Campagnolo bottom bracket I.D help.
 

Hi,

I am having a bit of bother trying to I.D a 80's campy BB.
It is black and has 'Prototype- Not Usable' etched into the side.

has anyone came across this before?

You'd need to post an image. All the info tells us is that it *is* a prototype but Campagnolo work several years ahead and it could be a unit from any number of proposed groups.

Whatever it is - don't use it - it may fail in use as these units are often made with materials that are not finalised for use in that application.

HTH
Graeme
Velotech Cycling Ltd

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=448001http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=448002http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=448003

Sorry yes, here are the photos

Gary

The prototypes I have seen were on trade show bikes where Campagnolo probably provided the components for display at a bike manufacturers booth mounted on a bike. Most seemed production ready. I too would hesitate to use a part like this though, if all of the production processes were not done you have no way to tell.
Keep it as a curiosity. Technically though it might belong to Campagnolo, just not returned.

Maybe a pre-production AC-S or AC-H?

That's likely quite rare. I'd sell it on ebay. Some Campy collector nut will love it.

Pre-production is just that. Either it is complete but awaiting the completion of testing that would give a green light to production, or it is simply an exhibit piece that for all one knows might have wooden spacers inside of have not been hardened, etc.

A date code would make this piece much more interesting.

I have to wonder if only the cups and bolts are Campagnolo, and the prototype cartridge itself made by someone else. If Campagnolo made it, I would expect the text to be in Italian, not English.