[CR] Down tube / head tube ports?

(Example: Racing:Roger de Vlaeminck)

From: "Bob Hanson" <theonetrueBob@webtv.net>
Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2006 18:37:55 -0600
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR] Down tube / head tube ports?


The bike in the following photo reminded me to inquire about this. This one is located near the top of the down tube on a 1960s (?) Peugeot.

http://c.im.craigslist.org/wz/SG/6EAeJTVmUawYPMqcqjV0aksgj6EV.jpg

What the heck were all those large capped holes on frames intended for?

Were these indeed lubrication ports? If so, would one just dump in a quart of 90 weight oil and hope it welled up enough in the bottom bracket shell to lubricate the bearings and/or spindle? I hope that would occur before the oil had accumulated a lot of rust and dirt in suspension - before it just leaked out around the BB cups and spindle.

This just does not make sense to me. Appreciate any explanation behind the logic of these 50s/60s fittings.

Apologies for my ignorance; I was raised on grease.

Bob Hanson, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA