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Townsend 20Th Anniversary - Country Of Origin


Dolgorukii

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I would imagine that given the way Cross proudly state "classic American elegance" and "the pen of choice for several American presidents", were the pens made in America, Cross would be equally keen to state that as well. The country of origin isn't stated so they're probably made in China like most Cross production pens nowadays.

Toodle pip<BR><BR><BR>

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They certainly aren't made in Ireland. That facility closed years ago. I suspect not Uruguay or Senegal, either, because we've never heard of Cross manufacturing in those countries. On the other hand, the summary statement "made in U.S.A." didn't always mean that the pen was made in its entirety in the United States: I own two Townsends that say they were made in the USA whose nibs were in all likelihood made in Germany by Pelikan. Possibly my third Townsend, too.

 

Informed sources have put it to me that the upper range of Cross fountain pens has Pilot nibs, for all that it can be said that Cross manufactures in China. And rumor right here on FPN suggests that the Peerless nibs are by Sailor.

 

Although Cross resumed selling fountain pens in 1982, Barbara Lambert writes in her splendid Cross company history that 1990 is the earliest year she feels sure Cross was making the pens in their entirety. Between ignorance and obfuscation, our knowledge about businesses, not least pen businesses, can have a lot in common with Alice in Wonderland.

Edited by Jerome Tarshis
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Typically the san serif, non-cursive writing of "CROSS" on the clip of a Cross Townsend indicates that it was manufactured in China. There are a few exceptions, but not many -- and the 20th Anniversary Brushed Platinum isn't one of them. It's made in China AFAIK.

MrThoth

Scribe, Master of Mystic Lore, Young Curmudgeon

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I may be wrong but I think the writing style on the clip indicates whether the Townsend pen is 'high price' or not. It Is not an indication of where it was made. The cap will say USA, Ireland or nothing (indicating China).

 

My two rolled gold/filled gold have cursive (one Ireland, one USA, both 14K nibs) and my four sterling silver Townsend have cursive (two Ireland, one USA and one China; all 18K nibs), my two black lacquer have cursive (both 14K nibs and USA) whilst the others with stainless steel nibs (Medalist - USA and soft black - China) have block capitals on the clip.

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Here's how you know. If the pen just says USA, it was assembled here out of foreign made parts. If the pen says "made in the USA" then it was completely manufactured here, something Cross hasn't done in years. Right before they shut down the factory they had been assembling pens from parts made in China. Which brings me to those pens - if the pen doesn't say where it is made, then it is made in China. Hope this helps you determine where your pen was made.

It's not what you look at, but what you see when you look.

Henry David Thoreau

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I may be wrong but I think the writing style on the clip indicates whether the Townsend pen is 'high price' or not. It Is not an indication of where it was made. The cap will say USA, Ireland or nothing (indicating China).

 

My answer indicated that what I said was "typically" the case, and that there are exceptions. That doesn't make the general guideline I stated incorrect, though.

 

All I can do is go by my collection of approximately 60 Cross Townsend fountain pens, for which I've assembled data on this subject into a spreadsheet. Based on that information I think the guideline I stated is accurate.

 

Though as usual, I'm happy to be corrected or learn more if someone has better or more thorough information than I do that I can verify. For example, JonDoh -- I'm intrigued by what you said. Do you have a source for that information? I'm always eager to add more information to my databases. :)

MrThoth

Scribe, Master of Mystic Lore, Young Curmudgeon

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