MARK <mhoffman0@snet.net> wrote:
> I'm building up a bike that's using Brampton BB cups.
> The fixed cup has two polished annular rings, with a mat-finished area
> between them that has "Brampton" and "Made in England"
on the outside.
> The lockring has this on one side, and a plain surface on the other.
> At first I was going to install the lockring so the printed side would
> face out, like the fixed cup. However, the 10-tooth outer notches have a
> bevel that would then slant outwards, which looks wrong.
> Anyone have experience with this, or any humble opinions?
> Photo at:
> http://client.webshots.com/
Pete Geurds wrote wrote in response:
>Mark,
>I usually assume the manufacturer intended for their name to be >visible. I also look for marks (scratches, minor galling, etc) on >mating parts to see which side was "down". If both sides seem the same >then shiniest faces out! ; )
Adding my two cents and too many words I now write:
Mark,
Acknowledging Pete's response, I'll say that the name should likely face out to the world--though I can see how in this case it wouldn't be clear. What was, I believe, intended, may now seem a bit counter-intuitive. Bear with me and I'll explain.
Looking at your online slideshow, I see what you mean about the aesthetic issue involved with the orientation of that beveled side. If the beveled side faces the bottom bracket, and I think it was meant to, then I think we've got a legitimate piece of "modern design" utilizing a touch of the old assymmetrical flash...think of it in architectural terms, like a miniature Brasilia. Of course I may have it wrong...but if we keep talking about it we may be able to get a more authoritative opinion from someone who's faced this before and/or owns a bike with this bottom bracket installed!
My own Brampton bottom-bracketed bike has a symmetrical lockring with only four notches--so as any sort of evidence, it's not at all conclusive. However, for what it's worth, as installed on a circa '71 Raleigh SuperCourse (so equipped when it came to me), the Brampton name was definitely facing out. The name is pretty deeply incised, and it certainly seems to suggest the manufacturer was happy for the name to register upon the onlooker. This practice might have remained consistent with Brampton over time or across models.
With yours, the beveled bit slopes down to a flat face that is about the same diameter as the mating surface (of the bike's frame). When assembled with this orientation, the beveled area resembles (if you will) the flared horn of a brass instrument--you know, trumpet, tuba. Placed in context of the design motifs (at large) of post-WWII design in general, I think that kind of thing is not visually implausible....
Okay, who has this exact BB and can add a data point for the scatterplot?
Tom "This post is wordy as hell, but letting it stand" Ward in Madhattan (NYC)
P.S. What is that blue frame, out of curiosity? What cottered cranks are you choosing to use?