Cross Century Chrome / Sterling Silver Fp And Roller Ball - Advice

[mercurius]

I recently bought a Cross Chrome set on eBay consisting of FP, ballpoint and rollerball. The pens are in fabulous condition, but what I hadn't appreciated until they arrived is that they are all the Slimline design. Serves me right for not reading the description properly!

 

Unfortunately I find the Slimline design too small and fiddly, and they don't feel comfortable in my hand. My question is: is there a Cross Century standard size version of these pens, and is so what is the proper name for them? I particularly like the steel nib of the FP rather than the gold nibs often found on Cross pen. Is there a special name for the FP with a steel nib / for this type of set?

 

I would ideally like them in Sterling Silver, but probably beyond my wallet!

 

[sandy101]

Confusingly, there is the Cross Century, which is very slim - and recently reintroduced.

 

The Cross Century 2 which is thicker, but stil slim by most standards - more like a pencil - which does come in Sterling Silver.

 

The Townsend is thicker - as is the Peerless, but neither come in Sterling Silver.

 

Cult Pens currenlty have 20% off all their Cross pens - but do no thave Sterling Silver in stock.

Edited August 18, 2019 by sandy101

[mercurius]

Confusingly, there is the Cross Century, which is very slim - and recently reintroduced.

 

The Cross Century 2 which is thicker, but stil slim by most standards - more like a pencil - which does come in Sterling Silver.

 

The Townsend is thicker - as is the Peerless, but neither come in Sterling Silver.

 

Cult Pens currenlty have 20% off all their Cross pens - but do no thave Sterling Silver in stock.

Thanks for that. Will have to look out for them on eBay. What refill does the Century II rollerball take? Its not clear from the Cult Pens site. Can you get a medium point as well as fine for the roller ball?

Edited August 19, 2019 by mercurius

[Jerome Tarshis]

There is no "standard" size. There are several different sizes. Whatever it sold (but did not necessarily manufacture) as a fountain pen before the 1980s, its relevant history as a seller of fountain pens began in the early 1980s, with the Century. That was a slim pen. Never called Slimline, however. (There is a Montblanc pen sold as the SlimLine, and I own one.)

 

Those being considered too slim by some potential customers, Cross introduced the Century II. A somewhat larger pen. That is still sold, with such variations as the Botanica line, and is a fundamental part of the company's offerings. Later (1994, perhaps?) they introduced the Townsend, which I consider a really good pen, of larger diameter and length than the Century II.

 

Various other models, the Verve being I think made by a Japanese supplier. (Pilot the leading candidate; Cross doesn't say.) The Solo and Radiance ditto. I think the Signature and the Pinnacle, relatively expensive models, were put together with parts from different vendors in different countries. Outstanding pens, though.

 

The pen currently called the Classic Century is not a reintroduction of the Century. Ir is a different pen with a confusingly similar name.

 

The Spire is yet another very thin pen, not the same as any of the above.The Peerless 125 is the current top of the line, not as thin as other Cross pens mentioned above.

 

One really has to understand the Cross lineup one model at a time. There have been many models.

[ac12]

There is no "standard" size. There are several different sizes. Whatever it sold (but did not necessarily manufacture) as a fountain pen before the 1980s, its relevant history as a seller of fountain pens began in the early 1980s, with the Century. That was a slim pen. Never called Slimline, however. (There is a Montblanc pen sold as the SlimLine, and I own one.)

 

Those being considered too slim by some potential customers, Cross introduced the Century II. A somewhat larger pen. That is still sold, with such variations as the Botanica line, and is a fundamental part of the company's offerings. Later (1994, perhaps?) they introduced the Townsend, which I consider a really good pen, of larger diameter and length than the Century II.

 

Various other models, the Verve being I think made by a Japanese supplier. (Pilot the leading candidate; Cross doesn't say.) The Solo and Radiance ditto. I think the Signature and the Pinnacle, relatively expensive models, were put together with parts from different vendors in different countries. Outstanding pens, though.

 

The pen currently called the Classic Century is not a reintroduction of the Century. Ir is a different pen with a confusingly similar name.

 

The Spire is yet another very thin pen, not the same as any of the above.The Peerless 125 is the current top of the line, not as thin as other Cross pens mentioned above.

 

One really has to understand the Cross lineup one model at a time. There have been many models.

 

 

The "original" Century was simply the "Century."

It was NOT the "Classic Century" or "Century Classic," as many posts state.

 

To take the confusion one step further.

The reintroduced "Classic Century" has TWO versions.

• Version 1, the first model, was about the same diameter as the original Century ball pens, THIN. And it was smaller than the original Century fountain pen.

  It did NOT take a converter. Cross never made one for that pen.

• Version 2, current model, is slightly larger in diameter and DOES take a converter.

Cross did not change the name, so you could get the wrong pen, if you are not careful.

If someone has old stock of the version 1, you could get that instead of the current version 2.

Or if you want the slim version 1, you could get the larger version 2.

Edited August 27, 2019 by ac12

[Robb1980]

Having read this string, I need some solid clarification on Cross' sterling silver line. I have a "vintage" (20+years) sterling silver cap and bottom sterling cross fountain pen - mint with tags - that I believe is a early Century II. I have the BP and RB to match. However, there are no hallmarks on the pen. I send photos to Cross and they today me that it was a Townsend no longer in their catalogue -- which I question. Several posts above state that Townsends do not come in Sterling.

 

I need to start paring down a rather extensive collection, but won't list it until I get a more definitive answer.

Can anyone help clarify this for me? I've attached a link to a couple of quick photos.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

https://imgur.com/a/7smnfKK

[Boston Brian]

Some of the opinions and expert advice you Get from people is not up to much! I have a Cross Townsend in Sterling silver, complete with original box it came in. It is clearly labelled as Cross Townsend, Sterling Silver!

 

It has a medium nib, if you are interested in purchasing this pen, send me a personal message!

[jslallar]

Confusingly, there is the Cross Century, which is very slim - and recently reintroduced.

 

The Cross Century 2 which is thicker, but stil slim by most standards - more like a pencil - which does come in Sterling Silver.

 

The Townsend is thicker - as is the Peerless, but neither come in Sterling Silver.

 

Cult Pens currenlty have 20% off all their Cross pens - but do no thave Sterling Silver in stock.

 

I have Cross Townsends in

Sterling Silver,

Tuxedo (sterling silver cap black body, and have seen pics of a pen with sterling silver cap and grey body),

10K riolled gold (there was a 18K rolled gold too I beleive),

?Tango gold plated cap with black barrel,

among other finishes

all of the above are older finishes no longer marketed TTBOMK

 

I also have Century II in

Rolled gold

Tuxedo

and have seen Sterling Silver Century II

[jslallar]

There is no "standard" size. There are several different sizes. Whatever it sold (but did not necessarily manufacture) as a fountain pen before the 1980s, its relevant history as a seller of fountain pens began in the early 1980s, with the Century. That was a slim pen. Never called Slimline, however. (There is a Montblanc pen sold as the SlimLine, and I own one.)

 

Those being considered too slim by some potential customers, Cross introduced the Century II. A somewhat larger pen. That is still sold, with such variations as the Botanica line, and is a fundamental part of the company's offerings. Later (1994, perhaps?) they introduced the Townsend, which I consider a really good pen, of larger diameter and length than the Century II.

 

Various other models, the Verve being I think made by a Japanese supplier. (Pilot the leading candidate; Cross doesn't say.) The Solo and Radiance ditto. I think the Signature and the Pinnacle, relatively expensive models, were put together with parts from different vendors in different countries. Outstanding pens, though.

 

The pen currently called the Classic Century is not a reintroduction of the Century. Ir is a different pen with a confusingly similar name.

 

The Spire is yet another very thin pen, not the same as any of the above.The Peerless 125 is the current top of the line, not as thin as other Cross pens mentioned above.

 

One really has to understand the Cross lineup one model at a time. There have been many models.

 

Pinnacle marketed for a short time was a bigger pen, almost the same weight girth and length as Townsend, but different cli0p design

[jslallar]

There is no "standard" size. There are several different sizes. Whatever it sold (but did not necessarily manufacture) as a fountain pen before the 1980s, its relevant history as a seller of fountain pens began in the early 1980s, with the Century. That was a slim pen. Never called Slimline, however. (There is a Montblanc pen sold as the SlimLine, and I own one.)

 

Those being considered too slim by some potential customers, Cross introduced the Century II. A somewhat larger pen. That is still sold, with such variations as the Botanica line, and is a fundamental part of the company's offerings. Later (1994, perhaps?) they introduced the Townsend, which I consider a really good pen, of larger diameter and length than the Century II.

 

Various other models, the Verve being I think made by a Japanese supplier. (Pilot the leading candidate; Cross doesn't say.) The Solo and Radiance ditto. I think the Signature and the Pinnacle, relatively expensive models, were put together with parts from different vendors in different countries. Outstanding pens, though.

 

The pen currently called the Classic Century is not a reintroduction of the Century. Ir is a different pen with a confusingly similar name.

 

The Spire is yet another very thin pen, not the same as any of the above.The Peerless 125 is the current top of the line, not as thin as other Cross pens mentioned above.

 

One really has to understand the Cross lineup one model at a time. There have been many models.

 

MB Slimline looked quite like the Cross Century - bioth had a squarish cross sectioned nib. MB Slimline developed in =to Noblesse and Noblesse Oblige. Cross Century discontinued and then reintroduced as century Classic. Again Noblesse series and Century CLassic have riounded nibs like most modern pens. All Cross poens are ofcourse metals or metals covered with lacquer, but Noblesse series was also available in plastic finish in addition to metal based pens..