Cross Takes Chances

[Blade Runner]

I posted this comment on Pentrace, so please excuse the repetition. But with the debut of the Cross Apogee I wanted to commend Cross on both their general high quality and because they are willing to try different designs. Look at their higher end pens - Century II, Townsend, Verve, and now Apogee not to mention their less expensive models - all quite different. I really like their willingness to come up with something new periodically unlike some manufacturers who produce essentially the same pen (albeit good pen) year after year with different colors.

Personally I would not buy another pen if the only difference was color, but then I'm not a collector.

[southpaw]

Agreed. I think they're heading in the right and exciting direction.

[contravox]

Agreed, but I only have one general complaint. I think it is a bit disappointing that Cross seems to only put out pens done in all metal. Rotring (with the exception of the oddball Core) did the same thing, and I am actually getting tired of all-metal construction. I would like to see Cross dabble in plastics more and come up with a colorful, yet durable pen. The Parker 51 was probably the best-selling fountain pen of all time, due somewhat in part to it being light-weight and easy to carry around in the shirt pocket (but back then, all pens were lighter and easier to carry). I think a lot of fountain pen consumers suffer from the "if it's plastic, it won't hold up as well" syndrome.

 

I dunno, just something to throw out there.

 

-Robert

[Blade Runner]

Hi Robert,

 

Good point you make. I prefer heavier pens, so I guess I hadn't thought about it.

 

BTW in reference to my concern about metal trim at the section corroding over time, the Cross rep told me they use stainless steel, so corrosion should not be a prob.

 

Off topic - have you ever visited Georgia Tech's Museum of Papermaking?

 

 

Regards,

Jeen