Cross Quality Today?

[cuza]

Cross Quality Today.... isn't that an oxymoron.

 

I will take a US-made Townsend any day, but not the current Townsend facsimiles from offshore. They may eventually get it right but I am not convinced yet.

[Vendome]

I've only tried the Cross ballpens, a couple of the cheaper models, (the Calais and Revere) which came with matching pencils. They were quite decent pens (as were the pencils) for the price, and I presume they were of Chinese manufacture as they are only a few years old.

[dem00n]

Modern day cross pens are pretty good, i own quite a few cheaper models, really good for daily writing. They have good balance, good looks and a great price.

 

I have however find that Cross mechanical pencils of a vintage age have quite a few problems.

[JonDoh]

I don't know if it means anything, but I was reading a book today about violence. (It's a book for writers to get their violence correct.) Anyway, the Cross brand was identified by name in a chapter on impromptu weapons. Apparently the metal ballpoint can be hammered through a sheet of plywood. It is less capable as a weapon because it requires good aim.

 

The book didn't mention the fountain pen. I own a fountain pen and two ballpoints, but they're all at least 13 years old. I will use them from time to time, but they're not my favorites. I was also a bit curious about the fountain pen in terms of violence. Would it be better than the ballpoint? Anyway, not the normal way people look at their fountain pens, but that is what comes of my combining my interest in fountain pens and my interest in writing a novel with realistic violence.

 

The author is obviously referring to the older Cross refills. The Chinese made ones would fall apart before you could do anything dangerous with it.

[Bob Oedeloem]

I have several older USA made rollerball pens, which I love. I recently thought I would try a chinese made Cross pen and purchased a Bailey Medalist. I love it. It is solid metal and the feels very weighty and substantial in my hands and heavier than my other rollerballs. Hopefully the gold finish will not fade to quickly. Paid $17 new in box on Ebay.

[CSG]

Personally, I won't buy a Chicom Cross pen when there are so many USA made ones floating around. I recently picked up a used 12k GF Century on ebay for $14. I still have my first Cross Century that I found around 1967. A bit dinged up but mechanically excellent. And the gold finish has not worn after over 40 years.

[highlander1307]

Modern day cross pens are pretty good, i own quite a few cheaper models, really good for daily writing. They have good balance, good looks and a great price.

 

I have however find that Cross mechanical pencils of a vintage age have quite a few problems.

I have eight vintage Cross pencils and all are excellent.

[Albinoni]

Would be interesting to know what machinery their using to manufacture these new Cross pens. Although the pens are manufactured in China I can guarantee that the machinery is probably from USA or Germany. I also know that China and Germany are doing very good deals