Ever get the impression it's broken

[Carrie]

I don't normally venture into the Cross forum as I only own one Cross pen and my only other experience of them is one that I bought as a present for my dad when he retired.

 

My own Cross pen I bought as a set with a biro in 1997 when on holiday in Germany. It was on clearance, so only cost me about £20. I've got to admit that the biro has seen more use than the fountain pen because the medium nib was a little broad for my liking.

 

Once I moved over onto using vintage Conway Stewarts, the Cross had sat forgotten about in the bureau drawer at my parent's house, only being uncovered last year when my dad and me were going through some papers when my mum was in hospital. So, I uncovered the pen, still boxed and thought I'd put a cartridge in it. Pulled the pen out of the box, came to uncap it and thought it seemed a bit tight. This is what it looked like when the cap came off and the plastic of the section sheared off too.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v30/carrieh/PIC_0043.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v30/carrieh/PIC_0045.jpg

 

Anyone ever seen anything like this before? What might have caused this? It looks for all the world like it's been subjected to intense heat (which I know it hasn't). The section is swelled and as you can see, very discoloured. I did phone Cross, but they wanted to charge £25 for a new nib section and when the whole set only cost me £20 in the first place, I really don't think it's worth it. So now the pen sits in my desk drawer and a few people have pulled it out and had a laugh at the state it's in.

 

Edited to correct tag on image

Edited July 9, 2006 by Carrie

[PenHero]

I'm surprised Cross wouldn't repair it for free if the damage was failure of the material. Did I miss something?

 

Cheers,

 

Jim Mamoulides

www.PenHero.com

[Carrie]

Well, I thought it might have been covered under warranty as well, but not according to the person I spoke to at Cross UK. I was told that if the pen needed a completely new nib section then I would have to pay for it. Given the age and cost of the pen I decided it wasn't worth arguing about. I'd love to know what actually caused the pen to go like that in the first place because it's not been exposed to any extremes of temperature or UV, it was just left sitting in a box.

[RLTodd]

Well, I thought it might have been covered under warranty as well, but not according to the person I spoke to at Cross UK. I was told that if the pen needed a completely new nib section then I would have to pay for it. Given the age and cost of the pen I decided it wasn't worth arguing about. I'd love to know what actually caused the pen to go like that in the first place because it's not been exposed to any extremes of temperature or UV, it was just left sitting in a box.

Strange. I've had two Cross products that broke. In both cases they repaired them as good as new for the cost of postage. The EU must have a much different interpretation of the Cross guarantee and service policy!

[Chris]

I'm surprised that Cross would not repair for free as their lifetime guarantee covers quite a lot.

I suggest you call again, or go to a high class pen shop that has a lot of Cross stock and ask their advice.

Perhaps they'll repair/replace for free for you.

Worth a try as they are good pens,

Chris

[Carrie]

I suggest you call again, or go to a high class pen shop that has a lot of Cross stock and ask their advice.

When I went in The Pen Shop in the Trafford Centre one time I asked their opinion (just told them the state the pen was in, I didn't have it with me) and they said that it should have been replaced by Cross and if I took it into them they would get it replaced. Maybe I will speak to Cross again or try The Pen Shop.

[wdyasq]

"Maybe I will speak to Cross again or try The Pen Shop." -

 

Yes, I would let the "Pen Shop' fight the (insert not so complenterary word here).

 

Ron

[Carrie]

Just out of interest, can anyone tell me what the model is? I'm guessing part of the Century range, but it didn't actually give a model name in the paperwork that came with it.

[ballboy]

Hi Carrie, looks like a Classic Century to me: any other pronouncements anyone?

 

Nearly bought a Townsend from the Pen Shop there, but found my more individual cream sienna laquered one from the States instead.

[Chris]

I think almost certainly it is a Century Classic.

I have the same in sterling silver - lovely writer and has been in daily use for twenty years.

 

Chris

[The Man]

Plastic, eh? I believe the very knowledgeable Richard mentioned something about “crazing” and/or “crystallization” regarding plastics, in a certain thread:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...11473&hl=brasso

 

Hope that helps. Check out his website, especially his glossary and write-ups. Valuable info!

[Bradley]

I have had rather bad luck with my Cross ballpoints, but the repair department has been very helpful.

 

I do own one Cross fountain pen, an old Century, and it is one of the smoothest writers I own, and it has given me no problems, other than the duplicate cartridge getting stuck in the barrel -- very difficult to remove.

 

Bradley

Edited September 4, 2006 by Bradley

[Russ]

I miss my Century Classic FP. Smooth is correct - - like glass.

 

Bradley, I had cartridges get stuck in the barrel also. Quick fix: Find a long drywall screw with a sharp point. Using a screwdriver, press the screw into the cartridge and turn until the screw's threads are firmly engaged. Then just pull it out.

[Bradley]

Russ, thanks for the clever solution! I eventually had to use some sort of probe from my old high school disecting kit to extract mine. It worked, thankfully, but until then I had to make due using cartidges, although I really wanted to use the converter. And the Cross cartridges seem so small to me. But your answer seems foolproof, indeed, and I appreciate your kind reply.

 

Bradley