No name hinge stem?
 

Hi all,

I'm trying to build my Zinn with a Shimano 600 groupset, so while I've been searching for an appropriate stem I've picked up this one for fitting purposes. Anyone know what brand it is? Might be 3TTT but it doesn't have the shape I've seen. ITM maybe? It has a hinged face place, used to be black and fits 25.4 bars. It's rusty at the hinges and the wedge bolt it's rusting through so it won't be used for riding.

http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/...psjmbn4twn.jpg
http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/...psgd0mup3h.jpg
http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/...psnum4m9mg.jpg
http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/...pszdktmu8g.jpg
http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/...ps456tabdu.jpg

Looks like a 3ttt, this is one I sold a while back. The plastic piece covers the hinge. I did a little Googling, can't find another stem like it.

http://i584.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps0f13ef55.jpg

http://i584.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps2adca054.jpg

Cinelli makes an Oyster. A bit different design, but things like hinge covers are available.

Cinelli Stem Handlebar Oyster Face Plate W Cinelli Logo Plastic Replacement NOS

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/gwUAAO...-6W/s-l400.jpg

It looks a little wider than Brian's part, but perhaps it could be modified to fit.

Sellers remorse?

3ttt. The hinge is made with regina chain links. The brand trademark was on the (missing) plastic faceplate.

I'm going to say it's a 3TTT model. I would try to source a faceplate and the plug for the stem bolt but it's too rusty to trust.

Utterly bizarre.

With all the talk of AVA "death stems" the only vintage quill stems I've seen that had failed in a catastrophic way were 3TTT stems on which the handlebar clamp broke exactly where this one is hinged. The ones that broke were not hinged. I have seen two, and heard of several others. My first thought, on seeing these, was that someone tried to fix one that had broken. To think that the factory did this... Well, that's appalling. My advice would be: recycle that.

I've always thought that that plasticy modelling clay stuff in black that hardens in the oven would be great for making replacements for little non-structural black rubber/plastic bits on bikes. You could use it to cover the hinge here, or for the rubber bumper cones that fill the bolts on some brakes, etc. A little dot of silicone caulk would hold it in place.

Regina chain links at the hinge???
Sounds like a frankenstem experiment....

Not to discount your idea, as we have all seen some backyard work that is downright scary, but this seems a little too polished.

Maybe it was a "fitting" stem that would be provided to a 3t retailer to help sell the handlebars? You swap in and out the bars easily in the shop, on a trainer or something. Maybe it was never meant to be ridden? Would explain why there aren't more of them out there.

I'm making all of this up on a lazy monday morning, so grain of salt and all.

I had wondered if it was a floor model or something. Though, I've never seen a 3TTT stem with a faceplate removed to know what it looked like under it.

I don't trust it, even if all the rust was removed. The hinge doesn't feel strong enough to support a rider mashing out of the saddle.

Onward to find a 600/Dura Ace stem!

I think the Cinelli Frog is the way to go on those types.

Cinelli Frog and the 3TTT Mutant are of similar shape, both have a removable faceplate but I don't like the bulky stem they have.

Plus Cinelli wouldn't go with my Nitto B15 bars or the Tricolor groupset.