A Converter For The Cross Spire

[Braxfield]

In the seven years since the appearance of the short-lived Cross Spire has anyone ever found a suitable CONVERTER?

 

I know that Cross never bothered to make one, but there are some narrow gauge converters out there. Do any of them fit?

 

Someone on FPN once mentioned the Sailor Chalana. Converters for the tiny Chalana exist.

 

The alternative is to mess around with a syringe. Something I would rather avoid.

[Braxfield]

The challenge would be to marry the front end of a Cross Cartridge to the back end of a mini-converter narrow enough to live happily inside the confined barrel of a Spire. The business end of the slimline cartridge looks to be no different to the standard Cross cartridge, it's the other end (the rear) of the cartridge that causes the issue. Even then it can't be much more than a millimeter too broad.

 

Before I start sawing converters in two, does anyone in the Crossosphere have any thoughts, warnings or other advice?

 

There too much great ink in the world for this not to be worth trying.

Edited October 16, 2018 by Braxfield

[jekostas]

You could try cutting the end off from an empty cartridge and attaching an ink sac with shellac to make a squeeze converter.

[ac12]

 

You could try cutting the end off from an empty cartridge and attaching an ink sac with shellac to make a squeeze converter.

 

Going to be tough.

I looked at one, and here is my take:

• The cartridge is stepped.
  • It is narrow where it goes into the section, then it steps up in diameter outside the section to almost the ID of the barrel.
  • There is VERY LITTLE clearance between the cartridge and the barrel. I doubt a sac will fit.
• The only thing that I can think of is to cement a sleeve/tube into a cut cartridge, then cement the sac onto the sleeve.

[RMN]

You will need the slim cartridge. That is a 2 stepped cartridge instead of the regular 3 stepped one.

 

 

D.ick

[Braxfield]

I have pondered all of the above.

 

Result: I purchased a couple of syringes from Goulet. Now when my wife comes home and finds me hanging over the kitchen sink, syringe in hand, she knows I'm just re-charging the Spire.

Edited October 26, 2018 by Braxfield

[inkstainedruth]

Sorry -- not familiar with that model, and know very little about current models; and no, I don't know if they're one of those brands that take proprietary cartridges and converters.

But Cross did in fact make converters (at least in the past). I have two Cross pens, a Solo and a Verve. The Solo takes the push-in style converter, but the Verve takes a screw-in model. So one thing you'll have to see is whether the section interior has threading or not.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[jekostas]

The Cross Spire can't use either of the standard Cross converters as the body is far too narrow.

[Braxfield]

Yes, the Cross Spire is super slender (even slimmer than the Signature) and won't take either Cross converter. The good news is that I've developed expertise with the syringe and have taken to wandering round the house looking for things to inject.

 

The real joy of the Spire, apart from the paintbrush slim barrel, is the springiness of the nib. I don't know if it is technically a semi-flex but the line variation is far in excess of any other Cross pen of my acquaintance. It is a delight. So much so that I have almost forgiven Cross for (a) not making a converter, and (b ) ditching the Spire so swiftly. When I assume control of A. T. Cross the Spire is one of the models I will be re-introducing. In sterling silver. It will be a sensation.

Edited October 31, 2018 by Braxfield

[ac12]

Modern nibs are NOT semi-flex nibs, nor meant to flex in any way.

You happen to get one that has a bit of give.

Be very careful, or you will spring the nib.

[Braxfield]

Good advice, ac12, and I will be very careful.

 

The nib certainly has a pronounced give. I find that natural writing action provides line variation. In fact, it is hard to avoid in the course of normal writing, and I don't think I have an unusually heavy mitt.

 

I did notice that others had a similar experience, as noted here when the pen first appeared. And others reported a nib as hard as a nail!

[donnweinberg]

I just got one and inked it up with the included thin cartridge.  Mine has a medium nib, 18K.  It does have nice give, but not in a manner that for me provides line variation in actual writing.  In fact, the nib has audible feedback sound.