Please help me identify this cross fountin pen

[Warbler]

Hello,

 

I bought a cross fountain pen probably sometime between 1995 to 2000.  But  I long ago forgot what cross fountain pen it was that I bought.  I  am not sure why I bought it back then.  I guess I was curious what a fountain pen was like.  But I wasn't really into them and the pen got put in the back of my desk and forgotten about.  But now that I am into fountain pens,  I would like to see if I can find out what cross pen it is and if it would be possible to find a compatible converter for it.   I have taken photos of it and will post them.   Below:  Pleas help.  Thanks

[inkstainedruth]

Looks a bit like a Cross Solo, but seems to be made of a shinier material than mine or most of the other ones I've seen (both of mine have more of a matte finish to the barrel and cap).

If it's any help, see if "Made in Japan" is on the barrel or cap or nib -- since the Solos were made under contract to Cross by IIRC either Pilot or Sailor ( forget which).

Unfortunately, beyond that I'm not going to be much help (it doesn't look like the Cross Adventura I have, and NOTHING looks like a Cross Verve -- except another Cross Verve... ).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Warbler]

Hi thanks for your help. I don't see anything on the pen indicating  that it was made in Japan.

[inkstainedruth]

Well, I don't know a lot about Cross models -- just the ones I have (and the Adventura is a recent acquisition).

When I got the first Solo (which was from the estate of a friend of mine), someone told me about the sale because he knew I liked fountain pens.  So I looked at the pen, but knew NOTHING about Cross pens at that point, and went home and did a bunch of research as to whether the Solos took push-in converters or screw-in ones.  And then went back the next day -- by which point pretty much everything else had been sold (!); there had been a couple of other things I'd been eyeing as well, but someone came along and said "X dollars for EVERYTHING!"  Fortunately for me, Helen's pen had been put aside until I got back there, so I was able to get the pen at least.  And I liked it so much, I bought another one at a pen show and there are a couple of other colors I'd like to get as well, maybe with different nibs (the red one that had been my friend's has an F nib -- the blue one I bought at OPS has a B nib.  

So seeing what style of converter it takes (push in vs. screw in) might also help you narrow down what model yours is.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Warbler]

What I was hoping is that someone could tell me what model it is and then that would narrow down the converter I need to get for it.

[inkstainedruth]

Well, with the Verve, I bought it for a buck at a thrift store which specializes in arts and crafts stuff (I think it's an offshoot of Construction Junction, and is in the same building -- just with a different entrance) on the way to a pen club meeting.  The guy who runs the mailing list took a look at the inside of the pen with a flashlight and thought that took a push-in converter, and someone else GAVE me a spare one he had.  So you might be able to figure out that way.

Barring that, if nobody else responds to you, you might try contact Cross directly: https://www.cross.com to see if they have any idea.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.  

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Warbler]

I think I bought my pen at staples.  Thanks for trying to help 👍

[inkstainedruth]

If you bought it at Staples, maybe they can help you ID the pen.  I know that they carry other Cross models, like the Cross Bailey.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Warbler]

but we are talking about something I bought there over 20 years ago.  I am sure what they carry has changed since then.

[inkstainedruth]

Oh, sorry.  Twenty years ago I was still using BPs and some rollerball pens... (still use the rollerballs -- Uniballs -- for some artwork).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Mr.Rene]

If I am not wrong the nib for Cross Solo was made in japanise factory ONLY, Regards. 

[Mangrove Jack]

It is a Cross Radiance. Same as the Cross Solo except for the trim which is gold instead of black.

I have a few of both and really like them. Well made, functional, ergonomic, hardy, not expensive.

No wonder, made by Namiki/Pilot in Japan. Matching, well made classy looking ballpoint pens too.

[Mark from Yorkshire]

3 minutes ago, Mangrove Jack said:

It is a Cross Radiance. Same as the Cross Solo except for the trim which is gold instead of black.

I have a few of both and really like them. Well made, functional, ergonomic, hardy, not expensive.

No wonder, made by Namiki/Pilot in Japan. Matching, well made classy looking ballpoint pens too.

So I’m guessing it would take the Pilot converters as opposed the the cross ones something like a con40

[Penguincollector]

  Peyton Street Pens keeps their sold pages up for reference;  I read that the Radiance takes Cross cartridges, so it should take a Cross converter.  @Mangrove Jack, what do your Radiance pens use?

[Warbler]

4 hours ago, Mangrove Jack said:

It is a Cross Radiance. Same as the Cross Solo except for the trim which is gold instead of black.

I have a few of both and really like them. Well made, functional, ergonomic, hardy, not expensive.

No wonder, made by Namiki/Pilot in Japan. Matching, well made classy looking ballpoint pens too.

huh,  why would Namiki/pilot make pen to be sold by cross?

 

Also, I found this video:  which shows a pen that is the spitting image of my pen, but it says it a cross solo.

 

Anyway,  thanks for your help!  Also thanks to everyone else in here for your help!

[Penguincollector]

@Warbler, pen companies make pens for other companies rather often. I have a Sheaffer made by Sailor, Parker gave Hero equipment and has other companies in countries where they don’t have factories make pens in Parker’s name for that market under license. 

[Mangrove Jack]

On 2/3/2024 at 11:02 PM, Mark from Yorkshire said:

So I’m guessing it would take the Pilot converters as opposed the the cross ones something like a con40

 

No. It's a Cross. Marketed and sold by Cross. It takes Cross Converters. 

[Mangrove Jack]

On 2/4/2024 at 3:33 AM, Warbler said:

Also, I found this video:  which shows a pen that is the spitting image of my pen, but it says it a cross solo.

 

 

They are identical. Black trim called Solo and gold trim called Radiance, as far as the pens I have.

Some markets/dealers may be now selling them as Solo because the Solo is probably better known.

[Warbler]

19 hours ago, Mangrove Jack said:

 

No. It's a Cross. Marketed and sold by Cross. It takes Cross Converters. 

So do you think it will take a the modern converter sold by cross today?  https://www.cross.com/cr_en_us/8751

[Penguincollector]

  It should. I use both older and newer converters in all my Cross pens, as long as it takes the push in converter and not the screw type. I believe the Radiance/Solo had the green push in.