Cross Fountain Pen 1506 Information Sought

[KSeidel]

Hello All,

I have this Cross pen that I am trying to identify the style and value. It's a 1506 fountain pen, new in the presentation case with all inserts and manual. The tab insert says 1506 Fountain Pen, but I can't find anything with that number. I would appreciate any info any expert would be willing to share.

Thank you, in advance, for your help. Kathy

Edited October 13, 2011 by KSeidel

[Jerome Tarshis]

You have a Cross Classic Century fountain pen. According to a label that's visible in your photograph, it has a 14K gold (-filled, not -plated) cap and barrel. I would think the nib is 14K (solid) gold. You can find out by reading the number on the nib itself. It should say 14K and perhaps 585 if it's 14K. I don't believe Cross was selling these pens with 18K nibs during the appropriate years, but 18K goes with the number 750. Which means parts per thousand, 14/24 = 585/1000.

 

You can find discussions of this pen on FPN and elsewhere by searching on Cross Classic Century. Some of us call your pen the Century I, as Cross did not, to distinguish it from its successor, the Century II. Search on "Century I" as well.

 

I like these pens, and own three. My gold-filled cap and barrel are only 10K, though.

 

They are not especially valuable pens in relation to their original list prices. For reasons also discussed on FPN, Cross has not been, on the whole, a brand that has appealed to fountain-pen collectors as much as some other brands do. If I wanted to buy a pen like yours on eBay, I think I could get it for less than $50 if I wanted to be patient, and for somewhat more if I wanted to buy a pen immediately.

 

But to put that in perspective a bit, you can buy a comparably slim Montblanc pen with Dunhill branding, in gold or silver plating, for not much more than $100 and sometimes for less. Not NIB, though. If thinking crypto-Montblanc but not precious metal, you can buy PaperMate fountain pens, very thin and very good, made by Montblanc, new in the box, for $50 or not much more.

 

As has also been discussed a lot on FPN, one should not expect pens to go up in value with the passage of time. Some will, others won't. These haven't.

 

P.S. But I really do love them. And so do some other people.

Edited October 14, 2011 by Jerome Tarshis

[KSeidel]

Thank you for taking the time to provide me with so much valuable information. It is greatly appreciated. The world of loving and collecting these wonderful writing instruments is a fascinating one and I'm glad I entered. FPN is an enjoyable way to spend a bit of time. Thanks, again.

Best wishes, Kathy