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French builders are just unusual... Normally they'll build an Italian threaded BB and fork thread if using Columbus tubing, because even in stuck up French bourgeoisie cycling circles 'Italian' always means better.
My money is on France mainly became of the quite subtle fades, popular amongst artisan builders around the country even up until the late 90's - long after it had crashed and burned elsewhere. The fork crown is quite common, throughout Europe on Columbus budget builds.
The French clincher for me is the seat lug cluster is an Everest one, and probably the entire lugset. It'd a very popular lugset among frog artisans and hardly used anywhere else (expensive). A nice mid range frame, probably from the regions - Brittany or further south.
Wouldn't it be unusual for a French builder to use an Italian BB?