I hear you. If I had a nickel for every hub I've seen like that on eBay.....
I e-mailed a fellow once that had a crusty, 30+ year old set of Record high-flange hubs on auction for cheap, with the freewheel attached, asking him if he had perhaps removed the freewheel before cutting out the spokes, and then just spun it back on by hand for the pics. He replied that he had not, but why was that a concern, as it would be easy enough to remove it...!!? Okaaaaaay........
Regards,
Greg "mozzi" Parker A2 MI USA
> Message: 4
> Date: Sat, 28 Dec 2002 00:02:19 -0500
> From: The Maaslands <TheMaaslands@comcast.net>
> To: Classic Rendezvous <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Subject: [CR]Campagnolo hub
>
> This auction deserves a few chuckles. The seller is offering a large flange
> rear Campagnolo hub, nothing strange here. The humour lies in the fact that
> the freewheel was not removed when the hub was cut out of the rim. As any
> newbie working in a bike shop will tell you, this can be the ticket to a
> hub that might only be good for the garbage.
>
> http://ebay.com/
>
> I just hope that the eventual buyer realizes this potential problem and the
> price reflects the possible difficulties. Of course, it may turn out that
> by putting in a few spokes, you may be able to undo the freewheel.
>
> Steven Maasland
> Moorestown, NJ