34 replies to this topic

[penrivers]

Just an update here every one regarding Cross pens that are made in China. A friend of mine who works in a pen shop here in Perth, Australia, recently visited the new Cross factory in China. She was so delighted and pleased with their facilities and workmanship it was almost flawless. She said the factory was very modern, clean, thorough and tge machinery was from both Germany and USA. And because of this she's started to like Cross more. And the quality control is very good and thorough.

Thanks, very useful information.

[max dog]

Just an update here every one regarding Cross pens that are made in China. A friend of mine who works in a pen shop here in Perth, Australia, recently visited the new Cross factory in China. She was so delighted and pleased with their facilities and workmanship it was almost flawless. She said the factory was very modern, clean, thorough and tge machinery was from both Germany and USA. And because of this she's started to like Cross more. And the quality control is very good and thorough.

Wow, that's great confirmation about their Cross factory in China.  With the pen division, the real Cross, now divested from the sunglass /fashion division, I hope will refocus on what they do best.  Continue producing uncompromised quality writing instruments. 

[whoelse]

I have some old Townsend made in USA and a new one made in China. They are equally good but strangely, another one I recently purchase that were made in China feel light and machining is not as precise. So I think even made in China has different batch quality. 

[penrivers]

I think is a copy of a copy of a copy of a copy...... oh well, Im sure even the chiness have to have that problem.

[aawhite]

Just an update here every one regarding Cross pens that are made in China. A friend of mine who works in a pen shop here in Perth, Australia, recently visited the new Cross factory in China. She was so delighted and pleased with their facilities and workmanship it was almost flawless. She said the factory was very modern, clean, thorough and tge machinery was from both Germany and USA. And because of this she's started to like Cross more. And the quality control is very good and thorough.

 

+1.

 

I have a Chinese made, gold plated Cross Apogee that I like very much. This was one of the early Crosses made in China, and the only fault I could find is the poor welding of the tipping (aka, iridium) material. I am a metallurgist and I specialise in micro-welding, so I am a bit picky on this. Apart from that, it is a good pen.

 

I have several gold plated Cross pens, and it does not matter where they were made (US, Ireland, China), but a common aspect is the discoloration of the gold plating. In time, they all developed areas of brownish / reddish patches in contrast to the bright yellowish gold plate. Might be a Cross thing, or my cursed fingers.

Edited by aawhite, 28 May 2014 - 03:57.

[Chris]

Sorry, but it must be your fingers

 

I have a couple (five) of 10 and 12kt rolled/plated gold pens and pencils (Townsend and Century models) and they have no such discoloration. I do remember one or two were slightly tarnished when I bought them (second hand) but a quick wipe with a jeweller's cloth removed that and it has not returned.

[aawhite]

Sorry, but it must be your fingers

 

I have a couple (five) of 10 and 12kt rolled/plated gold pens and pencils (Townsend and Century models) and they have no such discoloration. I do remember one or two were slightly tarnished when I bought them (second hand) but a quick wipe with a jeweller's cloth removed that and it has not returned.

 

I like to agree with you but I have other pen brands, like Sheaffer, Parker, Caran d'Ache and Faber-Castell, that have gold plated or gold filled (rolled gold) parts, and none of them have discolored. Only the Crosses develop this strange discoloration or tarnish.

 

Since you have not experienced discoloration in your pens, then I can only conclude that it must be a combination of my touch and the Cross gold plating process, that do not agree. I must have an anti-Midas touch  . 

 

I suspect that it is the copper content of the Cross gold plating.

Edited by aawhite, 28 May 2014 - 23:45.

[WriteAway]

My wife has a Century bp/mp set that also has similar discoloration. She uses her pens a lot, and I wondered if the gold plating simply wore off from the heavy use.

[whoelse]

I have a new 10k Townsend and I left it in my 48 pen case and yes the place where it was strap have discolouration. None of my other pens have that problem. I now store it back in it's original box. That pen was made in China not sure if that is related.

[max dog]

Of the dozen or more gold filled Crosses I have, I've noticed only one of them exhibiting discolouration, usually under the clip area.  A rub down with a jewellers cloth restores it back to a shine, so it' never been a problem.  If anything I think it gives it character like sterling silver tarnish.

 

I have to add though the Cross gold filled finish sure wear well!  I've come across some very used and abused ones over the years, including some of my own early ones, and never seen any with signs of brassing.  

Edited by max dog, 13 June 2014 - 03:30.

[kapanak]

I'll throw in my opinion.

 

I have an original Century BP 10K Filled USA, and the new 2015 produced Century Classic 10K Filled/Rolled China, and I compared them side by side. First off, the old Century is noticeably heavier, and the gold colour is deeper. Secondly, the fit of the top cap and the barrel on the old century is secure and does not budge or have any give. The one one has a slight give and takes more effort to fit together perfectly. The twist mechanism is solid and firm and smooth, very reassuring, on the old century, while the new one is more like any twist BP pen, still solid, but it has a bit of shaking and a bit of give and movement where it shouldn't. The new century classic is already developing a tarnish, but it is an easily wiped tarnish. Might have to do with the fact that the new Filled/Rolled 10K Gold claim is 1/20 (according to Cross), and might be a different alloy of gold, compared to the old 1/10 Filled 10K Gold.

 

Overall, the fit and finish of the old pens made in USA are preferable.

Edited by kapanak, 24 March 2016 - 22:50.

[RMN]

I'll throw in my opinion.

 

I have an original Century BP 10K Filled USA, and the new 2015 produced Century Classic 10K Filled/Rolled China, and I compared them side by side. First off, the old Century is noticeably heavier, and the gold colour is deeper. Secondly, the fit of the top cap and the barrel on the old century is secure and does not budge or have any give. The one one has a slight give and takes more effort to fit together perfectly. The twist mechanism is solid and firm and smooth, very reassuring, on the old century, while the new one is more like any twist BP pen, still solid, but it has a bit of shaking and a bit of give and movement where it shouldn't. The new century classic is already developing a tarnish, but it is an easily wiped tarnish. Might have to do with the fact that the new Filled/Rolled 10K Gold claim is 1/20 (according to Cross), and might be a different alloy of gold, compared to the old 1/10 Filled 10K Gold.

 

Overall, the fit and finish of the old pens made in USA are preferable.

 

Re Finish: You are comparing apples with pears. You should compare pens with the same gold content/ thickness. Of course a 1/10 is a better finish than a 1/20.

Re fit: your sentence should be:<  the fit of my old pen is to be preferred over my new pen > , as you only have a sample of one on both, so you can't make generalisations.

 

 

D.ick

[kapanak]

 

Re Finish: You are comparing apples with pears. You should compare pens with the same gold content/ thickness. Of course a 1/10 is a better finish than a 1/20.

Re fit: your sentence should be:<  the fit of my old pen is to be preferred over my new pen > , as you only have a sample of one on both, so you can't make generalisations.

 

 

D.ick

 

Regarding finish, both were sold as "10K Gold Filled" and only on the pen itself it states 1/10 or 1/20, and the price for both when adjusting for inflation are the same. And a layer of gold, whether 1/10 or 1/20 will appear the same, since gold, even at 1 micron thickness, at the same karat, will appear the same. Thus, the differences are in the alloys themselves. These are not plated gold, they actual sheets of gold mechanically bonded to brass, chrome, or stainless steel.

 

Regarding my "generalized statement", this isn't the only US made vs Chinese made Cross pens I own, so I stand by my statement, and I am sure folks here are intelligent enough to distinguish the fact that I am making that with regards to myself, and not saying everybody should go and buy USA made Cross pens.

Edited by kapanak, 25 March 2016 - 06:44.

[RMN]

 

Regarding finish, both were sold as "10K Gold Filled" and only on the pen itself it states 1/10 or 1/20, and the price for both when adjusting for inflation are the same. And a layer of gold, whether 1/10 or 1/20 will appear the same, since gold, even at 1 micron thickness, at the same karat, will appear the same. Thus, the differences are in the alloys themselves. These are not plated gold, they actual sheets of gold mechanically bonded to brass, chrome, or stainless steel.

 

Regarding my "generalized statement", this isn't the only US made vs Chinese made Cross pens I own, so I stand by my statement, and I am sure folks here are intelligent enough to distinguish the fact that I am making that with regards to myself, and not saying everybody should go and buy USA made Cross pens.

 

Note that I did not state anything about the pens themselves. Just that the statement AS you made it was not quite correct.

That last bit, about your findings being in line with your findings on other pens you use would have been a valid addition.

 

About the colour of gold: That is determined by various aspects: The additives in the alloy, and the colour of the underlying metal if plated (or rolled).

So the alloy just could have been slightly different.

 

 

D.ick

[lovely]

 

Regarding finish, both were sold as "10K Gold Filled" and only on the pen itself it states 1/10 or 1/20, and the price for both when adjusting for inflation are the same. And a layer of gold, whether 1/10 or 1/20 will appear the same, since gold, even at 1 micron thickness, at the same karat, will appear the same. Thus, the differences are in the alloys themselves. These are not plated gold, they actual sheets of gold mechanically bonded to brass, chrome, or stainless steel.

 

Regarding my "generalized statement", this isn't the only US made vs Chinese made Cross pens I own, so I stand by my statement, and I am sure folks here are intelligent enough to distinguish the fact that I am making that with regards to myself, and not saying everybody should go and buy USA made Cross pens.

Minimum content of gold to be considered gold filled in the US is 5%, so I think they are now sticking to legal Minimum.

 

Which I consider to be a downgrade.

 

Got lately some used and not-so-used Irish Cross, think I will stick to that for now.