They are French. Zeus made a lot of French threaded parts. Actually, metric threaded, as the threading standard we call "French" was the only prominant threading standard which was purely metric (other than Swiss, which only differed from French in the BB fixed cup). Italian threading was a mix of English dimensions and English dimensions converted to mm. For some reason, much of the NOS Zeus stuff now appearing on eBay is French threaded, maybe they simply made more French than English stuff..
You need to use a French-threaded freewheel. Sheldon Brown has NOS ones for sale on the Harris Cyclery website. While you're there, check out Sheldon's highly educational articles on French threading. As he says, an English threaded freewheel will go on a metric hub, but will be very loose and most likely will ruin the hub.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
> I purchased a set of Zeus hubs off e-bay a few months ago and when I
> received them was surprised to discover they were (the box) marked
> Metric. Any suggestions as to what this means? Is it French? Italian?
> England? Any help appreciated, especially after reading that folks
> have ruined hubs by using the wrong freewheel.
> Jay Sexton
> Sebastopol, CA