Cross Townsend Photo Thread

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

Thought I would start a photo thread on the Cross Townsend, a classic design made over the last 25 years. Let's see all of them!

This is a Cross Townsend Lapis Lazuli fountain pen released in 1995. The coating is made with particles of genuine Lapis stone with gold flecks. It's 5 7/8 inches long capped and has gold plated trim. The clip is stamped with the Cross logo. It has a two-tone rhodium plated 18 karat gold nib stamped with the Cross logo, nib size and hallmarks. The Townsend line was introduced in 1993 with 18 karat gold filled, 10 karat gold filled, Black Lacquer, Titanium finish, and Medalist models and continues in production today. Prices were $400 for the fountain pen, $325 for the select tip (rollerball), $250 for the ballpoint, and $250 for the pencil.

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/CrossTownsendLapis_1280_01.jpg

Thanks!

[MrThoth]

I'm afraid I don't have time to post pics of all my Townsends, so I thought I'd settle for one particularly interesting one. This is the 23K Heavy Gold Cherry Blossom, of which only 45 were made (this one's #20). My understanding is that this model was only sold in Japan (as opposed to the Platinum Cherry Blossom, which was sold world-wide). I was fortunate enough to find out about the existence of the gold model (basically through dumb luck) and tracked down a seller in Japan who had one available.

 

Edited July 31, 2018 by MrThoth

[MrThoth]

The Lapis Lazuli was the perfect choice to start this thread off with! To this day it's my #1 favorite pen. So beautiful, rests perfectly in the hand, writes nice and smooth.

 

[Braxfield]

The Gold Cherry Blossom is fantastic. Thank you for sharing that image. I wonder why it was created in SUCH limited quantity.

[MrThoth]

The Gold Cherry Blossom is fantastic. Thank you for sharing that image. I wonder why it was created in SUCH limited quantity.

 

Thanks!

 

That's a darn good question. I assume it's meant to commemorate something, or maybe has some significance in Japan. I'm just glad I learned about it before they were all gone!

[Braxfield]

Cross is such a funny company with such a varied range of offerings that I can't help but think it would benefit from an Advisory Board of Collectors (lavishly remunerated with pens) offering advice on what lines to keep and what to ditch. Of course, I realize there are many other considerations but some of the product choices are baffling. Even a catalogue of what they have produced over the years would be a boon (and might kindle greater appreciation of their undisputed triumphs).

Edited August 3, 2018 by Braxfield

[Shannon]

While the picture isn't nearly as nice, these remain beautiful writing instruments

 

[MrThoth]

Cross is such a funny company with such a varied range of offerings that I can't help but think it would benefit from an Advisory Board of Collectors (lavishly remunerated with pens) offering advice on what lines to keep and what to ditch. Of course, I realize there are many other considerations but some of the product choices are baffling. Even a catalogue of what they have produced over the years would be a boon (and might kindle greater appreciation of their undisputed triumphs).

 

I can but agree. I know for a fact that I have more information about the Cross Townsend than the company itself seems to -- when I contacted them with questions, what they sent me in return contained less information than I already had.

 

I think pretty much *all* pen companies would benefit from having some sort of "collector's catalog" showing all their pens from start until today. The truth is that when we as collectors what that information, we typically don't turn to the companies themselves -- we look for websites established by other collectors. Some sort of company-collector partnership to gather information and make it available would help both group (or so I'd like to think).

[Joe in Seattle]

I had this combination for over 20 years during my professional life.

Edited August 5, 2018 by Joe in Seattle

[Braxfield]

Lamy is one pen company that seems to recognize the importance of its history and the connection between individual designers and the brand. I haven't actually been to the company museum in Heidelberg, but I would imagine its an effective marketing tool. A.T.Cross (like many) has taken the opposite approach. Even in the days when it functioned, in effect, as a family company (albeit not the Cross family), it seems to have blithely abandoned its archives on more than one occasion. At least that's the suggestion in the authorized memoir by Barbara Lambert.

 

I am interested in the actual design process of certain models. That's the kind of history that can disappear and be lost forever. When that happens all that remains is theory and conjecture.

 

I used to know (but have forgotten) when the first postage stamp catalogue appeared. Until then the hobby mostly comprised chaps running around and saying, "Oh, I've got one like that!". FPs are well past that stage but there is still much work to be done.

[Matlock]

Lamy is one pen company that seems to recognize the importance of its history and the connection between individual designers and the brand. I haven't actually been to the company museum in Heidelberg, but I would imagine its an effective marketing tool. A.T.Cross (like many) has taken the opposite approach. Even in the days when it functioned, in effect, as a family company (albeit not the Cross family), it seems to have blithely abandoned its archives on more than one occasion. At least that's the suggestion in the authorized memoir by Barbara Lambert.

 

I am interested in the actual design process of certain models. That's the kind of history that can disappear and be lost forever. When that happens all that remains is theory and conjecture.

 

I used to know (but have forgotten) when the first postage stamp catalogue appeared. Until then the hobby mostly comprised chaps running around and saying, "Oh, I've got one like that!". FPs are well past that stage but there is still much work to be done.

 

Lamy don't seem to acknowledge the early part of it's history, their records more or less start with the 2000. Parker is the only company with a comprehensive record, kept in the Parker Archive/Museum in London. Sadly this is not open to the public.

[Jerome Tarshis]

 

Lamy don't seem to acknowledge the early part of it's history, their records more or less start with the 2000.

 

I was very glad to see this read into the record here. With some companies, and businesses in general tend not to be responsible stewards of their own history, one gets the impression that they've accidentally mislaid a few file folders. With Lamy I get the impression that more or less forgetting about the company's many models before 1966 is deliberate and represents some sharp feelings on the part of management, not just a little sloppy office work.

[Braxfield]

Slightly cryptic remark, JT. Were the pre-1966 pens undistinguished, or do you think there was a personal aspect involved? Josef Lamy was a Parker man, before he struck off on his own.

[jslallar]

a similar thread is already going

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/294972-townsend-collection-display/

[jslallar]

 

I can but agree. I know for a fact that I have more information about the Cross Townsend than the company itself seems to -- when I contacted them with questions, what they sent me in return contained less information than I already had.

 

I think pretty much *all* pen companies would benefit from having some sort of "collector's catalog" showing all their pens from start until today. The truth is that when we as collectors what that information, we typically don't turn to the companies themselves -- we look for websites established by other collectors. Some sort of company-collector partnership to gather information and make it available would help both group (or so I'd like to think).

Mr Thoth,

 

I may be asking too much, in fact I know I am, but then you are THE TOWNSEND MAN.

 

Humbly I would ask that you name the pens you have posted in the Townsend collection writing their SKU numbers and color names serially as they appear.

 

And if you have the time and inclination, time and patience, I for one would love to read more about the Townsends, their design, making, history etc.

 

I hope and pray you take up the challenge.

Edited October 20, 2018 by jslallar

[MrThoth]

Sure, I can do that. If I weren't such a lazy (bleep) I'd already have a website up that I could point you to, but instead you'll have to settle for this plain ol' list for now. This list is current through October 2018, and includes as its latest releases the 2019 Year of the Pig pen and the three Scuderia Ferrari pens. I own all of these pens except for the AT0047-22 Townsend Tango and one mentioned at the end of the list. The hunt continues, but with little luck these days.

 

AT0046-1 — Platinum Plated

AT0046-3 — Titanium Herringbone

AT0046-4 — Black Lacquer with Rhodium Appointments

AT0046-5 — Citrine

AT0046-6 — Garnet

AT0046-7 — Tango Black

AT0046-8 — Tango Slate

AT0046-30 — Black Smooth Touch

AT0046-42 — Stylus 23K Gold Plate

AT0046-43 — Stylus Brushed Platinum Plate

AT0046-45 — 2017 Year of the Rooster

AT0046-54 — 2018 Year of the Dog

AT0046-55 — 2019 Year of the Pig

AT0046B-29 — 20th Anniversary Platinum Plated (aka Brushed Platinum Plate)

AT0046B-32 — 20th Anniversary 23K Heavy Gold Plate (aka Brushed Gold Plate)

AT0046CB-37 — Japanese Cherry Blossom 23K Heavy Gold Plate

AT0046CB-38 — Japanese Cherry Blossom Brushed Platinum Plate

AT0046D-39 — Star Wars C-3PO

AT0046D-40 — Star Wars Darth Vader

AT0046D-41 — Star Wars Stormtrooper

AT0046D-47 — Star Wars Chewbacca

AT0046D-48 — Star Wars R2-D2

AT0046D-50 — Star Wars BB-8

AT0046D-51 — Star Wars Boba Fett

AT0046D-53 — Star Wars Han Solo

AT0047-15 — Midnight Blue

AT0047-22 — Townsend Tango

AT0047-24 — Brush Platinum

AT0047-31 — Engraved Chrome

AT0047-34 — Chrome Radial

FR0046-56 — Scuderia Ferrari Rosso Glossy Black Lacquer

FR0046-57 — Scuderia Ferrari Rosso Corsa Red Lacquer

FR0046-58 — Scuderia Ferrari Honeycomb Pattern

506 — Medalist

516 — Marbled Green Lacquer (sometimes 616)

536 — Lustrous Chrome

556 — Tuxedo

566 — Duet Black Gold

576 — Black Lacquer

586 — Titanium

596 — Marbled Blue Lacquer

626-1 — Cyber Blue

626-2 — Meteorite (Champagne)

626-3 — Cosmos Black

636 — Sienna Lacquer

646 — Quicksilver

656 — Sterling Silver

676 — Jade

686 — Cardinal Red Lacquer

696-1 — Quartz Blue Lacquer

696-2 — Anthracite Lacquer

696-5 — Translucent Green

696-6 — Malachite Lacquer

696-7 — Carbonite Lacquer

696-8 — Ochre Lacquer

696-13 — Ruby Lacquer

696-14 — Emerald Lacquer

706 — 10K Gold Filled/RolledGold

776 — 18K Gold Filled

796 — Lapis

??? — Special releases like the Concorde pens, Presidential Series, and so forth — I don’t know if these have separate SKUs or not.

??? — Copper Lacquer (a pen I have but can’t identify by name or SKU)

??? — Titanium Grey Lacquer (a pen I’ve seen pictures of online but don’t can’t identify by name or SKU)

[MrThoth]

 

 

And if you have the time and inclination, time and patience, I for one would love to read more about the Townsends, their design, making, history etc.

 

I have a partially-written "Townsend Identification Guide" that in theory would include as much information as I could dig up about the Townsend design process and such. Unfortunately, if such information exists, it's probably only in the files of the Cross Co. I would have to make a trip to their US headquarters and arrange to conduct some interviews and do some research. Since there's no money in this, I'm just going to have to wait until some other trip takes me to the vicinity of Rhode Island and then piggyback a pen research side trip onto it.

[mol_lon]

My only Cross fountain pen. I enjoy it but it is too skinny for me. I prefer thicker pens.

[PensandPencilsDotNet]

Here is a Cross Townsened Citrine Fountain Pen, will try to get some more photos soon.

Edited October 29, 2018 by PensandPencilsDotNet

[jekostas]

Titanium Gold