My 1899 Crescent #18 shaft-driven chainless ladies bike

[talesofthesevenseas]

Picked up this lovely 1899 Crescent #18 shaft-driven chainless ladies bike on Craigslist for $250. I've got a wooden laced fender on it's way, the wheels have been trued and it's overall condition is sturdy and fully functional. I'll be putting a set of Robert Dean tires on it and replacing the saddle and pedals with period correct ones. I should have it ready to roll for the upcoming Antique Autos show in September. I'm leaving the original "barn find" look intact and not doing a restoration. Does anyone have a sense of what the value will be when it is done and rideable?

 

[bricycle]

Probably will be worth $700-$800 would be more if rear gear housing was still there.... you will have about $900 invested by then... Tires $300, pedals, $200, saddle $150-$200

 

[talesofthesevenseas]

Yeah I figured as much, but the fun of riding it in parades is priceless!

 

[talesofthesevenseas]

I took a close look at the 1899 catalog. I'm not sure if there was a gear box on this model. Here's a link:
http://www.proteanpaper.com/scart_picture.cgi?comp=howiebik&pic=000000000000007386&part=000000000000008202

 

[GiovanniLiCalsi]

Maybe the catalog image was exposing the gears, for more detail....

 

[bricycle]

Yeah I figured as much, but the fun of riding it in parades is priceless!

so true! It's a kool bike! Where you at?

 

[talesofthesevenseas]

Northern California. If anyone is interested in the event, it's a ton of fun and they are happy to have more antique bikes and replica bikes: http://historysanjose.org/wp/events/antique-autos/ and email Allan Greenberg at [email protected]

 

[talesofthesevenseas]

We will be there in period clothing with the 1899 Crescent chainless, a 1918 Scott British ladies bike, a 1934 or 36 Iver Johnson Super Mobike, an early 1800s inspired "hobby horse" built out of wood by a friend and an 1880s inspired quad cycle.

 

[GiovanniLiCalsi]

Sounds like fun!
I need to figure out how to get a costume together.

 

[talesofthesevenseas]

A lot of men use traditional men's golf attire for bicycle costumes