Mark Petry observed The Phil bottom bracket is fair game for the list - it dates from '71. However the current model is is result of 30 years of continous improvement - some of the early ones had a 2 piece axle that was welded in the middle. I've never broken but I've heard of some that did fail. ==================== I was pretty active when the first Phil stuff showed up (hubs that looked like coaster brakes!), but I got it about the advantages of cartridge bearings and fat hub axles. Maybe I should share what Ive seen about the generations of Phil BBs, and possible slip/failure modes.
The first ones (I believe) used notches and circlips to locate the bearings, with a matched outer cylinder to keep the bearings set the same distance at center and edge (looking radially). This was a terrible idea, since the square-section notches for the circlips were very good stress risers.
I believe the second generation were integrated units, a factory assembly of the two bearings, spindle, and a shell that actually was integrated with the outer cup assembly of the bearings. I never took one of these apart, would it have been the one with the two-piece welded axle? I never saw that one, either.
Later units went back to the replaceable cartridge bearings, and these have the aluminum spacer sleeve. This was certainly the style by 1980 or so, when I made a couple in the U. machine shop for a Town & Country with weird needs.
So, there are two possible slip modes: If the lock rings are not installed correctly, the whole assembly could move. I have never seen this happen with English Phil BB, but have no experience with units that have right thread on both sides. Alternatively, the type with the aluminum spacer sleeve on the spindle could move. I think I remember that happening to me once, when the bike fell over. Since there is normally little lateral stress on the bb, I kicked it back into place, rode home, and glued the darn assembly together.
Your mileage may vary.
Harvey Sachs
McLean VA.