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

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.