Re: [CR]Mysterious LEJEUNE markings?

Matthew,
     I can't answer all your questions, but I can answer the bit about the "B. Carre" markings on the seatstay caps. Bernard Carre was a well known frame builder from the Paris region. He built under his own name and under contract for other more famous names such as LeJeune.
     In my experience, LeJeune were kind of erratic in dealing with serial numbers. This is because, to a large extent, their frames were built for them under contract. When I visited the factory in 1983, all LeJeune frames were being supplied by outside contractors. Neither of my LeJeunes (a mid-1970s tandem and a mid-1970s track bike) has a clearly visible serial number. Perhaps if I stripped the paint...
     Anyway, in 1983, unfinished frames were delivered from several outside sources, then painted and assembled at the LeJeune facility. This isn't meant to imply that LeJeune bikes were lacking in quality. I would say the opposite was the case. There once were many high quality contract builders in France, and Monsieur Marcel LeJeune clearly knew who they were and how to get the best from those sources.
     Perhaps Norris Lockley, who really knows the story of the French bicycling industry, will read all this and fill in the missing details?
     Regards,
     Fred Rednor - Arlington, Virginia (USA)