DaveM (MasonDG44 at comcast dot net) wrote:
The easiest test that I can think of is to breadboard a CMOS oscillator circuit.
Use one inverter out of a hex inverter like this:

View in a fixed pitch font such as Courier

|\
+--| 0---+---- OUT
| |/ |
| |
+--\/\/\--+
| 1 Mohm |
| |
| \
| / 2.7 kohms
| \
| /
| |
| Xtal |
+---|[]|--+
_|_ _|_
55pf ___ ___ 60pf
_|_ _|_
\ / \ /

If the circuit oscillates at the crystal frequency,
then the crystal is likely good.
If it doesn't oscillate at all, or oscillates at the wrong frequency,
then it's likely bad.

....and the device number for the gate
needs to have a "U" in it (for "unbuffered").