Cross Century Rollerball -- New Refill Won't Fit

[ThirdeYe]

Hi all,

 

I recently purchased a large lot of Cross pens on eBay. One of which is a gold-filled Century rollerball, fitted with a "Jumbo" cross refill. I already have a Cross Solo rollerball with the "Cross Gel Rolling Ball" refill. They look almost identical in size, but for some reason the new rollerball/gel refill will not fit into the old Century. I have attached a picture. Both of the refills are genuine Cross refills, and I am not aware of any other types of Cross rollerball refills. The refill on the left is the Cross Jumbo ballpoint refill, and the one on the right is the newer Rolling Ball refill. Any help would be greatly appreciated:

 

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/1387/p4140386.jpg

Edited April 14, 2012 by ThirdeYe

[OakIris]

I was going to post a new thread here but saw that my problem is related to ThirdeYe's so added my post to his (hope that is OK with you, ThirdeYe.)

 

I'm in the same boat, it seems. I have a Cross pen that I bought years ago that was probably a felt tip pen - I think it was the original Century pen made back when Cross still made pens in the USA. I thought I would try one of the Selectip rolling ball refills because it seemed as if it should fit - but it doesn't. The refill is too wide at the bottom of the barrel (or whatever it is called) so won't fit into the tip of the pen body's "nib section," for want of a better term. As you can see in ThirdeYe's photo, the old refill tapers slightly at the bottom so it fits just fine into the also tapered "nib section," while the new refills are all the same width, top to bottom and are thus too wide to fit all the way into what I am calling the "nib section."

 

I too would appreciate knowing if there is any solution to this or if my pen will remain unusable because refills for it are not longer made.

 

Holly

Edited April 14, 2012 by OakIris

[ThirdeYe]

Holly,

 

That is perfectly fine, I don't mind. At least I am not the only one with this issue, so hopefully someone else who has had this problem can shed some light on what we should do with these old U.S.-made Century rollerball pens.

 

Derek

[OakIris]

Thanks for understanding, Derek.

 

I don't think we will find "authentic" Cross refills to fit our pens. I am sure you have done the same searches I have and with the same results - nada. Perhaps there is hope that one of the Schmidt or Monteverde refills will fit?? None of the pictures of their refills look right, either. Like you, I am hopeful that some of the fine people here on FPN will be able to help us with this.

 

I have emailed Cross customer service about refills for their older pens, too. I will let you know what, if any, response I receive.

 

Holly

[ThirdeYe]

I e-mailed Cross yesterday as well, so I'll let you know if I hear anything as well. I'm bummed, because I really like the Cross rolling gel refills. One of the best rollerballs I've used...

 

Best,

Derek

[OakIris]

We will see if Cross answers either of us. No one here in the Cross forum seems to have any ideas for us - similar questions have been asked before with no solutions offered.

 

On a more positive note, I was able to jury rig the Cross rolling ball refill so that it would fit in my beautiful wood Hallmark felt tip pen body.

 

Hallmark stopped making these very nice wood pens and pencils a few decades ago and their pens had proprietary refills that are no longer available either. Hallmark did have an adapter that would allow you to use Cross refills in their ball point pens, but offered nothing for their felt-tip pens. I emailed them, too, a few months ago but they said I was out of luck. Their customer service said I could send the pen back to them (to prove I owned the pen I guess) and they would send it back to me with $30 in gift certificates for their store. Having no need for anything they offered in their store, I didn't do this, but I thought it was a nice gesture anyway.

 

So, my lovely wood pen has sat unused and forlorn for quite a few years. I purchased the Cross rolling ball refill expecting to use it in my Cross pen, but you know how that turned out. I figured that since the refills were just going to be thrown away I would try one in my Hallmark pen, just in case. Of course, it didn't fit as well as the original refills but with some plastic and a wad of paper I was able to make it work and now have use of my Hallmark pen again. It isn't perfect, but you can't tell from looking at it when assembled that the thing was rigged, and it works just fine, so I am pleased with it. And now I have a set again - I have the matching mechanical pencil which still works just like new and, IMHO, is lovely to look at. (I had the matching ballpoint pen, too, but don't know what became of it.)

 

Holly

[ThirdeYe]

We will see if Cross answers either of us. No one here in the Cross forum seems to have any ideas for us - similar questions have been asked before with no solutions offered.

 

On a more positive note, I was able to jury rig the Cross rolling ball refill so that it would fit in my beautiful wood Hallmark felt tip pen body.

 

Hallmark stopped making these very nice wood pens and pencils a few decades ago and their pens had proprietary refills that are no longer available either. Hallmark did have an adapter that would allow you to use Cross refills in their ball point pens, but offered nothing for their felt-tip pens. I emailed them, too, a few months ago but they said I was out of luck. Their customer service said I could send the pen back to them (to prove I owned the pen I guess) and they would send it back to me with $30 in gift certificates for their store. Having no need for anything they offered in their store, I didn't do this, but I thought it was a nice gesture anyway.

 

So, my lovely wood pen has sat unused and forlorn for quite a few years. I purchased the Cross rolling ball refill expecting to use it in my Cross pen, but you know how that turned out. I figured that since the refills were just going to be thrown away I would try one in my Hallmark pen, just in case. Of course, it didn't fit as well as the original refills but with some plastic and a wad of paper I was able to make it work and now have use of my Hallmark pen again. It isn't perfect, but you can't tell from looking at it when assembled that the thing was rigged, and it works just fine, so I am pleased with it. And now I have a set again - I have the matching mechanical pencil which still works just like new and, IMHO, is lovely to look at. (I had the matching ballpoint pen, too, but don't know what became of it.)

 

Holly

 

I know someone who has some of those Hallmark pens/pencils, but I hadn't given them much thought. Glad you could find a use for it! I caved and bought a modern Classic Century rollerball on eBay, but I'm still going to try to find a better use for this older gold-filled rollerball than just using the jumbo ballpoint refill in it. Cross' rollerball refill is really nice, IMO. Way better than the Parker Gel refill I have in one of my Jotters.

 

Derek

[OakIris]

I know someone who has some of those Hallmark pens/pencils, but I hadn't given them much thought. Glad you could find a use for it! I caved and bought a modern Classic Century rollerball on eBay, but I'm still going to try to find a better use for this older gold-filled rollerball than just using the jumbo ballpoint refill in it. Cross' rollerball refill is really nice, IMO. Way better than the Parker Gel refill I have in one of my Jotters.

 

Derek

Looks as if we both found a viable solution to our roller ball dilemma - you buying the pen to fit the refill and me "re-purposing" the refill to fit another pen I had. Perhaps there is still hope for our old Cross pens, if Cross actually responds. I used my "Hallmark-Cross" Frankenpen today and liked it - I still prefer my fountain pens but the rollerball is a decent alternative.

 

Holly

[bicfan]

Interesting topic because I am having the opposite problem. I bought an Aventura Selectip. The gel rolling ball refill in there was rattling badly (this maybe was the older spec refill though it was in a new pen?; country was not stamped on it, but it stamped 2009). Had to put a piece of tape on it. I bought a new Jumbo ballpoint refill (2010; made in China) and it fits perfectly.

 

Maybe Cross is now making their refills to fit their new made-in-China pens? I.e. new pens have a wider inner diameter; old ones are just a tad smaller.

 

Or maybe the gel rolling ball and the ballpoint refills are just a different size? Probably a QC/Engineering goof-up.

 

I haven't tried the newest gel rolling ball refill (the one stamped made in China; I assume mine is older because it was rattling). But both the older German (2006) and the newer Chinese jumbo ballpoints fit my new pen.

 

I am going to get a new Chinese gel rolling ball refill and report back.

Edited April 19, 2012 by bicfan

[bicfan]

I'm sorry to say that even the new Chinese gel rollingball refills rattle in the Aventura.

 

Man, Cross QC is really going down hill.

 

I also had to request a new gel refill because the one that came with the pen was scratchy.

 

The black ballpoint refill was so bad, I had to return it and order a new one from the distributor. Hopefully, it will be better than my first.

 

Pay $35 for a pen and get a scratchy refill that rattles around in the pen body like you've never heard before!

 

Might as well just use a Bic for $0.20.

 

I'll will tape up my new refills and use them. Can't believe I am doing this, given how much the pen and refills cost.

 

As a side note, I am on my fourth, yes fourth, Aventura fountain pen, trying to find one that can write without skipping and being overly dry.

 

Come on, Cross; get with it! For shame! Just outsourcing (bleep) from China with no real QC, and marking it up enormously.

 

If they keep producing (bleep) like this, they will not last a whole lot longer.

Edited April 20, 2012 by bicfan

[OakIris]

Sorry you are having such problems with the Cross pens, bicfan. They used to make such nice pens, though I have yet to have any experience with one of their fountain pens.

 

I did get an email from Cross customer service, though. They no longer make rolling ball refills that fit my pen, but said that if I want to use roller ball refills I should send my pen to them and they will replace it with a new roller ball pen. Despite bicfan's comments about QC problems, I am tempted...a useable roller ball pen even with a rattling refill might be better than an unuseable empty pen. Even if my old one was made in the USA, it is just one of the less expensive model chrome pens and of no real use to me as is.... :hmm1:

 

Holly

[ThirdeYe]

Holly,

 

When did you hear back from Cross? I still haven't gotten a reply to my e-mail. I also sent an e-mail to the person who responded to a question about my shipping/account information, and she has not replied either. It's a bummer that they no longer make refills for the pens, as mine is the gold-filled version. I did receive my new Classic Century BP/RB set, though, and I'm experiencing no wobbling with the rollerball at all. I've tried two different refills (Gel Rolling Ball Fine, and Medium) and both work fine. I prefer the medium, however.

 

Derek

[bicfan]

Might just be an Aventura problem.

 

My fourth Aventura fountain pen is a keeper, I am happy to say. Ordered a converter for it, as well.

 

Step 1. Outsource pen to China. Keep price the same!

Step 2. Remove converter. Keep price the same!

Step 3. Make consumer buy converter ($$$).

Step 4. PROFIT!!

Edited April 20, 2012 by bicfan

[OakIris]

Holly,

 

When did you hear back from Cross? I still haven't gotten a reply to my e-mail. I also sent an e-mail to the person who responded to a question about my shipping/account information, and she has not replied either. It's a bummer that they no longer make refills for the pens, as mine is the gold-filled version. I did receive my new Classic Century BP/RB set, though, and I'm experiencing no wobbling with the rollerball at all. I've tried two different refills (Gel Rolling Ball Fine, and Medium) and both work fine. I prefer the medium, however.

 

Derek

Hi, Derek,

 

The email came in about 8 AM this morning, MST - from someone called Debbie Gloria, consumer relations rep, Lincoln, R.I.. Hope you receive a response soon. Do you think I should go for the deal? (Please enable me or tell me why I should avoid the deal. )

 

Holly

[ThirdeYe]

I would probably end up opting for a replacement -- as there is likely no use for the older one (except you might be able to fit a jumbo ballpoint refill in it, but where's the fun in that?!). Perhaps if you indicate that there is sentimental value, they will send back the old one with the replacement? If/when I ever hear back from Cross, I may send mine in for replacement. I'm not holding my breath on them getting back to me, however. It's been almost a week now.

 

Derek

[OakIris]

The customer rep did say that a jumbo ball point pen refill would fit, but I don't really have any use for another ballpoint pen, even if a capped one might be cool! Other than the fact that the pen might be considered "rare" at some point since it was made in the USA, it doesn't really have that much sentimental value, either. Guess I will go for the replacement!

 

I didn't expect to hear back from Cross, either, Derek, and was surprised that they actually emailed me finally. Perhaps they will get one sent to you on Monday.

 

Holly

[ThirdeYe]

Mine has the Jumbo Ballpoint refill in it, and it's just another ballpoint in terms of quality. I actually like their newer regular ballpoint refills. I have one in some of my vintage Centuries and also some of my Solos and my new Classic Century. I was pleasantly surprised with the new Classic Centuries, so I think you'll end up liking the replacement.

 

Best,

Derek

[pajaro]

I have several Classic Century Select Tip pens bought in 1976. The best refill in them has been the jumbo ballpoint. At least it lasts, and it's convenient to use the Select Tip/ballpoint with the Century fountain pens. I always seem to need a ballpoint for something. The rollers don't seem to last very long.

[ThirdeYe]

Cross finally got back to me, simply telling me to call them to discuss it. I called this morning and talked to a woman on the phone who mentioned that they revised the section of the rollerball, and the new refills no longer fit the old model (as we have found out). However, she did mention that they can install a revised section onto the pen. That would be much better than having it replaced, as I love the way the pen looks. And, the replacement wouldn't be made in the US. I also mentioned my two seized ballpoints and she said that they can either try to get them working, or install new lower halves onto the pen. I printed out the repair form today ($30 for processing, ouch! some warranty...) and I'll mail it out tomorrow. I'll report back when I actually get the pens back.

Edited April 24, 2012 by ThirdeYe

[Papermate]

I still have many of the original Cross rollers, and discovered a Parker Gel refill drops right into the section. By adding an 11 mm spacer above the refill, it fits just fine. The spacer I made was from the protective plastic cap that came on a Schmidt Easy Flow 9000 refill, but anything will work that will fit into the upper barrel. These were great pens, and there's no need to stop using them.