Bottom Bracket - 03

BOTTOM BRACKET:
Campagnolo Nuovo Record (modified) - traditional non-cartridge adjustable type bottom bracket for 68 mm shell - caged ball bearings - 35 mm x 1 mm (25.4 TPI) French thread satin finish steel cups (non-drive side adjustable cup - right threading / drive side fixed cup - also right threading) - chromed steel lock ring - model 1046/A : Teledyne Linair bottom bracket spindle - titanium alloy composition - pressed fit hardened steel bearing surface - square taper - 112.5 mm width with 6 mm drive side asymmetrical offset - model 68-R-160 : Teledyne Linair M8 x 1.00 x 20 mm crank bolts with 15 mm head - titanium alloy : O.M.A.S. crank bolt washers - Black anodized aluminum alloy : Shimano Dura-Ace "accordion" style plastic dust sleeve - model 180-9822 ... [1970’s era Crescent Pepita model 320 bicycles originally came configured with a Campagnolo model 1046/A Nuovo Record bottom bracket. However, this particular one has now been modified so as to substantially differ from stock form. The most significant "improvement" in this regard would be the use of a relatively rare titanium alloy bottom bracket spindle and matching Ti crank bolts as manufactured by Teledyne Linair - at that time, the largest supplier of aerospace tube fittings and hydraulic tube assemblies in the United States. First introduced to market in 1973 coincident to the debut of the Teledyne Titan titanium bicycle frameset, these exotic spindles and crank bolts were specifically designed so as to be a direct functional replacement for the standard steel versions found in Campagnolo Nuovo Record bottom bracket assemblies, but in aggregate they weighed a full fifty percent lighter than their Campy counterparts. And unlike the contemporary first edition Campagnolo Super Record titanium bottom bracket whose spindle was both hollow like its steel reciprocal and which was machined from Commercially Pure (CP) titanium, a combination which led to it developing a nasty reputation for self destructing at the most inopportune time and which ultimately begot a complete redesign, the Teledyne Linair spindle was a solid structure that was crafted from an alloyed version of titanium (...albeit not an even stronger still 6/4 version as found in the Stronglight 650 Titane which would debut a couple of years later) that was noticeably more durable with respect to use. As for the Dura-Ace protective dust sleeve, it actually dates from the late 1980’s, although its improved design certainly mimics the "accordion" style that Stronglight debuted in 1975 with their aforementioned 650 Titane bottom bracket.]