Cross Townsend Question

[CapQb]

Ive seen references to a wider girth Townsend. Do they mean wider than other Cross pens generally speaking, or is there now actually a wider version of the Townsend pens specifically? Thanks for any info....

[Jerome Tarshis]

So far as I am aware, all Townsends are of the same diameter. Several FPN members collect them, and we may hear something from Mr Thoth, who has a very impressive collection.

 

When Cross got into its current period of fountain-pen manufacture (for most of its history it was primarily a manufacturer of mechanical pencils, and of MP mechanisms used by other manufacturers), during the early 1980s, it began with the Century. Some people complained that the Century was too thin for them. So Cross introduced the Century II, which had a somewhat wider diameter. Nevertheless, some people complained that the Century II was also too thin.

 

The Townsend, introduced in the early 1990s, had a still wider diameter. Many consider it a slim pen, either pleasantly slim or too slim.

 

My own favorite pen turns out to be the Parker 51 Aero Demi, so none of the above three pens is too slim for me. The Cross Spire is even slimmer, and I suppose there may be models fatter than the Townsend; I haven't explored the entire line.

Edited November 10, 2018 by Jerome Tarshis

[dennis_f]

On some websites a larger version of the Townsend ballpoint has appeared. Just the ballpoint (at least on the websites I've visited).

 

The new version is labelled as:

 

*New wider profile*

 

I'm not sure if this means that the original (slimmer) ballpoint will be discontinued.

 

On those same websites, there's been no mention of a change to the fountain pens or rollerballs.

D.

Edited November 10, 2018 by dennis_f

[MrThoth]

I'm not aware of any size variation in the Cross Townsend FPs at all (though I've never sat down and measured all of them). I don't collect ballpoints or rollerballs, so I can't comment on them except to say that just now, when I measured a couple of Townsend BPs that I happened to own, they seemed to be about a millimeter less wide where the cap stops on the barrel. (I don't have calipers, though, so I can't say for sure. Note to self: put calipers on shopping list the next time I go to Home Depot. )

Edited November 10, 2018 by MrThoth

[jslallar]

I also do not collect BPs or RBs,

 

but this much I know that the size is exactly the same at least for the cap and barrel of RBs and FPs, because RBs can be converted to FPs by changing the nib section only - I have done it and it is an exact fit from RB to FP.

[PensandPencilsDotNet]

There is no mention about this on cross.com

[Tom_Moritz]

As MrThoth said, theres no variation in the size of the Townsend. The Townsend is however the larges of Crosss fountain pen offerings with the exception of the newer Pearless.

[prometheus13]

Forgive me if this is the wrong forum but I have a question on the Cross Townsend. Can anyone tell me if the nib is friction fit?

[dennis_f]

Prometheus,

You might want to post that question as a new thread in the cross forum (or even within any of the the general topics forums) . You're more likely to find more traffic there than in a thread dedicated to a specific question (as this one is), and thus a higher likelihood of a response.

D.

Edited February 18, 2019 by dennis_f

[dennis_f]

Returning to the original question. See here:

 

https://www.stylo.ca/en/produits/Cross+/Townsend/200_411_162.html

 

Compare the topmost photo (the first ballpoint) the the bottommost photo (the fourth photo). Note that the second ballpoint is described as: "*New wider profile*"

 

I assume this is only true of the ballpoints and not the FPs or rollerballs.

 

If you see the older version of the pen in a store, alongside the newer version, the difference in girth is obvious.

[JonB55198]

Some people complained that the Century was too thin for them. So Cross introduced the Century II, which had a somewhat wider diameter. Nevertheless, some people complained that the Century II was also too thin.

 

The Townsend, introduced in the early 1990s, had a still wider diameter.

 

And recently cross introduced the Peerless which is even wider than a Townsend.

[Honeybadgers]

I'd say the townsend is a medium width pen but very long.

 

The section on mine is bum though, sharp and catches my thumb when I uncap it - cross is replacing it for me (but charging me $10 just to look at it and make me pay for shipping on a brand new pen is kind of a dick move)

[langere]

Yes, the Peerless is the widest pen that Cross has. Nice pen! Just got one not too long ago. I was impressed (Of course, it also has an impressive price).

 

Erick

[JonB55198]

By the way, if the OP or anyone else is interested, I have a Cross Peerless London Edition (this is the special edition that is gold with a red jewel on the top of the cap), with Fine nib. If anyone is interested, send me a message. It has been inked once. I do not have box or papers.

[Jawsaw]

hello all, new here. 

I am an owner of a number of cross townsends. I have FP, rollerball, ball point variants.

 

I can confirm that there has been a size change for the Townsend BP. 
 

Townsend BPs are now available in wider girth.

 

here you can see my 2019 Medalist ballpoint, which is considerably wider than my 2002 titanium ballpoint. The finneal is exceptionally wider. The shape of the end of the pen has also changed. It has become smoother rather than triangular. I am not sure if the change has affected all three variants of the pen. 

[dennis_f]

 

Thanks for following up and confirming this with photos!

Lovely pens, by the way.

D.

[Jawsaw]

On 3/8/2021 at 5:46 PM, dennis_f said:

 

Thanks for following up and confirming this with photos!

Lovely pens, by the way.

D.

Happy to be of assistance. Thank you very much. I’m a bit of a Townsend fanatic... been hooked since I saw President Obama singing a bill with 22 of them lol. 
 

Jaws

[Man O War]

On 3/9/2021 at 6:10 PM, Jawsaw said:

Happy to be of assistance. Thank you very much. I’m a bit of a Townsend fanatic... been hooked since I saw President Obama singing a bill with 22 of them lol. 
 

Jaws

President Biden’s been using a black lacquer Century II with felt tip if interested.  Numerous photos on the net.

 

Ryan