If you could design Cross' next flagship pen, what would it be?

Would you reintroduce the Classic Century FP?

Would you refine, discontinue, and / or remodel the Classic Century II?

Would you do the same with the Townsend?

Not to mention the Verve and other models...

In other words, if you wanted to help Cross produce a stellar FP in a class with Pelikan, Visconti, Stipula, Omas, Bexley, etc. ... what kind of pen would you design?

Keep in mind: Cross pens are generally all-metal. No resin or plastic barrels allowed.

Hmmmmm..................

First of all, I would intorduce a new filling system. I wish that Cross would move beyond the C/C. Piston, lever, crescent, button, I don't care, just something other than the C/C. Next, something with a BIG nib. All art deco. I would like a fatter, shorter, Townsend- shape pen, to stay with their roots - with the carbonite finish. Is that asking too much?

I'm not a a FP user but I think a big seller would be if they brought the patent to the Conklin Mark Twain Crescent fountain
pen, built it all in metal and produced it in the USA.

As a ballpoint user I'd like to see them redesign their inks to write better and be more vibrant (no light blue and flat black). This would benefit the entire product range.

Classic Century fountain pen

Even though I have a million Crosses, I think they have lost their way in the last few years, adding 'trendy' looking accessories, and not really concentrating on pens.

I think they were at their best in recent years when they were truly being innovative (although I admit that I don't know if they were successful designs).

I loved the Vice (isnt that the one that folded in half?), and I have platinum Verse that I love.

I would go for something that is halfway between the Townsend, and the Verve. I big, bold pen that is modern, but timeless. And, I would agree that it should have a unique filling mechanism.

Maybe feature their old "lion" trademark on their nibs?

-Mike

I know it can't be done but it'd be AWESOME if Cross could develop a gel BALLPOINT refill. Yes, I know the refills are too narrow for gel and wouldn't last long at all.

I would turn back the clock for Cross. Reduce the number of models and finishes (especially the novelty models), and increase the quality. Which model is considered "the flagship" is less important than having a good consistent lineup and good quality.

(I'm not against novelty models, I'm just against their becoming the main business for a good pen company.)

Cross needs a true flagship pen. The Townsend is a fine pen, but it lacks a certain 'ooomph'. The 'wow' factor is missing. The problem is that Cross pens are very conservative and designed for the corporate world, not the world of collectors.

I would suggest a thicker version of the Townsend, as a piston filler. A bigger nib as well. This pen could come out as a gold filled model and a thick bodied, heavy sterling silver model with an interesting engraved design.

I would want see them develop another pen more along the lines of the Verve, which I think is one amazing and sexy pen! Instead of going lower end with it, I wish they would have gone even higher end. I have the platinum and the merlot (the merlot finish with the texture is just gorgeous), and if they continued with styling and finishes like that, I'd buy more! Cross reliability needs some dynamite design to go with it!

I'm really kind of tired of the endless retro revivals that some companies do. I have a Townsend - absolutely reliable - but boy is it a boring shape. I also have a Pinnacle and I think that's a lot more elegant looking.

Just my two cents worth!

Petra

(1st) Townsend in Lucite.

(2nd) Century II in Lucite.

I would expand the Signet line a little. Think it is the best design since the ill-timed, fated Signature. Add a Selectip & F. P. to the range and reverse the pattern with, say, black lacquer & gold, silver rings. I agree with improving the intensity/quality of the inks, especially the blue, which is still good in the broad point ball point. For that matter, maybe it is time to re-introduct the Signature, slightly shorter and a little wider in girth since caps posted make for a heavy top end. Just my two cents having used and loved Cross for about 30 years. Happy Thanksgiving all!

Expansion of the Signet line is a wonderful idea!! I, too, would like to see a Signet FP and Select-tip pen (although not in the Century II style).

I like the following ideas shared above:

1) Replace the cartridge / converter filler with something that holds more ink.

I don't believe Cross will discontinue their proprietary cartridges. They may provide a revenue stream, but Cross seems held back from new development by their loyalty to the one-size-fits-all cartridges and converters. I would be willing to accept a third style (not green or orange), larger converter. Its introduction could be justified by an entire series of new pens using the large converter.

2) Utilize the old Cross Lion image, more art deco styling, and the Signet line. Perhaps all of these could be combined into a vintage-looking pen & case package. Some might object that such a product line might compromise the special integrity of the 150th Anniversary pen, but that pen is far out of the reach of most enthusiasts, rare, will not be used for daily writing, and ... since Cross is primarily NOT a maker of collectibles but of daily writers ... this is just one more reason to create a new line of vintage recreations. I really think Cross could make an impression with this. Appreciation for American-made quality instruments is something Cross can capitalize on more than nearly any other maker right now.

3) I really liked the idea about lucite. How about makrolon? My primary reservation about this, however, is that metal is tough-as-nails, and that warranty repair claims with a lucite / makrolon product could cause more problems than solved by such innovation. Perhaps we should stay with metal for a while and just be creative. We can do it!

I don't work for Cross nor have any relationship with the company except product satisfaction. However, I would dearly enjoy researching Cross history and working with a team to develop a new line. Easier said than done, I know. I just really want Cross to come out with a WINNER product that makes FP enthusiasts stand up and cheer.

Let's write Cross with our suggestions. How else will they know what pen folks want?

Refillczar, an engineer at Cross, monitors this forum for information such as we have provided. He periodically posts replies. I tried to send him a link to this topic with a friendly note, but his personal messenger was disabled. I trust that he will find our discussion and respond appropriately.

While we're on this subject...

Would Cross customers not also find it exciting to have stubs, italics, and the like available? Pendemonium appears to outsource a limited number of pens for nib modification and then list them online for sale. This allows them to benefit from the skills of nibmeisters without having the cost of one in-house. The challenge for Cross would be to identify how many modified pens they would need in stock before making the offer public. Perhaps one way to achieve this would be to float a trial balloon through various online pen forums and document the response. I am certain there would be buyers.

Cross' periodical sales magazine could also be revised to step back from the J.C. Penny-like appearance common to slick newspaper inserts. At least a few pages of each successive catalog could be dedicated to a simple yet thoughtful (classy?) introduction to the joys of modified nibs, available direct from Cross. Blocks of text. Inset windows. Pictures of FP writing. A little history on modified nibs. And, of course, a running segment on how Cross nibs are ideal for modification due to their solid construction and generous tipping material. Close-up photos of such nibs could be shown, etc., etc. There are many ideas!

Something similar could be done with Cross' website. The Cross website is currently static; nothing moves, nothing speaks. Animated slide shows, like the one currently on the Pelikan website regarding the 1931 Toledo, would be an exciting change for visitors. Here, a silent video clip showing a hand writing with a modified nib would really catch the attention of buyers. If they're going to buy a pen as a gift ... well, then buy an italic nib and really excite the recipient!

For committed users like us who frequent FPN, the same Century II, Townsend, and (yes) improved Signum lines with modified nibs would sell quickly. There are already enough testimonials about users' appreciation for their Century's and Townsends. In addition, Cross could benefit from having the names of our world-class nibmeisters attached to fine Cross pens.

How about it: A Binder, Mottishaw, Minuskin, Kinney Townsend in Art Deco finish including those neat Signum black bands?! That's right: drool, baby. Take THAT pen to your next staff meeting....

Sign me up:

1) Bring back the Pinnacle in some new finishes and I'll even live with the C/C filler. I've got a couple now with Pendemonium cursive italics that I just love to use.

2) Bring back the Signature line. I've got one with a "Binderized" cursive italic that is just super as an all day writer

3) Move the Verve to the higher end of the line (as has already been suggested). My Merlot is at Pendemonium as I write this for (you guessed it) cursive italic conversion

4) Start using the lion logo they used on the 150th Anniversary pen on all their nibs and upsize them. I don't know about stubs and the like. Unless they were willing to offer 0.9 or 1.1's a la Stipula. A lot of factory stubs are just too wide to use for anything but splashy signatures

5) I know you said it was off limits but some designs in acrylics would be welcome.

But I doubt we'll ever see it since, like any business, they have to be economically viable. In order to compete, Cross has moved almost all production to China in recent years. It's kind of sad to go by their corporate headquarters and see the factory building being torn down. So instead of new designs I guess I'll just have to keep hunting for that 150th Anniversary FP (at a price that won't get me divorced)