Are Cross Pens still Made in the USA?

[ookiihito]

Hi,

 

I am curious to know if Cross still manufactures in the USA? Conversely, was the Cross Townsend Made in the USA?

 

Thanks!

[CharlieB]

Most Townsends were made in the US. Several years ago, Cross began shifting production to China. I believe the most recent Townsends are from China. The earlier ones are from Rhode Island.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

The pens are made in Rhode Island, although certain sub-assemblies come from China.

 

Dillon

[jjb_13]

I'm not so sure how many pens are still being made in the US.

If you drive by the headquarters of AT Cross these days you will see a large portion of the factory area being torn down, leaving only the administrative offices and warehouse still standing. Employees who work in the outlet store there are quite friendly and happy to talk about the company and will tell you that almost all production is now overseas. The notable exceptions being pens made for a couple of accounts (I think Tiffany was one of them) who insisted that the pens they purchase need to be made in the USA.

[FrankB]

Thank you. I just asked a question similar to this one on the Writing Instrument forum. I had understood that most Cross production had gone overseas, mostly to China. I am sorry to hear that.

[raillink]

Are the Townsend nibs out-sourced to Pilot/Namiki or are they made in-house ?

 

[PenHero]

All the new Cross pens come in boxes marked "Made in China", except for the Tech3, which is marked "Made in Japan."

 

Cheers,

 

Jim Mamoulides

www.PenHero.com

[Waterman]

That is a shame but 50 years from now made in China will be a good thing, kinda like made in Japan back in the 50's.

 

Thanks

Brad

[Cedar]

Too bad. I was just contemplating a Apogee but I guess I'll pass now. I don't think I want any more of my dollars contributing to the trade deficit that I then, get to pay more taxes on to pay off the loan that we get in return. From now on, it's Bexley or vintage...or more socialistic origins.

 

Cedar

[Stylo]

My Green Translucent Townsend box says "Assembled in USA of US an foreign components." While I bought it recently, it was I think a 1999 issue. But on the Townsend Tuxedo box I bought one or two years ago, it just says "China."

 

If you are looking for an American made pen (at least partially), you have to look elsewhere.

 

[ookiihito]

That is a shame but 50 years from now made in China will be a good thing, kinda like made in Japan back in the 50's.

 

Thanks

Brad

 

 

Never! We'll probably be at war with them by then.

[Waterman]

That is a shame but 50 years from now made in China will be a good thing, kinda like made in Japan back in the 50's.

 

Thanks

Brad

 

 

Never! We'll probably be at war with them by then.

 

That's a strong statement, slightly ignorant dont you think

Edited February 8, 2008 by Waterman

[sdonahue]

Too bad. I was just contemplating a Apogee but I guess I'll pass now. I don't think I want any more of my dollars contributing to the trade deficit that I then, get to pay more taxes on to pay off the loan that we get in return. From now on, it's Bexley or vintage...or more socialistic origins.

 

Cedar

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just picked up an Apogee in Frosty Steel with a Fine Point. I am told by one who knows, that the nib is made by Pelikan.

[Johnson]

I just picked up an Apogee in Frosty Steel with a Fine Point. I am told by one who knows, that the nib is made by Pelikan.

 

Pelikan doesn't make its own nibs anymore, they use Bock nibs.

[Tweel]

Are the Townsend nibs out-sourced to Pilot/Namiki or are they made in-house ?

I received a Medalist yesterday. It's the first Townsend I've ever handled, and I don't know who makes the nibs, but one of the first things I noticed when I rolled it over were the little "creases" in the underside of the tines that tell me "Pilot".

 

The pen is marked "Ireland" on the cap, BTW.

 

-- Brian

[Unic]

That is a shame but 50 years from now made in China will be a good thing, kinda like made in Japan back in the 50's.

 

Thanks

Brad

 

 

Never! We'll probably be at war with them by then.

 

 

 

I'd love to open a new thread in the chatter, titled:

 

"Where is the middle-class gone?"

 

Fact or fiction? Judge for yourself:

 

At a superficial glance Chinese made products seem like a real bargain: the Chinese do the dirty, bad paid work and we buy stuff that is really cheap.

 

Well, but that is short sighted. What we forget is that

 

1. Middle-class as a social stabilizing factor has been significantly diminished in Europe and the USA during the last decade.

2. Industries are closing down - labor intensive jobs are lost in the USA and Western Europe, moving towards Asia and eastern Europe. Those who benefit from this are shareholders and managers. The rest of the population has difficulties finding a job that pays enough to make a living. Many people even need two or three jobs to make a living.

3. What if in the end the Chinese wages rise? Will the jobs come back? I would not bet my life on that.

 

I don't want to be overpessimistic, but in the end it might be that we have only Cartier for the rich and Chinese rubbish for the poor. A nightmare come true.

 

 

[Deirdre]

3. What if in the end the Chinese wages rise? Will the jobs come back? I would not bet my life on that.

Nah. They went from here to Japan to Taiwan to China. Taiwan's seeing some of the same problems we are (in some sectors).

 

I think it's sad, and I won't be buying any new Cross pens, but I will enjoy the ones I have, as well as any older ones that may need my attention.

[Sallent]

Suport America. If no good American pens are available, buy from an ally, Pelikan (Germany), Parker (France).

[johneffay]

Suport America. If no good American pens are available, buy from an ally, Pelikan (Germany), Parker (France).

 

Aren't Pelikan Malaysian owned these days? Oh the joys of globalisation

[Cedar]

I made the decision not to buy products from countries that do not compete on a fair basis. The US worker can not compete with state subsidized labor such as China. Add to that that when we buy products from China (just as one example) the quality control is questionable, and tax dollars that would go into our economy from worker's wages now go over seas. The trade deficit adds another burden to the American taxpayer because now we have a trade deficit. Those dollars come back to the US via loans from China and the US taxpayer is paying the interest on those loans. Companies that go overseas avoid paying taxes, another drain of tax dollars that don't go to rebuilding/building the US infrastructure nor providing social services to the American people. That tax burden, again gets shifted to the middle class and poor. I only need look around to see business after business folding up because they can't compete with products from China (primarily). I only need look around to see the local fire department holding Chicken BBQs as fund raisers and our schools selling candy bars and other food items to raise funds. Recently, the news reported that positions are being cut in the DA's office in several cities in this area due to funding deficits. There are cases that need to be prosecuted in order to keep our localities safe and provide funding (such as parking tickets) that would go into the budgets for the local economies.

So it is one big messy circle and quite complex. As long as we continue to buy those products we are shooting our selves in the foot and our wallets. This is not always easy but that's what I've decided to do. Vintage or buy pens made in countries that are competing fairly with US labor as much as possible. Jobs and companies can and will come back but it will be a struggle but not if we keep buying the products. IMO

I just bought my first Cross pen off eBay and it is one of my best writers. I don't know what model it is or where it was made. I don't think it is a current model. But it really piqued my interest in purchasing another Cross pen until I found out that they are shifting production to China. I will find alternatives.

Cedar