Stiffness and even roughness, would have been pretty common on most non-sealed bearing hubs from the French, especially from their mid level models on down....... but I haven't encountered it much with Japanese made ones....
As already noted, I suspect it's just old hardened grease mixed in with dust and shop dirt that's literally "gumming up" the works in your hubs. A good flush, clean, lube and adjust should get them spinning freely again.....