I was able to take off the chain wheel and with the crescent wrench, a c-clamp and a hammer, bang it back into pretty good shape (so thank you all).
I found that when I did that, the chain wheel was a little too close to the frame, and so then was trying to take the spider off to inspect and the bottom bracket - however, I had problems with taking the spider off...it could have been the rust, but I took the nut off and tried to slide the spider off and it didn't work? Could it have been treaded?

Question: Do you guys have experience with taking the bottom bracket off a vintage Dahon (or the spider component)? If not, I will repost? (I have posted in the dahon.com forum already)

Amy