Robert,
I would like to provide an example of the situation you have just discribed and one which I am being drive mad by at the moment. I'm restoring a 1980, Motobecane Grand Touring and upon inspection of the Sugino bottom bracket (the bike came with many different Japanese parts, i.e. Suntour, Sugino, SR) I found that it has English threads (24 tpi) and diameter of 1.37," (35mm), but both cups have right handed threads (Italian). Frankinbracket? It has French wheels, pedals, handlebars and Vitus tubing, Japanese drive train, Italian dropouts, Weinmann center pull brakes. The combination all seems strange to me, but may simply be the result of bottom line, assembly line thinking on the part of Motobecane in 1980.
Richard F. Long
Temecula, CA
USA