Cross classic century bp+pencil set, age and usage

[TomFoolery]

Hi, I recently bought a bp+pencil set off ebay. I'm having great difficulty both in determining the age of the pen+pencil and in using the pencil. They look similar to the one in this picture: cross classic century

 

The pencil does not have an eraser or removable top. The mechanism for the 0.9mm leads seems to be based on a spiral in the center with a small removable brass lid. Twisting the pencil (the only way I can figure to operate it) results in a nice crunching sound when all the leads break. I'd be happy to supply more detailed pictures or explain the original packaging (which I also have but which gives me no clues).

 

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Thornton]

First of all, this particular style of the Cross Century Classic is by far my favorite BP to use. Much easier to use than the new ones with no grip. I believe that this particular design was manufactured from the 1960's until the early-mid 1980's. A similar style with a shorter grip existed beforehand. I've always determined the age of the pen/pencil by the little booklet located in a sleeve on the inside of the lid. If you don't have that, it may be difficult to find an exact age. Cross will fix your pencil due to their lifetime guarantee even if you are not the original owner. Good luck with your new Cross pen and pencil set.

[TomFoolery]

Thanks for your reply - I like both the look and feel of the BP, but the mechanism of the pencil seems so impractical that I'm surprised people ever used it. I've somewhat figured out how to work the pencil, by removing the body, removing the interior brass cap, twisting the brass rod, refill, replace brass cap, replace body. I've also found an operating manual for this kind of set from 1965 Operating manual courtesy of PenHero. This manual does not correspond to my pencil which has what I would guess to be an older mechanism.

To help with the guesswork, here is a photo from the ebay auction bp+pencil.

 

Thanks again!

[dcjacobson]

Your pencil is not working properly. All Cross .9 mm pencils have the same mechanism, and all have removable caps. All advance or retract the lead by twisting the cap. That's the way it's been since the Century model pencil was introduced in the 1940s.

 

You can send your pencil to Cross to be fixed. Go to the their website, fill out the form, check the "sentimental value" box. They will return the pencil to you even if they can't fix it.* Else they may substitute a new .5mm pencil.

 

*(I'm betting they can; I recently sent them a .9mm pencili to be repaired, and they did so, even though these pencils have been discontinued for several years.)

 

Good luck,

Don