries and
  came back empty handed!

  Duval is not mentioned with Janvier other than the 1892
  period when their business commenced and the Duval-Janvier
  medal was issued.  The firm's name was Janvier's alone in the
  early 20th century until he died in 1911. Later the firm was
  Berchot-Janvier, and still later Le Medaillier (at 64 Rue du
  Faubourg Saint-Denis, Paris). Medallic Art Company, for
  whom I worked for a decade, was the American distributor
  for Janvier's machines. (We even sold Janvier machines to
  competitors, like the Franklin Mint, until they bought the Janvier
  firm!)

  There was not much in the Janvier file at Medallic Art. The
  Paris firm's sales literature never mentioned Duval. I believe he
  had little to do with the actual development of the world's
  foremost die-engraving pantograph.  But I remained curious.

  Could one of our E-Sylum readers (particularly in France)
  learn who Duval was?  I would still like to know his full name
  and what was his relationship with Victor Janvier?    Ahh!
  Numismatic research never ends!"

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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