Originally Posted by
squirtdad
or just go friction? down tube, bar end, or even find and old suntour power ratchet stem shifter? and may match the designe ethos of that cool colored, head tube straight, but otherwise curvy frame

That was my immediate thought - the long Suntour Power stem shifter would be just right on that frame. We had several NOS in the shop for ages that I wanted to use on something but never built the right bike.