The Forty Plus Club (UK) archivist has put some photos up of a tour thru France in 1938. Not a lot of bike shots, some of the TdeF, mostly mountain passes and valleys. Looks like these fellows wanted to tackle every Col du Whatever in France. Saddlebags front and rear, North Road bars, but set up so as not to be too upright. Bikes look derailluered. Can't tell if there are double chainrings up front. Some great photos.
http://www.catsprotectionsouthend.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/
Craig Montgomery
Tucson