This article explains why a paper by Heinz G. Helfenstein entitled "Ovals
with equichordal points", published in J.London Math.Soc.31, 54-57, 1956, is
incorrect. We point out a computational error which renders his conclusions
invalid. More importantly, we explain that the method cannot be used to solve
the equichordal point problem with the method presented there. Today, there is
a solution to the problem: Marek R. Rychlik, "A complete solution to the
equichordal point problem of Fujiwara, Blaschke, Rothe and Weizenb\"ock",
Inventiones Mathematicae 129 (1), 141-212, 1997.