M or W bottom bracket ?
 

I have removed this bottom bracket from my French frame [recent post] and it is most unusual.
There is provision for a screw in each end of the axle, one is present, the other is missing. The axle is drilled beyond the end of the threaded portion up to a hole drilled to coincide with the loose ball bearings and is obviously an oiling point.
The clever bit is that in each loose cup there is recess for a compressed felt washer, larger at the left-hand end than at the right-hand end [adjacent to the chainwheel]. This is presumably to keep the oil in, rather than it leak out along the axle.
Although I can't remove them; I don't want to force them, these felt washers are held in place by large screwed in caps.
Quite a complicated arrangement and typical of French / Italian http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=431531http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=431532http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=431533http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=431534bicycle design and engineering a century ago.
What puzzles me is that there is no manufacturer's mark externally, the only clue being the M or W impressed into the centre of the axle.
Any ideas as to might have manufactured this bottom bracket please ?

thanks for posting this distinctive bb. have not before seen one like it. the three-dog fixed cup is the first one i can recall seeing on a french manufactured cycle.

this lubrication arrangement is really something.

look forward to reading the comments from the experts.

Cool! Never seen one before. Thanks for sharing it. It's how I keep learning stuff browsing this forum. :thumb:

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1422648454

Quite interesting, but apparently not a foolproof system, as I think I see some pitting.

Love the "oil galleries" like the ones used to lube the crankshaft on a small block chevy (or any internal combustion engine). I've never seen anything quite like it.

Looks like the seals are missing, interesting concept.

What bike, exactly, did this come off? Photos?