Cross Townsend--Hail, Hail, The Gang's All Here

[fullfederhalter]

I had always wanted a Cross Lapis Lazuli pen from the first time I saw one, but the price was always well beyond my means. Then, through a stroke of good fortune I found the ballpoint and mechanical pencil at an estate sale about two years ago. Last April I found the rollerball in a bag of markers at a flea market. Finally, I found the fountain pen at another flea market last September. The pens are in near-mint condition, although the nib of the fountain pen was bent downward at a 90 degree angle. The fountain pen was sent to Michael Masuyama and the repaired pen was delivered today. Just a few years ago, I thought I would never own even one Cross Lapis pen. Now I have all four and even with the cost of repair I have less than $100 invested. Happy collector.

Edited February 1, 2015 by fullfederhalter

[da vinci]

Thats a good haul of lovely pens.

 

I like Townsends and have the lapis and jade fp versions. Magnificent quality.

[RMN]

Nice set there, and I like the Ed McBain reference....

 

 

D.ick

[MrThoth]

Congratulations! It was a Cross Townsend Lapis ballpoint that first put me on the pen collecting road, and acquiring my own Townsend Lapis FP has definitely been one of the highest points of the hobby for me so far.

[max dog]

That's an impressive Cross set you have there. Congrats!

[laureat]

Sumguys have all the luck! What a lovely flock. I own the Lapis FP and its a such a special finish. They are the best writers too if you like hefty writing tools.

[Shubes]

I love the look of the Townsend. I have been eying the Quartz blue, bit I wish they were still producing that color

[MrThoth]

I love the look of the Townsend. I have been eying the Quartz blue, bit I wish they were still producing that color

 

There are usually at least one or two Lapis Townsends for sale on eBay at any given time (though I agree it would be wonderful if they still produced that model). Prices are sometimes steep, but if you keep an eye peeled you can sometimes find them pretty cheaply. (Well, I suppose that depends on how you define "cheaply"; PM me if you'd like more information on prices.)

 

Though of course, finding one for ultra-cheap at a flea market or something, like the original poster did, is even better.

Edited March 16, 2015 by MrThoth

[Chris]

$100 total -

 

Seriously, well done - I am glad these wonderful instruments are being enjoyed.

[harry015]

I love the look of the blue Lapis pen. Since I like the heft of the Townsend, I'm going to start checking eBay, and hope to find a reasonably priced example. It'll be a nice, late birthday present to myself...

[ArchiMark]

You are a heckuva sumgai now!!!

 

 

Congrats and enjoy these great pens!

 

Mark

[PenHero]

Wow! Nice!

[delano]

I got my first Townsend FP just a few days ago, and now I am hooked. It looks "stately" to me.

[MrThoth]

Which finish/color did you get, delano?

Edited June 19, 2015 by MrThoth

[jslallar]

beautiful pen, I love mine,

I only have the fountain versions of lapis lazuli and five other finishes of townsends

[Florida Blue]

Wow! That's an incredibly impressive and beautiful set of pens.

 

The Lapis Townsend is pretty hard to come by and sellers usually want a mint for one so to find all four types for a fraction of what just one would sell for is quite a find.

 

Enjoy writing with your dream pens!