Cross Solo?

[El Mocho]

I got this pen at an office store in Texas in about 2001. It was the second fountain pen I ever owned, but I could never get the flow right. It took me ages of fiddling to realize I had let the nib be clogged, so I flushed it over and over again to draw ink back up through the nib.

 

It came with the green Cross converter, which was cracked-- that's why I couldn't draw the ink. So currently I run it from refilled Cross cartridges. It has turned into a decent writer, with all the qualities FPN members have written about the Cross Solo.

 

However, the trim doesn't look like any of the Solos I have seen pictured. I seem to recall paying $30-40 for it, but that was ages ago when I was but a fountain pen newbie.

 

Is this indeed a Solo, or some other named variant? It is sort of a marbled green, but looks black in the photos.

 

Thanks.

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3656/3476597457_440ab2d0bf.jpg

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3375/3476598595_3daa94471e.jpg

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3641/3477407318_96720375c4.jpg

[pen2paper]

Have a few Solo's..black, solid green, solid blue, which both have solid black end caps.

Size is very close to the Waterman Phileas. Length is Longer than the Phileas, the body circumferance is is just a tad thinner, the cap likewise, and tapers quite thin. Twist, not snap cap.

Original boxes say:

806A-2M

Navy Blu Solo Fountain Pen

on the bottom:

Navy B1 CL Fntn Pen Med

Made in USA $40.00

the Green box says: 3M

Will have to add these to my rotation..completely forgotton how very nice these pens are.. bought several, gave as gifts..every bit as nice as the better known/recommended Phileas.

 

edited to add-oops just noticed that the ring on the bottom of your cap appears to be doubled..mine is a solid band, which says Cross_Cross_Cross_ 3 times around the band...perhaps this band, and mottled colored plastic was an earlier generation Solo? or regionally marketed style?

Edited April 26, 2009 by pen2paper

[Ed_K]

I believe this model might be the Radiance. Your pen looks pretty much like a Solo, except for the cap bands. Hope this helps.

[gloryforixseal]

Always nice to get that first cross. Congrats Its a bit dinged, but looks solid, plenty of paint, and not much rust. Nice example. Perhaps one of our more learned members could deduce the maker for you.