(And, I don't even know what in the world I was doing here to start with!)

I've had a great time the past couple months on FPN, I've learned alot and started
a nice (for me anyway) small collection that I am enjoying using as much as looking at.

But if you had asked me before a few days ago, I would have told you that A.T. Cross
was about the LAST company I'd have thought about so far as FP's go. (I know, silly noob)
Over 20 years ago, I had several of the classic chrome and gold filled Cross BP's and knew
how nice THEY were but since my "infection" with the FP virus, I hadn't given Cross any more
thought.

Then one of you characters had to go and leave the door to this fourm open.

What? No one (to speak of) complaining about poor quality pens? A company that stands behind
their product? All the companies pens from the low shelf up are excellent writers? A freaking
engineer for the mother company who monitors[1] the forum?!!

You have GOT to be kidding me!

So my brain being the sponge that it is (hmmm. maybe I should word that another way...) I set
to reading The Whole Forum trying to re-educate myself.

Very Nice looking, High Quality, well writing pens that aren't apparently "relished" by collectors
and therefore aren't so highly priced? Hmmmm. That kinda sounds like "Esterbrook" to me.
(Nope. didn't get that vaccine in time either...)

So this afternoon I scored me a very good condition, in box with papers, Century Classic I (M) in 14kt
on the bay for $61.

A like new 14kt GF pen with a 14kt quality nib for $61?!? Color that, "you have GOT to be kidding me"
Part Deux. (And if per chance, it ever succombs to the dreaded "nib wobble", I won't exactly be heartbroken
to have Cross replace it with a 14kt Century II.)

If I'm anywhere near as happy with my new (old) Cross as most of yall here seem to be with yours,
I'll be in pretty good shape I think.

Will let you know how the CC 1 writes when it gets here.

[1] I can't tell you how impressed I was by reading several of the posts by Refillczar. Honestly,
as soon as I read the one where Cross had tossed a posters dirty nib in the trash and Refillczar
went digging around til he found 2 nibs to send to the person, I took a time out from old forum
reading and went straight to see what there was for Crosses on Fleabay.

I don't know if he checks in here for his job (I doubt it) or on his own volition (more likely) but he sure
is both a great representative for A.T. Cross and FPN.

(I even attempted to send him a PM to that effect, but after typing a nice one out, found out his
PM'er is turned off. )

Anyway, good job "guys" helping get me interested in yet ANOTHER line of pens...


Bruce in Ocala, FL

I'm glad you've seen the light. I have FIVE Townsends in various nib sizes. They are terrific pens and I'm sure the Century is, too. Can you believe this ----------- there's a poll in the Writing Instruments forum asking "What brand are you least likely to buy?" So far, Montblanc is leading and Cross is second. All I can say is that anybody who is avoiding Cross pens just doesn't know what they're missing!

It seems to me that there's not as much posting in the Cross forum as there is in the other forums. Maybe that's because too many people are avoiding Cross out of ignorance. OR - could it be that Cross pens are so perfect there aren't many problems to talk about?!

Judybug

I have to agree with you, Judy. I think Cross gets shorted on credit for solid products that perform and last. It seems inconsistent to me that Americans should downplay a company of their own. Cross products may not be radically exciting, but they do stand the test of time.

I have to agree with you all on this; it was a Cross CII that changed my life!! I know that the pens aren't radically exciting, but the nibs are AMAZING!!!! The brand really offers fantastic value for money and I wish that fact was recognised more often.

Leonie

One of the things I've heard anti-Cross pen people say is that they don't like shiny metal pens. And indeed this was once my attitude toward Cross. I was surprised to find that all Cross pens are not shiny metal. Although I have a Medalist that I've learned to love, I prefer the black lacquer Townsends with gold trim or the ones like the Tuxedo - black lacquer barrel and silver cap. Anyway, I think a lot of people are unaware of the options they have when it comes to the outer appearance of Cross pens. Then too - I think a lot of people are unaware of how wonderful Cross nibs are - whether steel or 18K - and after all, that's where the pen hits the paper.

Judybug

One of these days I will purchase a Cross pen. Even though they are now made in china and will not match my USA set I recieved, I doubt it can be anywhere as disappointing as my Hero purchase.

I usually never venture into the Cross forum ... but I just happened to come across this post ... and well, here goes ...

I like Cross a lot when it comes to ballpoint pens

I have not tried their fountain pens due to what I have heard of them being made in China

It is that last part which really deters me from going to get a Cross fountain pen

But I guess I have to check some out and see if the "made in China" label affects the performance and quality of their nibs from what they were in the past

Or maybe I should just start hunting down older Cross FP's that were made in the good old USA

What?! I thought they had a factory in Rhode Island!

Oh well, I guess they might as well be made in China -everything else is.

Judybug

It really doesn't bother me that Cross has operations in China. They still make a quality product. I see my VW Jetta the same way; it was built in Mexico, but I would never have guessed it if I hadn't seen it on a sticker. It's still a great car.

I view globalization as a means by which the whole human race has more opportunity to do what each nation does best. The only qualifier is that greed not move us to allow any people to be mistreated through the lack of human accountability inherent in a global market.

I would rather see Cross make pens in China than shut down operations. Then I would have no opportunity to buy or return or repair their pens.

Great writers without "snob" appeal.

I should have clarified this earlier. I have a classic century set made in USA. I would have to get a century 2 fp made in china and pretend they match. You know... It could work

Mike

Judy, I took a gander through that thread last night and it seemed to me to be the classic, "judging a book by it's
cover" deal. So many thought the styling of the Cross as "blahhhh" to give seeing how it wrote a chance.

It isn't often that there's a post on FPN that knocks me back a step but there was one in that thread by a attorney
named BobL (I think). He REALLY likes his Townsend, the Second one he's had since he lost his first one At His Desk,
after 10 years of yoemans duty.

Hungh? you say? How could one lose a pen at one's desk if that's where you knew it was?

The last time BobL saw his pen was on his desk.

On Sept. 11, 2001,

In NYC,

On the 54th floor of The World Trade Center.

YIKES!

Bruce in Ocala, FL

Go back through the forum archives and gander around, there's only 8 pages here and this topic has come up before.

There seems to be some conflicting information and confusion on this "Cross Pens made in China" situation.

It might behoove you to actually call Cross in RI or post a question here for RefillCzar, the A.T. Cross engineer
that monitors this forum. It has to do with the country of origin sticker vs the PERCENT OF COMPONANT PARTS,
more than where the pens are ACTUALLY "MADE". There are apparently some of the Cross pens labeled as "Made
in China" where the predominant % of the actual parts for the pens ARE made in China but THE PEN ITSELF is actually
assembled in Rhode Island.

This "Made in Wherever" is not as simple a proposition as it might appear.

Bruce in Ocala, FL

I used a Cross Townsend for over 10 years of daily use at work. At times it would languish in the drawer, inked, for two weeks' vacation. Never had a problem with it and the only time I flushed it was to change ink colour. Used mainly PR Sherwood Green the last few years. Beautiful dense line.

I'm working on getting my first Cross fountain pen. I want one with an 18k gold nib so I'm looking through to see what I can get. I might end up having to get a whole new set to match the new pen so i can have a matching set! My Dad and Grandpa have always told me that if I ever own a pen and pencil set it should be Cross.

Your father and grandfather were right. There are more expensive pens, more exotic pens, and more exciting pens. Some of them will be excellent and some will cause problems. But it's very hard to go wrong with Cross. Good prices. Great reliability. Good feel in hand. And they always seem to retain their unique character as Cross pens.

MVice, you should gander at that Ebay sellers store I mentioned above.

(Again, no affiliation with him, and I really don't like how he "snarfated" someone else's pics for his ads, but on
the other hand, he does have a pretty unusual "set up" going on.)

He's got alot of the discontinued pens and discontinued colors. He also carries some of the gold and gold plated
nibes. You might be able to find an unusual color pen that you like that perhaps came with a steel nib, contact the
guy and see if he will upgrade the nib for you to a goldie for less than the full additional price of the nib. This way
you'd end up with a pretty unusual, no longer available pen, with a nib upgrade that few if any others have.

Just a thought.

Bruce in Ocala, FL

Refillczar hasn't posted here since November, so I wonder if he's still employed by Cross. I hope his position wasn't moved to China.

Cross now manufactures almost all of its writing instruments in China. From their 2007 10K filing with the SEC:


I believe their customer support remains in Rhode Island, unlike companies like Dell... Regardless, I think Cross continues to make nice pens.

-Mike

I've really enjoyed using my Townsends with the F,M & B nibs. They all have a good flow with a somewhat wet nib and very reliable.

Cross pens are terrific. Every one I've owned has performed perfectly out of the box and over the long haul.
Here are a couple of favorites -


Sterling silver Townsend 18kt nib on left and Sterling silver 150th anniversary18kt nib on right.