Mystery Crusader

[Orange Fiets]

I spotted this bike because of its chain guard.
Link to Craigslist posting.

I did a bit of searching on Crusader but couldn’t find anything matching this bicycle.

The posting mentions ‘build by Mead Cycle’.

I have contacted the seller but he/she knows nothing about it.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[juvela]

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Hello OranjeFiesten,

thanks so much for sharing this piece

this Crusader marque is not one associated with Mead

the cycle was manufactured in The Netherlands for Standard Cycle Co. of Chicago

frame details suggestive of a Magneet product

date is right near to 1960

here are some photos of a gents model hailing from nineteen and fifty-nine -

frame constructed of NERVEX bits: lug pattern is 86bis, seat stay bridge is NERVEX ref. 553, bottom bracket shell is "V pattern" 3100 series

threading for headset and bottom bracket is of course BSC

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[Orange Fiets]

I picked it up just for it’s novelty.
Thank you Juvela (yet again ). You were dead on.

 

[Orange Fiets]

 

[Archie Sturmer]

Perhaps a Frisian crusader then.

 

[Orange Fiets]

Here is the Holland and Chicago connection.

 

[juvela]

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cycle's wheel lock likely an OEM item rather than an add-on

here are closeups of two examples of this type of device -

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dropouts appear to be NERVEX pattern Ref. 1028

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possible chainset shall prove to be a Woit product; mention only as a possibility, do not wish to assert an identification

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serial will be on outer face of nds dropout

big long number on underside of shell refers to shell's specifications

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[Orange Fiets]

I can’t locate make of chain guard.

I have added a front fender I had laying around from a Raleigh Sport.

Wheel lock is definitely original:

Serial number:

 

[juvela]

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thanks very much for this additional information

it's great you had that extra chrome mudguard on hand;
fits right in on there, it does

she's looking better already

is wheel size 26 X 1 3/8? the size for Magneet's domestic version of the machine is likely to have been either 650A or 650B

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BTW - "chainset" is a synonym for "crankset"; have no guesses as to maker of chainguard; one chainguard brand well known in the low countries is that of ARDEX; here is one of their beauties in dural -

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