In reply to sarahkeast:
I also have a pair of late 80s camp crampons! I do use them for front pointing on easier gulleys, they're pretty good. Better than the 10 pointers the club has to lend anyway.
Forgive me if I'm teaching granny to suck eggs, but make sure you know how to correctly do up the straps. The older systems aren't always as obvious as the newer ones.
In particular if there is only two metal rings at the front, rather than a 'basket' made of short bits of strap, then it should be done up so that the toe strap can't fall off forward and suddenly make everything loose. If that's not clear, let me know and I'll dig up some pictures.