Alex Singer was a Hungarian cycling enthusiast who emigrated to Paris in 1923 (at the age of 18). He initially worked for a bicycle builder called Bianco, but in 1938 he established his own bicycle shop and bicycle building business in Rue Victor Hugo in Levallois-Perret in Paris. The shop is at the same address today. From the very beginning he sought to make top quality bicycles, building the frames and carefully choosing the components - and, when he could not find what he wanted, making his own components. In common with Rene Herse, he soon came to have a particluar reputation for making the very most desirable touring bikes. In 1944 Alex Singer hired his two grand-nephews, Roland and Ernest Csuka. In 1965, Ernest and his wife Leone bought the business from Alex Singer. Ernest continued to work in the business well into the 21st century. In terms of derailleurs, the classic Alex Singer touring bike uses one of two models - either Le Cyclo or a Nivex. Both were existentially French, were extraordinarily expensive, were magnificently made, worked beautifully and lasted forever.