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HEADSETS GALLERY last updated 3/3/07
Rare Campy pista headset with box marked as having Italian threads with Whitworth (55 degrees) thread angle. The unusual thing is that Italian-threaded headsets already/normally have threads that are cut at the same angle as Whitworth. Why is this box marked as such?
Colnago-branded headset made in Bologna Italy
Is this the earliest known Campy top nut?, (thanks hi.campy)
Is this the earliest known Campy top nut?
Here's a picture of what appears to be a partial earliest Campy headset. The deep channels are for an o-ring seal or circlip.
This is an example of the 1st version of a lower cup from the Campagnolo Record Strada, (road) headset, (thanks hi.campy). The road version can be distinguished from the pista, (track) version by the overall height of each piece. The shorter size of the track pieces result in a shorter "stack height" of the assembled headset. The much later Triomphe headset has a similar look, but the contour is different, and somewhat less rounded,
This is the 2nd version of the Campagnolo Record road headset which is distinguishable by the thick spacer and the domed top nut. Note the circumferential groove in the upper and lower cup. The first version looks like this in every way except the cups are smooth- there's no circumferential groove.
This is an example of the 3rd version of an adjustable cup from the Campagnolo Record headset. I do not know if the top nut that comes with this set is domed- I only have this one adjustable cup. Note that the words are not sunken into a channel like the later generation.
Here's a summary for Campagnolo Record strada, (road) headsets:
Earliest version- in LeMonde de Daniel Rebour (p.93), dated 1956, showing a Campy headset complete with non-engraved, no-line cups, with unusual chamfered locknut. The real unique feature of this headset is that the loose bearings are held in place in both the upper and lower cups by an integrated circlip.1st version- (1958) smooth cups with domed top nut and thick washer with lettering on its edge, no bearing circlip. You can tell the difference between modern pista smooth cups, and old strada smooth cups by the overall height of the cups. Modern pista will be about 19.5mm and old strada will be closer to 22mm.
2nd version- (1960) grooved cups with domed top nut and thick washer with lettering on its edge, or on some pista models with a plain flat washer
3rd version- cups with lettering, but the lettering is not set in a channel
4th version- 4.5 version and 5th version- cups with lettering in a channel CAMPAGNOLO ITALY BREV. CAMPAGNOLO ITALY BREV. with or without <C> on the bottom cup; (with <C> is earlier) plain hex top nut that has 4 lines interspersed with the lettering on it, (earlier) or no lines, (later); a crown race with a rounded bottom, (earlier), or crown race with a squared bottom; plain stamped toothed washer. The words on the inside of the adjustable cup are slightly different, for example earlier versions will say, "ENGLAND" on one end and "1" x 24tpi" on the other end. Later versions will have an adjustable cup that says inside, " 1" x 24tpi ENGLAND" on one end and "Made in Italy" on the other end. Also, the collar of the pressed races, (the part that goes into the head tube) has lettering on earlier versions, and no lettering on later versions, (thanks J. Westerman and hi.campy).
It is common for some parts to seemingly appear mismatched with other parts in a set. However, it may be no less correct. For instance, if the factory was switching over to new wording on the top nut, they wouldn't necessarily throw away older pressed races with lettering, they would use what was available to make up complete sets.
Campagnolo added a shoulder on the underside of the Record fork crown race to improve clearance with brake hardware, in the early 80's? (thanks R. Bulis).
Here are 2 pictures of the rare, sealed roller bearing Avocet headset.
