I sure do remember Astra.It was my first 10 speed and bought from a HiGear Auto parts store similar to what Harvey describes below but bought right here in Laurel, MD.Late 60's would be about right too. Belgium or French made I think. The fact that none had heard of Astra made it all the more enticing to me. Might have been the "Tour de France Model" At the time I remember associating French names with the best (Gitane etc) (Yes, sadly, this in spite of my name, and my father indicating otherwise, I suppose, esp. since the first bike he bought me was Italian) I was a late teen then. The Astra had a comfortable ride- not unlike some touring bikes of the day. Paint was gold and I think it had Weinman centerpulls, maybe Normandy hubs. My memory of the parts is rather vague, though. I loved that bike even though it was not considered to be anything fancy. I do remember it was only $59.00 assembled, which was on sale, and obviously a ridiculously low price. But no one stood in line to buy them either. There were no bike stores in Laurel, then. You had to go to Hyattsville or Riverdale. I chose it over some better bikes such as a Gitane,(available in Washington DC) etc. that my mom suggested and had offered me.
Several listmembers felt the same about the Astras they had. In previous list discussions it was determined that Astra was really a lower end Motobecane- I never knew that.An M carved out somewhere? Maybe on the fork crown? That was the big clue. In an exchange of emails with Dave Tesch some years back, Dave told me he rather missed his too-wouldn't mind having it back... as he put it.. I think Dale also mentioned some of his memories about these bikes in one list discussion. Dale?
Best Wishes, Mark Cutrufelli Laurel,MD
(clipped) Aldo Ross asked,
Anyone familiar with a (probably French) brand of bikes called "Astra" = during the 1930s? ++++++++++++++ (clip) I can't speak to the 1930s, but did see low-end Astras in Houston about 1966, being sold by an auto dealer on S. Main St near downtown. But not for long. My first parts bike was another low-end non-lugged Astra, rattlecan painted blue w/o benefit of disassembly, about 1968 in Providence, RI. I still see the occasional blue-painted bolt in the parts boxes. I can't remember why, but I convinced myself that Astra became a Motobecane model or series sometime back then, but I could be wrong.
harvey sachs
mcLean va