I Think I Need Help, Just Got My Fifth Century Classic Fp

[wykeite]

What on earth is wrong with me?

 

I worked with a bunch of American guys in the late 70s and to a man they seemed to have this very elegant looking ballpoint pen in their shirt pocket. It didn't take me long to find out the make and more importantly they were available in Saudi where I was working and at an extremely good price. Bought one, lost one, bought one etc., but have always had one to this day. The present one I have had since 1987, only surpassed in terms of service by the Papermate my Grandmother bought me in 1976.

 

Go forward a couple of years and Cross have introduced the Century Classic fountain pen without even bothering to tell me . I only saw one for sale in 1983 when I went to purchase yet another ballpoint to replace the latest lost one. I'll give it a try I think to myself. 10K rolled gold just like all my ballpoints - a perfect match.

 

For some reason which is obscured by the mist of time I didn't really get on with it and like so many other things was consigned to the "too good for the garbage bin" drawer. A few years ago I came across it and thought I'd give it another go, what a revelation. I was now firmly back on the FP track and enjoying it. The nib is beautiful, so smooth it's like writing on silk.

 

I can hear the cries now and I wholeheartedly agree, IT'S A NAIL!!!! but it is lovely to write with and I cannot imagine a smoother nail.

 

I've got to say that I love nibs with flex and have a lovely Osmia 663, Swan Mabie Todd, Parkers and quite a few Pelikan 400NNs etc. but I still can't resist the Cross Century which gets as much use as the others.

 

This has now led me to purchase even more and I now have 5 of them, 2 x 14K, 3 x 10K, 2 x F, 3 x M.

 

What should I do next?

 

[The Blue Knight]

You never know which pen you are going to catch the bug for and buy many of. I really like the Parker Sonnet and will probably buy a third at some point, even though some members find it a bad pen. Some members really like the Lamy safari and have ten plus of them, a pen I don't particularly rate at the end of the day buy what makes you happy.

[Algester]

you guy what you like I know I like the Century Classic because of the casual nondescript design it holds it was also my first FP or it could have been a knockoff all I know it uses a Standard International Cartridge way back in 1994-1995

Edited June 7, 2014 by Algester

[OcalaFlGuy]

Since you like the thinner Crossi, set your sights now on as good condition as you can find Cross Signature.

 

It was also their Flagship pen at the time it was made and interestingly enough, doesn't so strongly resemble other Cross FPs. My Signature is the 3rd

pen from the left below.

 

 

They also came with an engraved nib that only the Signature had, a bit nicer engraving than the usual for Cross.

 

The last NOS ones I saw had only XF or B nibs. A couple years ago, when I called Cross in RI , those widths were the only Signature nibs

(with the neat engraving specific to the Signature) they had left too. You could also have a B nib ground down to a width you prefer or

have it ground into a Stub or CI.

 

You'd then have a Cross that you'd be Very Unlikely to see anyone else using one of.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[da vinci]

 

This has now led me to purchase even more and I now have 5 of them, 2 x 14K, 3 x 10K, 2 x F, 3 x M.

 

What should I do next?

 

Post some pics?

 

Seriously, you cannot have too much of a good thing...you like the pen so why not.

 

I have 4 Townsends, multiple MB 14x's and Safari's.

 

Do what you want and enjoy it!

[Xqmano]

YES! YOU NEED HELP!!

 

You need help finding MORE!

 

Which finishes do you have btw?

 

I have two century IIs. One in sterling silver and one in rolled gold. Even though I'm not a gold-pen kind of guy, the gold one does get a fair bit of use. Perhaps because, when I got it, the nib was bent out of shape, and I managed to coax it back to working order, and now it writes very nicely.

Edited June 8, 2014 by Xqmano

[ac12]

@wykeite

Now you need to get the different finishes: gold, chrome, black, gray, and burgundy.

 

I agree, the nib are VERY smooth.

But I found the nibs much smaller than other brands.

I normally use an old Parker F nib, the Cross F is like an old Parker XF. I had to go up to the Cross M nib to match my old Parker F nibs.

 

 

@Algester

I did not know that an international cartridge will fit a Cross Century FP. I thought it only fit the Cross cartridge. I need to check mine.

[vickiehof]

Since you like the thinner Crossi, set your sights now on as good condition as you can find Cross Signature.

 

It was also their Flagship pen at the time it was made and interestingly enough, doesn't so strongly resemble other Cross FPs. My Signature is the 3rd

pen from the left below.

 

 

They also came with an engraved nib that only the Signature had, a bit nicer engraving than the usual for Cross.

 

The last NOS ones I saw had only XF or B nibs. A couple years ago, when I called Cross in RI , those widths were the only Signature nibs

(with the neat engraving specific to the Signature) they had left too. You could also have a B nib ground down to a width you prefer or

have it ground into a Stub or CI.

 

You'd then have a Cross that you'd be Very Unlikely to see anyone else using one of.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

Hi Bruce,

 

What are the names of the Cross models in your picture? I especially like the 4th one from the left, or should I say, the 3rd one from the right.

 

Thanks,

Vickiehof

[OcalaFlGuy]

Left to Right.

 

Century Classic I 14k GF, Century Classic II 14k GF, Townsend in Quartz Blue Lacquer, ATX (heading to a friend in Canada), Century Classic II

 

You have a good eye Vickie. The Townsend has a bottom layer of Guilloche engraving with a bunch of coats of the blue lacquer on top of it. The light reflects off the Guilloche and bounces around and off the blue lacquer making it's way back out. It shimmers as you turn it. It's mesmerizing. It is still in production though mine is probably 4 years old now. They are Crazy expensive new with the gold nibs but aren't too bad with the steel.

 

[EDIT] That pic really does not do it justice. It's much prettier in person.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

Edited June 9, 2014 by OcalaFlGuy

[Lyander0012]

Haha, I can kinda tell where you're coming from. Perhaps it just happened to be the one pen (design) you were meant to fall for? I mean, I know some people who collect variants of Sheaffer Snorkels, Parker 51s, Esterbrooks, etc. To be perfectly fair to them, they go for different finishes and designs for each of them, usually, so the purchases are justifiable. As my collection, if you can call it that, currently stands, I only have one representative each of seven models, only two being from the same company (Sheaffer); I suppose I'm still trying things out. I'm growing more fond of Japanese pens though, and am considering getting both a Namiki Falcon and a Platinum President some time in the near future.

 

If there were one pen that I'd buy again and again, though, it'd definitely be the Sailor 1911 Full-size, each with a different specialty nib. Sailor is good with those, so I'm likely to end up with quite a few 1911s, haha.

 

Anyway, as far as advice for you goes, OP, I suggest that you just do what you wish, so long as you remember to keep within the bounds of good taste and financial stability. The Century comes in a bunch of different finishes, if you really want to add variety to your collection, and you could maybe have a nibmeister play around with one of the gold-nibbed ones to give you a semi-flexer. It's good to have a pen for different purposes/writing styles, and keeps it you from neglecting the others in your collection


Cheers, and best of luck!

Kevin

[wykeite]

Nice collection Bruce, unfortunately it's only the Classic that does it for me. I think it all stems from the ballpoint that came before the FP, just sheer elegance. It suited male and female alike, then the FP came along with the same elegant smooth lines.

 

Nothing that Cross has produced since the Century Classic line has tempted me. It truly was a classic, and I'm not that keen on all metal skins!

Edited June 9, 2014 by wykeite

[ac12]

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Nice collection Bruce, unfortunately it's only the Classic that does it for me. I think it all stems from the ballpoint that came before the FP, just sheer elegance. It suited male and female alike, then the FP came along with the same elegant smooth lines.

 

Nothing that Cross has produced since the Century Classic line has tempted me. It truly was a classic, and I'm not that keen on all metal skins!

 

 

Take a look at the new Classic Century.

I think it was made to compliment the original ball pen Century pens, as its size is very similar.

I like the chrome with gold trim pen.

[max dog]

 

This has now led me to purchase even more and I now have 5 of them, 2 x 14K, 3 x 10K, 2 x F, 3 x M.

 

What should I do next?

 

How about a sterling silver one. They are harder to find, but would be a gem in any collection. I passed up a chance on one a year ago on ebay, and have not seen one since.

[Tumbleweedtoo]

I became fascinated with Cross pens because of my first Cross pen, a 1984 Cross Century Classic, that I love. I had to send it to Cross twice for repairs to a cap that was damaged due to my own fault. Their repair center has always handled warranty work beyond what should be expected, in my experience. After I damaged the barrel and the cap in another accident, I retired the pen rather than send it back to Cross a third time. The pen has too many good memories to trade it for a new pen. To replace it, I collected several different Cross pens and enjoyed every single one. I really like shape of the Apogee and the Verve and the Townsend and the (I could go on). I love the way Cross pens write; however, the Century Classic is now too thin for my liking. Unfortunately, I was not faithful to my Cross pens. I bought a Japanese pen. Ever since I bought a Pilot Custom 823 pen a few years ago, I have not inked or used a Cross pen. After using that beautiful, smooth, #15 Pilot nib, I just can't look at the tiny Cross nibs that I used to love writing with. I love looking at my Cross pens, they are beautiful, as long as I do not remove the cap! So, let this be a sincere warning. If you really love Cross pens, as I did, never never never buy a Japanese pen!!!

 

All the best,

T

[PatientType]

Fountain pens are a tool used by those that have learned to take life at their own speed and to sense the feel of a nib sliding across paper and to notice the glistening of letters formed in new wet ink. There are times in our lives when we are prepared to appreciate these nuances of life and value them. There are times when we are not.

[ac12]

@T

I dunno, I have a Cross with a nice M nib that feels just as smooth as my Pilot desk pen.

Both are glassy smooth writers.

 

I agree about the visual effect of the nib.

I like writing with my open nib pens more than my hooded nib pens (Parker 51), because I can look at the nib.

Even my lowly Esterbrook or Sheaffer school pen gives me this comfortable visual feeling.

And a nice looking nib magnifies this feeling.

[CSSD]

Seems to me the only real problem is not having one in 18K.

 

Cheers,

 

Carl