Cresent No 25 tandem bicycle purchased Chicago 1893

[OHcaptain]

The Crescent tandem found a new home!

The Crescent tandem found a new home!
Like a Phoenix, it will rise from the ashes (well, it wasn't THAT bad!) and be a wonderful bicycle again and will be riding the roads and streets of Ohio.
Thank you, jgrote! The tandem was in amazing shape, much better than your photos showed.

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.

 

[OHcaptain]

Nearly complete!

Still waiting for the original saddles to be recovered in leather. When the saddles are installed, then the newly nickeled headbadge will also be installed.

So far, rust is gone, splits in the wood bars have been re-glued, bars are re-varnished, fork weld repair cleaned up and painted, new tires and tubes, new pedal rubbers, and new cork & nickel grips.

The Crescent tandem found a new home!
Like a Phoenix, it will rise from the ashes (well, it wasn't THAT bad!) and be a wonderful bicycle again and will be riding the roads and streets of Ohio.
Thank you, jgrote! The tandem was in amazing shape, much better than your photos showed.

 

[wspeid]

Looks like a fun ride. Great job with the rescue!

 

[OHcaptain]

Done! Saddles arrived and installed. Head badge mounted.

The saddles were recovered by a leather craftsman in Michigan. The head badge was cleaned and re-nickeled by a jeweler in Kansas.

The slight crease in the downtube may be fixed in a more complete restoration in the future. I've assumed that resulted from the same episode that caused the one fork blade to be welded.

My goal was a clean bicycle that is safe to ride in parades and and will show well for exhibits.

 

[Hb Twinn]

Wow!!

Great looking bike. It will be fantastic for parades! You should be proud of your work, wonderful job!

 

[JChapoton]

The saddles were recovered by a leather craftsman in Michigan. The head badge was cleaned and re-nickeled by a jeweler in Kansas.

The slight crease in the downtube may be fixed in a more complete restoration in the future. I've assumed that resulted from the same episode that caused the one fork blade to be welded.

My goal was a clean bicycle that is safe to ride in parades and and will show well for exhibits.

View attachment 153584

View attachment 153583

how much to recover a saddle and where in Michigan?

 

[fat tire trader]

Was this tandem made in 1893??? To me it looks more like it was made in 1898 or later...

 

[oldbike1891]

Earlier than 1896

I have an 1896 Model 25. All the Cresent Tandems are Model 25's. My bike has a chain conecting the two crank sets on the left side (very modern stlye) and then a drive chain ring on the right side of the rear crank set to connect to the rear sprocket.

The earlier style used the chain set up like this one with a chain running all the way back from each chainring. Later style had an ecentrinc to tighten the chain between the two crank sets vs. the idler pulleys.

Could definitly be 1894. Get out those Cresent catalouges!

The are several of this style around. Marty Potts in Illinois has one like this that is ridden.

Nice job Dick! -- Lee

 

[highwheel431]

Crescent Catalogs

The Crescent tandems were only available for 3 years by the catalogs. 1896 through 1898. That doesn't mean some weren't available in 1895 or leftovers after 1898. And all bets are off with what the American Bicycle Company did with excess inventory.

By the books:

This tandem would be an 1896 with the big idler wheels.

Also there where multiple tandem models. The model numbers did not change with year. Model 20 mens/mens. Model 25 ladies/mens. Model 30 ladies/mens with and elevated position for the man (giraffe).

1896 & 1897 had dual drive rear hubs... front rider drove left side, chain ran all the way to the rear wheel as seen on this bike, rear rider drove the right side. 1898 had a single drive on the right side with the front and rear connected on the left side of the bike.

 

[willswares1220]

Beautiful job and what a fun ride!! Enjoy!!