Cresent No 25 tandem bicycle purchased Chicago 1893

[Gary Mc]

100+ year old stories handed down over time often tend to change over time, sometimes embellished others not, but bikes changed A LOT in the 1890's so a catalog/ad is in order to nail down true year of bike. If it's late 1890's it means the story was changed or embellished or just not true clearly. Not calling anyone out but things are not always "as told or handed down". It is a great "story" in any event.

 

[jgrote]

100+ year old stories handed down over time often tend to change over time, sometimes embellished others not, but bikes changed A LOT in the 1890's so a catalog/ad is in order to nail down true year of bike. If it's late 1890's it means the story was changed or embellished or just not true clearly. Not calling anyone out but things are not always "as told or handed down". It is a great "story" in any event.

I agree such diligence is necessary and do not dispute your and others skepticism. The Chicago Colombian Expo ran from May thru October of 1893. The daughter related the story of the bike to me. Her mother, original owner, gave me a walking stick (she lived into her late 90's, was a friend of my grandmother) she had purchased at the Expo. Still, stories do change, and the family would likely have visited Chicago occasionally in the late 1890's.

The bike is what it is and needs to be integrated with reliable documentation.

 

[pelletman]

That bike did not exist in 93, I have the catalog that year. No tandems and they were still early pneumatics, not the wood rimmed variety. That tandem is post 95 at least. You pretty much can't believe anything that comes down in an oral history unless there is independent proof of what they are claiming, like a picture of the couple on the bike at the fair

 

[pelletman]

Model 25 appears in 97 and 98 Crescent catalog

 

[walter branche]

60 years old

I am 60 years old , I have an 1889 overman wheel co. victor highwheel bicycle ,, I got it for free 37 years ago, I rode it across america in 1984 , I have ridden my victor over 20,000 miles ,in canada, holland, switzerland,france ,germany ,united kingdom ,this is a true documented cycle story , .. walter branche -cycle seeker,selector,have cash will travel anywhere in the world for stuff

 

[jgrote]

trying to find a home- Crescent No 25 tandem bicycle -Western Wheel Works

I love it, is it for sale?

I have a Crescent No 25 tandem bicycle -Western Wheel Works Chicago USA. As the tread additions indicate this is probably from the late 1890's.

I have not interest in restoring the bike, but do not want to junk it.

I will accept any reasonable offer for the bike and try to minimize transportation costs for the buyer.

The thread contains pictures and a description of the bike.

 

[decath6431]

Location

Hi. Where are you located? Thanks.

 

[jgrote]

Hi. Where are you located? Thanks.

I am in Western Illinois north of St Louis. Worth noting is that after holiday season would be flexible in traveling in US.

 

[decath6431]

By any chance...

Any plans to be in the Cleveland, OH area

 

[jgrote]

not soon, St Louis and west Jan '13; but mid Indiana February or March and could swing further east.

email is [email protected]