Cross Townsend/century Range

[Pub]

Hi all.

I have a Cross Townsend Rollerball and Ballpoint pens.

I was thinking about going for a Townsend FP as well but not sure if these pens are regarded as good, bad, or indifferent?

 

Or is there anything in the whole range that sticks out much better than all the others?

 

 

 

[The Blue Knight]

I have never tried a Townsend but you mentioned Century in your title. So I presume you'd like an opinion on it?

 

It's a very slim pen , it is the slimmest pen I own and not much different from the Parker in terms of grip width. I personally think the nib is un-inspiring it's just a run of the mill smooth wet steel nib a bit boring and your money could be better spent else where.

 

From what I recall the Townsend is Cross's flag ship pen and is quite large. I have read a few reviews on in it in the past which have all been positive. So personally I'd go for one if it was to complete a set. I hope someone more knowledgeable on the Townsend chimes but here is an Sbrebrown review that maybe useful to you

 

[Drone]

Hello Pub. Welcome to the Fountain Pen Network (FPN). I had a Townsend FP long ago. We just didn't get along. It is a somewhat large and heavy pen. I found it to be tiring and unwieldy when writing with the cap posted on the end of the pen (I always write posted). You may feel fine writing with the rollerball or ballpoint version, but a fountain pen should be held and written with differently.

[pajaro]

I have the Townsend fountain pen. It is heavy, and posting the cap makes it a bit awkward. It is a nice writing pen, and I think better than the Century.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Large heavy pen, pretty, mine is a steel nail...butter smooth....a gold nail will be as smooth and cost more. Cross makes nails.

 

Large enough to be used if one uses a classic pinch tripod grip with out the cap.

Posted it is going to rest in the pit of the web of your thumb.

 

Mine is a pretty nail....and I don't go nail.....don't know why I've not sold it...is a pretty pen.

 

See if you can get it used.

PM me.

[max dog]

Steel or gold nibbed version, the Townsend is one of the best writers out there.

[Pub]

I have just realised that there is a Cross forum so sorry to the Mods for posting here...

 

Thanks for the replies guys most appreciated.

[OcalaFlGuy]

I have the Townsend fountain pen. It is heavy, and **posting the cap makes it a bit awkward.** It is a nice writing pen, and I think better than the Century.

 

My nomination for understatement of the month.

 

 

There are exercise programs built around working out with a posted Townsend. It is Extremely Unbalanced posted IMO.

 

The CC I and II Are thinner pens but all the CCs and Townsends are nicely made pens. And, Cross has a lifetime warranty.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[blINK]

I have both the Century and Townsend. They are on opposite ends but I love them both. I have a real attachment to Cross.

 

The Townsend is an admittedly heavy pen, especially posted. But it is an amazing writer. I seems to respond well to just about any ink and paper I throw at it.

 

I'm also fond of the Century. Very slim, similar to a Parker Vector. Also a fine writer and is great to toss in your pocket. The cap is threaded and not snap on, but it seems like a quarter to half turn unfastened and fastens the cap. The one downside to the Century is that there is no converter for it, but I just fill carts with a syringe.

 

If I had to pick one, it would be the Townsend as I think it is superior. But the price reflects that.

[Drone]

Have a look at the Cross Classic Century Medalist fountain pen in chrome and gold. A very pretty pen IMHO, but it is rather thin. But then again, being thin this pen may be light enough to use posted.

 

I think this is a relatively new model in the Cross Classic Century line-up. It's new to me anyway.

 

Here's a thread with pictures where we discussed this pen:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/259224-question-cross-classic-century-medalist-fountain-pen/

 

Two major points I took away from the discussion:

 

1. Although this pen has threaded posting, when posted the nib robustly remains aligned with the clip.

 

2. This pen uses the proprietary Cross slim cartridge used in the Spire pen - for which it seems no converter exists.

 

I've seen this particular pen online for around $60-75 USD plus shipping. If there was a solution for the converter, I might go for it.

[Moshe ben David]

I have 3 Cross FP: a rather old Century in sterling silver, a Townsend in I believe tungsten(?), and an Apogee. The Century is absolutely the thinnest and lightest. The Apogee is the thickest. The Townsend is sort of inbetween in girth, but longer. I find especially for the Townsend and the Apogee that it is much more comfortable to write unposted. But that is my usual style anyway. I'd agree these nibs are hardly soft or flexible, but I do find them smooth and reliable.

[The Blue Knight]

I'm also fond of the Century. Very slim, similar to a Parker Vector. Also a fine writer and is great to toss in your pocket. The cap is threaded and not snap on, but it seems like a quarter to half turn unfastened and fastens the cap. The one downside to the Century is that there is no converter for it, but I just fill carts with a syringe.

 

 

 

 

Got the cross orange one in mine,its fine.

[Pub]

I never seem to post a pen and have a habit of keeping the cap in my left hand (I'm right handed) so posting is not an issue. I don't think I have ever seen a bad review on any of the Cross models, but reviews are normally not long term usage.

 

Also I am too new to FP to know whether I prefer a pen on the light or heavy side, slim or fat. To be honest using ballpoints and rollerballs of all sizes I really don't have a cast in stone preference to the size. I do write a lot though and have been blown away by using a Lamy Safari which I find very smooth. And as this is a cheap pen, and have used Cross rollerballs and ballpoints, I asked about Cross in the FP range and figured that a more expensive pen with a much better nib would be even better.

 

I'm really taken by the looks of the Townsend.

 

Much appreciated.

[Chris]

The Townsend is a solidly constructed, high-quality pen. I bought one and then another and then another and now I think I have at least ten. Each one writes reliably and smoothly, even those with the steel nibs rather than gold. I use them all.

 

Yes, it is a large pen and some say it is unwieldy to write with the cap posted. This may be true, so don't post the cap. You then find that it is beautifully balanced and is one pen I can write with for hours without any fatigue (other than mental). I have medium to small hands.

 

I have other pens but one or other Townsend is (almost) always with me.

[OcalaFlGuy]

I'm really taken by the looks of the Townsend.

 

Much appreciated.

 

Pub, If you really like the Townsend, before you buy be sure and look at the Blue Laque Shimmer (?) model of the T. It is a Laque over Guilloche similar (but not quite as nice as) the Targa Moire'. The light bounces off the Guilloche and back up through the Blue Laque, it's nearly hypnotic to turn the pen in your hands looking at it. I THINK there may be a couple other Shimmer colors than Blue.

 

I'd take a pic of mine (again) but it's true beauty is hard to capture in a pic. Mine is the 4th pen from the left here.

 

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

Edited May 9, 2014 by OcalaFlGuy

[max dog]

I'd agree these nibs are hardly soft or flexible, but I do find them smooth and reliable.

Though not designed to be flexible or semi-flexible, the Apogee, Verve, and Sauvage nibs are pretty soft and springy, and I can squeeze some line variation out of them, as much as any other modern non flex but springy pens in the market. Even the Townsend can be springy. I dont agree with some who believe all Cross nibs are rigid nails.

Edited May 9, 2014 by max dog

[blINK]

Got the cross orange one in mine,its fine.

I will have to try the orange converter. I have one somewhere. I was under the impression the converter worked only with the Century II and not the Century Classic. Time for an experiment!

[The Blue Knight]

I will have to try the orange converter. I have one somewhere. I was under the impression the converter worked only with the Century II and not the Century Classic. Time for an experiment!

 

Oh I meant Century II sorry for the confusion

[Jerome Tarshis]

I am afraid there may be a little confusion going on, between two different pens describable as the Century Classic. The original had a slip-on cap and took the green converter. Excellent although (for some of us) very slim pen. I love them. First sold middle 1980s, succeeded by Century II.

 

More recently Cross has brought out a different Century pen, no longer a wing nib as seen on the Aurora Hastil and the Montblanc Noblesse, among other pens, screw-on cap, *very* slim pen, basically the Cross Spire in disguise, not meant to take any converter. I have read on FPN and am inclined to believe that the orange screw-in converter will fit the Century and other pens intended for the green converter, except that it won't screw in and one may need to shave off a bit of extra diameter in the plastic. Or not.

Edited May 9, 2014 by Jerome Tarshis

[Keyless Works]

I love my American-made Townsend with a fine steel nib...it's a high quality pen and a very good writer. It's not that well balanced with the cap on but cap off I really enjoy using it. I think its a great looking pen that has a relatively distinct look.