hzqw2l

22 inch frame.

All Campagnolo nouvo record components except Mafac center pulls.

Has Dia compe brake handles.

Index accushift suntour bar shifters.

juvela

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a discussion thread has also been begun on this machine over at thecabe.com -

​​​​​​https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/1971-crescent.208797/


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retroshifter

I have a similar 531 crescent in white with similar decals and a slightly different head badge but somehow I thought it was mid 70s not as early as 1971. I got it as a frame, so no components to help identify the vintage. S/N 5024010. Anyone have any idea on what model and what year this is?

Crescent model?? Year??

Crescent head badge

Prowler 

Oh boy, another chance to show an orange one, a white one and a blue one in the same thread. Ergo, my 1974 92319




The f/f is 1974 though most everything else is later stuff, but quite possibly the sort of upgrades than an enthusiast may have done. A VERY nice ride and in regular rotation.

The white f/f that retroshifter shows above, assuming the frame is also 531, is possibly also a 92319 as it looks like it has the Suntour GS dropouts on the rear. I rather like those DOs vs Campy as they position the seat stays a bit outward which creates more clearance for the FW and the chain riding on the small cog. Also the white bike has just the very classic Crescent moon head badge that mine does, without the black panel behind it as on the orange f/f of the earlier bikes. I'm not sure when the black panel was deleted but it may have been for 1974 and beyond. The historians will know that the Crescent moon style head badge traces DNA directly to the badge created by Western Wheel Works of Chicago in the 1890s and still in use today.

Also, from what I've seen on line, the blue on my Crescent is a bit darker that the Monark blue used by MCB. Our Swedish members would know better that I do.

Bad Lag

That quick release seat post clamp has got to GO!

branko_76 

You have the makings of a very nice bike. What do you intend to do with it?

retroshifter

Prowler
Thanks for the info. somehow I always assumed campy dropouts, but you are right suntour (very faded couldn’t read GS). As other crescent owners know the dropout brazing is pretty crude. What brake reach is yours, old normal (57mm) or old long? My front dropout has been modified I think to allow for normal reach brakes. The rear also uses normal reach, not sure if that was factory or if the rear brake brace was lowered, again really crude bracing and faded paint. Now that I know the model 92319 I can look up more details thanks.

Rear brake bridge

Modified suntour dropout

Prowler 

We don’t want to hijack hzqw2l thread but I’ll answer the reach question as it may help him too. For 700c rims my bike needs 60mm reach F&R.

As for the brazing, I’ve read several comments about that. I have no issue with the f/f quality. I’ve viewed the Swedes of that time frame as quite pragmatic. The bike offers a great ride which I very much enjoy and the brazing is suitable for purpose. Strong, responsive and, probably, as sound as it was almost 50 years ago when it left Varberg. I’m happy and lucky to own it.

hzqw2l

No issues. I don't see any suspect brazing on my bike.

I like the original paint and components and will attempt to find the missing bits to make it whole.

uncle uncle

My two cents, which is probably a generous amount, giving my comment, but I always thought that Crescent did a great job with the decal scheme on their bikes. Much in the ballpark (or is it velodrome here) of 70's Peugeot, a Crescent stands out in the crowd (especially the orange ones).

mikekone

Crescents were neat bikes (their advertising was pushing the limits of decency by today's standards) but they did have very short front centers as I recall. So lot's of foot overlap. Is that the case on this one as well? Kinda curious. One can usually get used to very short front center bikes.

retroshifter

My 22inch crescent has more TCO than I was expecting. I had planned to set it up as a commuter with fattish tires and fenders, but with even with skinny 32mm gatorskins sans fenders there was moderate TCO. But to be honest my vintage 22” Trek that can take a full 32mm tire has a little TCO.