Cross Townsend Fountain Pens?

[Wynot]

Today, I received some pens that I bought in an online auction.  Most pens in the lot weren't described beyond 'lot of pens' and I didn't even know these were fountain pens until they arrived.  I think I have them identified as Cross Townsend fountain pens made in 1993 0r 1994 (they're engraved 1994 on the caps).  One has seen some use.  The other looks like it has never been inked.  They both have 14K nibs.  On the clips, Cross is written in script.  Can anyone tell me a little more about these pens?  Are they common, rare, collectible, valuable?  Thanks.  

[Biber]

It likely has a nib originally sourced from Pelikan. Should be a good pen, a bit on the heavy side though, especially the cap. I know I enjoyed the one I owned once upon a time. it's nib actually 'sang' as it wrote.  

[Wynot]

I tried one of the pens after cleaning it up a bit.  It's a good writer but, unfortunately, no 'singing'.  Too bad... that sounded pretty awesome!

[Aysedasi]

I have two Townsends, both of which write very well.  The only trouble with the pens is that they're kind of.....boring..... 

[Biber]

11 hours ago, Wynot said:

I tried one of the pens after cleaning it up a bit.  It's a good writer but, unfortunately, no 'singing'.  Too bad... that sounded pretty awesome!

 

Well, perhaps I shouldn't have used "sing." It was more like the sound of writing with chalk on a chalk board, sort of a smooth rubbing sound that could, if pushed, turn into a tone. I remember liking that about it anyway.   

[Wynot]

I think 'singing' is a good word to use.  The visual I got was like when someone runs their finger around the rim of a glass with water in it, producing a melodious sound.

[Wynot]

Aysedasi,  Which pens do you find the most interesting?

[Toll]

This post brings back some memories—my very first fountain pen was a new Cross Townsend. It was a Christmas gift in the mid-90’s. The pen leaked so I contacted Cross. The customer service was impeccable—the pen was repaired or replaced in short order and all was well. 

[Aysedasi]

On 12/10/2021 at 4:18 AM, Wynot said:

Aysedasi,  Which pens do you find the most interesting?

 Of those I have, I find the two I had made for me by Shawn Newton the most interesting and pleasurable, because they are quite unique.  I like my several Rangas, because they are great pens, great writers and please me aesthetically (I'm a fan of clipless pens).  I was probably a bit harsh on the Townsend, after all, the two I have I've had for a while now and I still use them occasionally.   

[Wynot]

Aysedasi, I'd not heard of Shawn Newton before.  Beyond his talent in pen making, I was impressed with his commitment to helping kids all over.  Thanks for putting him on my radar.

[Aysedasi]

My two pens from Shawn are an absolute delight.  The first I won in one of his raffles, the first one I entered.  It has been to and fro across the pond three times as I managed to break it twice - the second time on the day I got it back after the first misadventure....  The second one is just stunningly beautiful.  I was going to order another, but his waiting list was very long and by the time my turn arrived, the cash I'd earmarked for it had disappeared......  Maybe in the New Year......

[dadbar]

I received a Cross Townsend FP from my old employer as a gift for finishing a major project back in 2001. It sat in a drawer for a good 15 years until I finally felt like using it. At first I found it to be quite heavy and ponderous to use but in time I began to appreciate its smooth performance and I got used to the heft as well. I don't use it very often but occasionally I find it a nice change of pace.

 

The best advice- and this goes for all of the Cross fountain pens I've owned....do not use their ink cartridges. I've had more trouble with ink flow and skipping with these....which disappears when I use a converter with other branded inks.

[Jerome Tarshis]

20 hours ago, dadbar said:

The best advice- and this goes for all of the Cross fountain pens I've owned....do not use their ink cartridges. I've had more trouble with ink flow and skipping with these....which disappears when I use a converter with other branded inks.

 

Alas, I am sorry to read this. I had hoped things might have changed for the better while I wasn't looking. The problem isn't the literal cartridge: those worked well enough for me when refilled with different ink.

 

Where I am, like dadbar, is that these can be terrific pens, like other Cross pens. Just avoid the ink that comes with their cartridges. So it still seems. The cartridges are outsourced, as I remember. Not to the manufacturer of Cross ink, whoever that may be.

[manolo]

I have recently bought a Townsend. Very cheap, as it has a logo on it, and the owner was not interested in fps...well, it is maybe the best steel nib I have tried, and I have tried a lot. I am deeply impressed.

The only con of the pen: the cap is too tight.

[dadbar]

On 4/12/2022 at 6:35 AM, manolo said:

The only con of the pen: the cap is too tight.

 

The cap may be tight but it seals the pen very well. I had mine sitting on my desk for months with ink in it....never failed to write from a cold start.