The entrepreneurial saga of Maurice Mallet (1861–1926), a famous aeronaut of the late-19th century, began in Paris, France, on 22 December 1896. On that day, with two partners, Mallet founded Société Mallet, Mélandri et de Pitray, the predecessor of the Zodiac firm. The new venture specialized in the design and construction of airships. In 1909, the company manufactured and introduced the first sporting and tourist balloons. In 1934, Zodiac developed the first prototype inflatable boats, ancestors of what are known in contemporary France as “Zodiacs”.