FWIW, my 78 Grand Jubilé has Swiss BB threads. I think that's the only threads on the frame proper, other than fender/rack lugs, or?

headset...

As far as I've been able to determine, the only difference between French and Swiss is the direction of the threads on the bb fixed cup. Everything else is French, French, French.

Of course, BBs are what I have the most of! Two Campy NR, one SR, and one sealed OMAS. sigh.

The headset has threads in the frame?

No, the steerer tube is threaded.

As for "the very best" frame, that's merely a matter of opinion. The finest frames, of course, were made by low production makers, and we wouldn't have heard of most of them. Alex Singer and René Herse are well regarded here on bikeforums, but I'm sure there were others in that league.

I'm actually sorry the French gave in to English threading and diameters. It makes perfect sense, of course, but French was based on the metric system.

I guess I consider the fork part of the frame. No?

Don't forget Mondia. The early/mid 70's are french threaded, although there is the occasional report of Swiss threading on BB. Very nice frames - mine has nervex pro lugs, reynolds 531 tubing, plenty of chroming, campy dropouts, pretty much the full monty all around, about as good as it gets for mass produced bike of that era (IMO). I was selling this, but since totalling my Tommasini, it has reverted back to keeper status.

Campy NR is super appropriate for Mondia, although they tended to come w/Mafac centerpull brakes.

LeicaLad, I do think you're going about it backwards, unless you can get the bike together cheaply. Watch ebay and craigslist, and don't pay too much for a frame.

I just lost an ebay auction for a Peugeot PX10 frame. It sold for $362. That's crazy for an old frame. I bid less than $100.

Wow! $362. I just sold my '77 PX10, which was very, very clean for $250 in the market here. I would have accepted less... It went in a matter of hours.

It was a 25" frame that I'd built as a project back in winter 80-81, then hung up and never rode. It was too big.

No complaint, tho. The guy who has it was very happy to get it. I'll call it a "pay it forward" (just a little).

In the meantime, tho', with this large stash of high-end French NOS components, I've just impulse bought a nice 1985 Mercian. (Not Mercier). Go figure.

Did I mention the doing things backwards part? Yup.

Thanks for all the idea, tho. What would really, really be cool would be to find a high-end, 531 or better, French-threaded mixte. I'd love to slather all the high-end bits on that. It'd feel like a hot mistress! Then I'd give it to the wife.

:-)

So, let me get this straight... your fantasy is to get all worked up over a bike, then take carnal pleasure in your wife?...
Kinky - brings new meaning to the phrase "bike porn" j/k

Anything to make the wife happy...