Townsend Collection Display

[max dog]

Hello FPN! Long time follower, first time poster.

 

MrThoth, I wonder if you'd be kind enough to give details of the pen furthest left in your second of the display close ups? Chrome with horizontal marks by the look of it.

 

Thanks in advance!

That one is the Townsend Tuxedo. They came in either Sterling Silver cap or Rhodium plated cap models. I believe the one in the picture has a Rhodium plated cap, as the sterling silver cap would look like the 3rd one to the right. In 2002/2003 the Tuxedo models switched from Sterling Silver to Rhodium plated caps, so I heard.

[Earthling_007]

Thanks for the reply max dog!

Think we might be talking about different pens as I thought the tuxedo had black barrel and metal cap; the pen I meant is all metal. The second picture in post #10 in this thread, pen furthest left, think it has stripes that go round the pen (unlike the more common along the length of the pen). Any idea what it is?

[max dog]

Thanks for the reply max dog!

Think we might be talking about different pens as I thought the tuxedo had black barrel and metal cap; the pen I meant is all metal. The second picture in post #10 in this thread, pen furthest left, think it has stripes that go round the pen (unlike the more common along the length of the pen). Any idea what it is?

Oh, I was looking at the wrong post. The only Townsend I know of with circular pattern is the Citrine lacquer. The pen in that picture is all metal as you say and it is hard to make out the pattern, but I think what appears as circular rings is a visual distortion in the picture. My guess is, it is the Platinum plated Townsend which has a wavy vertical pattern that maybe could look like circular rings under certain lighting. I guess Mr Toth can ultimately answer that for us.

Edited January 9, 2018 by max dog

[Earthling_007]

Oh, I was looking at the wrong post. The only Townsend I know of with circular pattern is the Citrine lacquer. The pen in that picture is all metal as you say and it is hard to make out the pattern, but I think what appears as circular rings is a visual distortion in the picture. My guess is, it is the Platinum plated Townsend which has a wavy vertical pattern that maybe could look like circular rings under certain lighting. I guess Mr Toth can ultimately answer that for us.

 

Ah, so we were talking about different pens and I haven't gone mad! I see your point about clarity, but I think the platinum wavy model appears in another of the photos. Hopefully MrTroth can clear it up when he sees this!

[MrThoth]

Hello FPN! Long time follower, first time poster.

 

MrThoth, I wonder if you'd be kind enough to give details of the pen furthest left in your second of the display close ups? Chrome with horizontal marks by the look of it.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

Sure thing. The all-chrome body with the horizontal rings around it is the Chrome Radial, SKU AT0047-34. It is (or was) a model primarily sold in England/Europe, which I believe is what the 47 in the SKU indicates.

[MrThoth]

Just for the sake of reference, here are all the silver Townsends (absent one, the Brush Platinum, which I got after taking this photo). In order from left to right, they are:

 

AT0046B-29 20th Anniversary Platinum Plated

AT0046CB-38 Japanese Cherry Blossom Brushed Platinum Plate

AT0046-1 Platinum Plated

656 Sterling Silver

536 Lustrous Chrome

536 Lustrous Chrome (black top on cap)

AT0047-31 Engraved Chrome

AT0047-34 Chrome Radial

506 Medalist

646 Quicksilver

626-1 Cyber Blue

[Earthling_007]

Thanks so much Mr Thoth! I was watching a similar one on eBay, but someone else bought it before me. Also, you have an amazing collection, thanks for for sharing your knowledge. I'm only just getting into Townsends, having been a cross owner and user for a few years. Incidentally, did I notice a Concorde pen in your collection? I have the rollerball version, but in the medallist finish. Didn't know there were others!

[MrThoth]

Always glad to pass along what I know. I keep meaning to create a website and/or book about Townsends, but haven't gotten around to doing anything more than creating a rough first draft of the book. Someday maybe I'll get it all done.

 

There are two Concorde Cross Townsend pens that I'm aware of, one in Lustrous Chrome finish, and one in Quicksilver. (If there are SKUs for these pens, I don't know them.). If there's a Medalist Concorde fountain pen, I'd love to get one for my collection, but I've never seen it. Here's a picture of both, along with a picture of the Obama commemorative pen.

 

Edited January 9, 2018 by MrThoth

[Earthling_007]

Nice to see the others, now we know there are at least three finishes they used. I'll try to upload a photo of mine once I work out how to do so on here!

 

Oh, and I'd be very interested to see your book / website, think I would learn a lot.

Edited January 9, 2018 by Earthling_007

[RUGMAN]

Recently purchased a Townsend Tuxedo FP. I've always liked the simplicity of the design of the pen, especially the way it posts and closes. After a week with the pen I got the matching Tuxedo RB and was satisfied, for now. Then I wanted to add to the pair and found a Tuxedo BP, but in a version with a Sterling cap instead of the plated version. They're my everyday go to pens.....

[max dog]

I have 2 Sterling Silver Townsend FPs, but lately I've been really enjoying the plain jane Chrome Townsends as well. The Chrome finish just looks clean and elegant, and the steel nibs have their own very nice feel and character different from the awesome 18K gold ones. Here is my Townsend Medalist.

Edited January 15, 2018 by max dog

[Jerome Tarshis]

As one who has been aware of this thread but never expressed his gratitude: it's a lovely collection and I feel thankful to Mr. Thoth for his kindness in sharing knowledge of his collection. I have only three Townsends, which puts me in the distant low foothills, nowhere near the peaks of collecting others have scaled.

 

But it's a pleasant pen to use, I think of it as underpriced, and I'm glad others, whether in the Carolinas or in East Asia, have done more of the heavy lifting.

[MrThoth]

Thanks! I'm always glad to talk about Townsends.

[Hanoi]

I am not familiar Cross, are the Townsends still made in USA?

[MrThoth]

 

 

I am not familiar Cross, are the Townsends still made in USA?

 

They are not, according to my understanding. Years ago the production mostly moved to Ireland, and then all of it moved to China.

 

Here's how you can tell: look at the word CROSS on the clip. If it's in a cursive font, the pen was made in the USA or Ireland (depending on date of manufacture, which I have no way of discerning at this time). If the letters are separate in a straight, san serif font, the pen was made in China.

[Hanoi]

They should just stick with the old "Made in...." to lessen future confusions. In the pen world, I am quite wary with stand alone "USA" because it doesn´t tell me anything. The French makers are notorious for doing this with "France".

[omarcenaro]

Fantastic collection!!!!

[paule23]

I still can't get over the first picture on this thread. I've now managed to build a collection of a grand total of TWO Townsend fountain pens, might splash out for a third shortly (the Chinese New Year 2018 special edition is very tempting).

 

I'm not sure I'll ever get close to some of the collections noted here. @jealous

[MrThoth]

 

 

might splash out for a third shortly (the Chinese New Year 2018 special edition is very tempting)

 

I get that; the Asian zodiac pens are pretty cool. I am hoping that someday they will make a Townsend that's the same beautiful teal color as the Year Of The Monkey 2016 pen (which had a Sauvage body, not Townsend). I'd love to have a Townsend with that body color.

[Hanoi]

So there is really just one "sterling" townsend with 18k nib model? Does anyone know the years this sterling townsend was made?