Here are a couple pages I just scanned from "The Dancing Chain" which discuss French cable operated front Touring derailleurs in use during the 1930s. [The page showing the full bicycle illustration is the first page]
_http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/stronglight49/4ed0vRVud487WDoavwxjB5pMU1W2V VMPs1qKv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/membertag/front-derailleurs_ (http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/stronglight49/4ed0vRVud487WDoavwxjB5pMU1W2VVMPs1qKv4xQp5Fd3Ig=/membertag /front-derailleurs)
Bob Hanson, Albuquerque, NM, USA