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Pictures Posted And Cross Townsend Collection Question


Raymond3

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Hello, Could I ask anyone for help. Starting almost 20 years ago, I began collecting Cross Townsend pens. All made in USA, other than a couple later ones made in Ireland. Gold, silver, tuxedo sets, herringbone, lapis, jade, pink, red and black laquer. Some ballpoints, pencils, some fountain pens. Most never used and in original packaging. All marked "Made in USA" or Ireland. Many purchased directly from Cross, or Montgomery Stationary Company.

 

My question is this: What is the best way to get my collection appraised? Marketed?

 

There are a couple of others, like a Bexly Submarriner Grande, but most Townsends.

Thank you very much.

 

Raymond

 

post-50490-0-17266700-1408080650_thumb.jpg

Edited by Raymond3
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Posted Images

Some of the Townsends that I am talking about. The others are still in their original packages and I didn'w want to take them out.

 

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u452/Raymond338/DSCN1705_zps075fe620.jpg

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Nice collection.

 

Could not help you with appraisal...

 

Though it could be handy for others chiming in to know where you are located.

 

 

D.ick

~

KEEP SAFE, WEAR A MASK, KEEP A DISTANCE.

Freedom exists by virtue of self limitation.

~

 

 

 

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You could send them to me. I promise to send them right back after telling you what I think they're worth. ;)

 

Seriously, though: (1) Nice collection! I hope mine (which also focuses on Townsends) reaches that level someday. (2) Could Cross itself help? Do they have any sort of appraisal service? (3) What about a good pen store (surely there must be one in NorCal that someone here on FPN could recommend)? Or maybe a jewelry store that carries lots of pens?

MrThoth

Scribe, Master of Mystic Lore, Young Curmudgeon

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Hi,

 

I would trust you!

 

The ones that I paid the most for and that are probably the most valuable are the Lapis Townsends. They were to light feeling to be as comfortable as the plain black laquer over bronze. I guess that the best way to determine value is to watch E-bay to see what the sales history actually is.

 

How did you originally decide on Cross Townsends?

 

And, it seemed to me that the USA ones were more valuable than the China made ones, but haven't noticed much of a difference on E-Bay.

 

What are you thoughts on that?

 

Thanks,

 

Ray

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Anyone with thoughts on difference on market value based on country of Origin.

 

The USA and Ireland Townsends seemed to be "tighter" to me. Maybe the quality has changed.

 

Thanks for your thoughts.

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How did you originally decide on Cross Townsends?

 

The very first "nice" pen I ever got was a Cross Townsend Lapis ballpoint that I received as a... graduation present? Don't really remember. But I loved the size and feel of it. That led me to gravitate toward Cross Townsend fountain pens when I became more interested in collecting FPs. For a long time what I think of as the "stone" Townsends (the Lapis Lazuli, Jade and Gold, the "Cardinal Red," and so on) were my holy grail pens -- esp. the Lapis Lazuli, because I just love the color. Since then I've slowly but surely built up a nice Townsend collection, often for pretty reasonable prices -- including two of the Lapis ones. Still, I'm envious of that collection you've put together. :)

 

As a result of using Townsends so much I tend to prefer a longer, heavier pen than I think a lot of folks on FPN do, but that's why different manufacturers make different types of pens. ;)

 

As a writer I have sometimes pondered the possiblity of trying to write a history of the Cross company, or at least of the Townsend pens -- if there's one already out there I can't find it, and I think it's a shame if such a classic American pen company is being overlooked by pen historians. But it'll have to go on the list of "potential future projects" for now. ;)

 

At the very least, at some point I want to try to assemble a page or document with clear pics of all the Townsends and other pertinent info. This FPN page is a superb start, but I'd like to have something more formal to consult when I'm trying to identify a pen. Plus, I just enjoy assembling cool information. ;)

 

 

The ones that I paid the most for and that are probably the most valuable are the Lapis Townsends. They were to light feeling to be as comfortable as the plain black laquer over bronze. I guess that the best way to determine value is to watch E-bay to see what the sales history actually is.

And, it seemed to me that the USA ones were more valuable than the China made ones, but haven't noticed much of a difference on E-Bay.

 

I do a lot of shopping on eBay, but for some stupid reason never considered keeping records of what's been on sale, asking prices, etc. -- I may have to start that. It would be interesting to track trends over time. Of course the difficult part of that analysis is that just because someone asks such-and-such a price doesn't mean they can actually get it. Sometimes you can confirm a sale, but you can't always assume that an auction disappearing means "no sale."

 

But still, more data would be better. If I can chisel out some time this weekend I may have to whip up a spreadsheet and see what evolves.

Edited by MrThoth

MrThoth

Scribe, Master of Mystic Lore, Young Curmudgeon

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Mr. Toth, Thank you for your thoughts!

 

I looked at the link in your post. Great reference pictures. I have one or two that are not listed in either the original post, or subsequent comments. Will get pictures when I able. The idea of writing a good history is also great. The earleir the better, as some of the Cross employees around then might still be available for help.

 

There can be some good deals on E-bay, but, buyer beware, as usual. By best buys were when a couple of the large US dealers had overstock, or smaller dealers put a new pen up with no reserve. Some of my private party buys have had problems with the nibs, feed tube areas, or were not made in the US or Ireland, which has been a personal requirement of mine.

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