I've done some more reserach into Automoto. I knew it was a large company but didn't appreciate just how large. The company started in 1902 and lasted until 1963. Their St Etienne factory was immense and housed all the various workshops to enable them to manufacture many of their own parts eg hubs, chainsets, brakesets etc..much like Raliegh did in their heydays.
regarding Martin's quandry as to whether to renovate his Automoto..he shopuld be careful because the bike he won is finished in the Automoto team colour of "violine2..roughly translated as purple...in this case it looks to be metallic paint.
My own version of this frame is in a light dove grey which must, I assume, place it lower down in the company's hierarchy of frames.
Norris Lockley
from a dismal ,Settle UK