1958(?) Gitane decal questions

[Maxey]

I bought this bike a few weeks ago for $75 not really knowing what it was. The seller told me he had an old French Bike. He said it was a Gitane which, of course I know about. I asked him to send me some pictures and from the head badge which I had never seen before I could tell it was quite old. I am basing the year on the crankset believed to be original circa 1958 Campagnolo. I have since been told it’s quite a rare crank. It has the raised pedal platforms on the crank arm and still has the original caps over the pedal holes. Unfortunately, the inner chain ring is missing, but I think that can be easily remedied. I am seriously considering restoring the bike. It has had a powdercoat repaint some years ago. I’m pretty certain the rims aren’t original as they are Weinmann clinchers. One hub is a Normandy and the other is a Maillard. I also think the Simplex front derailleur is not original. One obstacle to having a professional repaint is that I believe no one is making replicas of what would’ve been the correct decals for this bike though I think they would look like this at least on the down tube (a gentleman on the Gitane Facebook page sent me this photo of his bike).


Here are some photos of my bike. I have since removed the headlight and generator set and replaced the rear tube.

 

[Maxey]

Here are a few more of the crankset.

 

[Maxey]

If there are any members who might have good photos of decals for a Gitane circa 1958 to I believe ‘62 or ‘63 — whenever the foil head badge era started — it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Maxey]

Here’s an overall of the bike. Regarding the decals, someone told me that HLloyd can custom make them but they need good detailed photos and measurements.
So that is why I am making my inquiry. I’m hoping I luck out and someone on this forum owns such a bicycle.

 

[Ecurie Peril]

I can confirm H Lloyd custom skills. They made some decals of the 1982 world track champs design for me. Still haven't used them yet

 

[juvela]

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this photo is an excellent illustration of the absence of webbing between the driveside crankarm and the two lower spider arms in the early Record model chainsets

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wonder if pedals original; they appear to be from an earlier generation than the cycle

went through eight or nine catalogue pages from vendors of the thirties and forties without finding a match

does anyone recognize them?

wonder if they were shown in the now gone Speedplay museo...

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rear pump peg is NERVEX Ref. 846
front pump peg is NERVEX Ref. 845

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[SteelNipple]

Here are a few more of the crankset.
View attachment 1010611

Really lovely Gitane!

The very first version of Campagnolo 1049 with the pedal hole caps was supposedly only made for one year in '58.
The Campagnolo 1039 headset with lettering propably appeared around '63 with the introduction of 1020 and Record name on hubs and other additions to move away more from the Gran Sport grouppo.

 

[Maxey]

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this photo is an excellent illustration of the absence of webbing between the driveside crankarm and the two lower spider arms in the early Record model chainsets

---
wonder if pedals original; they appear to be from an earlier generation than the cycle

went through eight or nine catalogue pages from vendors of the thirties and forties without finding a match

does anyone recognize them?

wonder if they were shown in the now gone Speedplay museo...

---

rear pump peg is NERVEX Ref. 846
front pump peg is NERVEX Ref. 845

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I think your Speedplay comment is tongue-in-cheek? I've looked around the pedals and can't see any markings or branding anywhere. I think the pedals may be as you say earlier; I also think this cycle would've come with a higher quality pedal when new. I can only guess, but I do think this cycle was ridden for at least several decades and parts that were worn were replaced as they wore out (pedals, the inner chainring, fr. deraill.) or switched for convenience. It most likely came with sewup wheels, but replaced with more convenient clinchers at some point. All the previous owner could tell me was that he bought it off a priest in 1972 but didn't know the history before then. If it is indeed a 1958, that is the first year the Gitanes were imported by Mel Pinto into the U.S. according to my research. I'm still baffled as to how it ended up in a dusty little cow town in N. Dakota.