The errr extensive fork rake is probably a blessing. The Swedish Crescents are renowned for their truly remarkable amount of toe clip overlap even in largish frame sizes. For a bit of information on Crescents, see the following:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/
I think there are scans of Crescent catalogs at Mark Bulgier's site:
http://bulgier.net/
The finish looks quite good on yours. The orange w/ black & white checkerboard graphics is very much the trademark of these bikes. The higher end frames were typically Reynolds 531 tubed with Nervex Series Professionel lugs (used right out of the box). They may have learned the freedom from files technique from some of the famous French bike boom manufacturers. While it is a lower end model from their line, it appears to have forged rear dropouts and the filllet brazing may well be finished better than their lugged models. It'd lighten up with a single speed conversion and will certainly exude style. I'll bet you can't break it.
Charlie "mine is the crudely lugged, foot in the spokes, but oh so snazzy model" Young Honey Brook, PA
> Just bought this bike at a garage sale. I was wondering if it might be a
reproduction because the other pictures I've found online show a lugged
frame while this one is welded. Also, it has a dramatically raked fork. (Did
they make a tourer?)
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> The number stamped on the BB is 4495206. (if that helps at all) The decals
look like the others I've seen on the web - VARLDSMASTARCYKELN, Crescent,
the wrap-around head badge, etc.
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> Pics are posted @
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/
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> Any help would be appreciated. I'm not really interested in doing a
restoration or anything, I just liked the orange paint job & thought I'd
convert it to a single speed.
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> Thanks,
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> Ross Rutherford
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> Denver, CO