nikkorod

I snagged this a couple weeks ago. I was doing my normal CL scan and came across a poorly placed add for a “Crescent MCB Bike.” I could identify the bike had a Brooks Pro and Campy parts, but was unsure of the stainless steel description given by the seller. I decised to research it quickly to make sure it wasn’t a Kubuki Submariner with Campy parts. As I was researching it, I received a call from KonAarosnake. He demanded that I buy it since he was unable to get to it. This is his “shout out” for forcing me to buy this.

The frame is Swedish Stainless Sandvik alloy tubing with a Reynolds 531 fork. It is in really nice shape. No issues or dents. The brazing is kind of crappy to be truthful. From what I have read the frame was silver brazed and then Nervex lugs were cut and brazed on. The result is tarnished silver solder all throughout the lugs. At first I thought it was dirt, but I when it started polishing it started to clean up. It also appears that the lugs may have been painted by a shop or the original owner because they are supposed to be a brassy color.

The Campy group is in good condition with nice high flange hubs and N. Record derailleurs. The original wheels were tubulars and were replaced by 700c Mavic module E’s. The original seat was a Cinelli Unincator, but it was replaced with a Brooks Pro “select”, which is a cross between a pro and B-17. I also came with a vintage campy water bottle, cable knit riding gloves, floor pump and Cannondale bag.

I started to disassemble it and will post the final pics when I am done this weekend. Overall it is a pretty cool bike. I may just keep it.

rootboy 

A stainless Crescent? In 1971 ???? Wow. Neat bike.

edit:
https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Swe...ainless_ad.htm

nikkorod

Yea, I'm sure here is the ad. https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Swe...ainless_ad.htm

rootboy 

Yes, realized I'd better look it up and edited my post. Never heard of one before. VERY cool find.

3alarmer 

Way cool from a standpoint of the manufacturing technology
for the tubes and the frame joining.........wonder how it rides ?

Straight gauge tubing, do you think ?

nikkorod

Not sure. I was planning on Rivendelling this up with a modern drivetrain.

3alarmer 

Slowly I turned, inch by inch, step by step..........................

pamaguahiker 

Nice looking ride. By rivendelling it up, what do you mean?

rootboy 

He's gonna make it look like that '68 Paramount in another thread .....

'cause I've never heard of one don't mean doodley squat but, one doesn't see many Crescents at all in this country. Let alone that version. That has got to be a very scarce bike. What a score.

3alarmer 

auchencrow

x100!

auchencrow

Congrats. Quite a score, Nikkorod. I can't imagine stumbling on more than one of these in a lifetime.

nikkorod

The stainless polishes up nicely. Puts those chrome Paramounts to shame.

Scooper

Those are really cool bikes. Someone else had one on here (BikeForums) several years ago, and I saved a couple of photos they posted.





I don't remember, but I think the lugs were painted. The lug brazing shorelines were a little sloppy and discolored IIRC. Still, a pioneering effort in stainless frames preceeding Metax by a couple of decades.

pamaguahiker 

Ok...now i understand the Rivendelling. Either way. Those Stainless pics up above are awesome. Good looking frameset! And the Crescent gal in the ad...she always peaked my interest in cycling! Does anyone remember the Assos ad years ago with the attractive blonde? i always loved that ad also,

https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Swi...lothing_ad.htm

KvltBryce

Great find! Maybe this will be the start of the "Show us your Scandinavian bike" thread ahah

aussiepug

So you are after a picture of my ..... oh never mind.

nikkorod

Thanks for the pic Scooper. It at least confirms that the lugs were likely painted at the factory as the one pictured also has black lugs. The sloppy brazing on this does not come close to your Waterford with 953.

element-82

+1

Pb

Scooper

This thread by truman from 2008 has some good 1971 Crescent Mk. XX photos.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ut-further-ado

Chombi

I bet it's much lighter than the Submariner from the 80's.
It's really nice, a sort of unique keeper bike that you can have in your stable till the day you die.........cause it sure isn't gonna rust out on you! Bonus is, it looks beautiful too!

Chombi

javal

Actually, the idea of a stainless Crescent came from the US distributor. Swedish steel were a quality bench mark so the tubing were un-reduced. Tubes were welded together and the nervex lugs were applied afterwards (as two pieces). Manier bikes went straight to the scrapyard. Lugs were painted in black or gold and the mk IX would carry Sugino´s and Sun Tour. The mk XX was fitted with campy. We see them now and then on swedish CL. It has the time-proven overlap wheel and foot in three o´clock position...

ColonelJLloyd 

Interesting and unique score, man!

nikkorod

Thanksfor your post. I was hoping that someone from the Nordic countries would chime in and give me some information. I hope to have it up and running this weekend.

KonAaron Snake 

At least now I get to look at it

Very cool nikkorod...since it couldn't be mine, I'm glad it's yours.