Need to call upon the list's collective expertise to date an AVA stem and handlebar set that I recently acquired.
Stem is rather plain -- no AVA diamond logo or "lugged" styling that I've seen on other AVA stems, hex head stem expander bolt, nondescript keyed binder bolt that is inserted into the stem clamp under the bar/parallel to the bike's top tube (as opposed to in front of the bar/parallel to the bike's head tube, as on the AVA "chicken beak" stem).
The key distinguishing feature is the cutout clamp that allows one to view "AVA" inscribed on the center front of the dural bars when the stem/bars are assembled.
Is this an example of the infamous AVA "death" stem? What time frame were these manufactured?
Thanks in advance for your help,
Ian Kersey,
Williamsburg, VA