Cross Pens - America's Oldest Luxury Writing Instruments



Posted: Wednesday, January 21, 2009

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The A.T. Cross Company is a leader in the field of fine writing instruments, and with a history as rich as the ink lines that flow from their pens, it's no wonder their pens are revered. Established in 1846, the A.T. Cross Company is America's oldest luxury writing instruments manufacturer.

A unique trait about Cross is that while most writing utensil companies are family-operated, the ownership of Cross has changed through the years. A.T. Cross was sold in 1916 to businessman Walter R. Boss, who soon incorporated his sons (Ellery and W. Russell) into the operation. While Ellery eventually retired in 1966, W. Russell retired in 1985. The next big shift for Cross occurred when it entered the international marketplace in 1962, followed by its IPO in 1971. Currently, Cross writing instruments are distributed to over 140 markets, with subsidiaries in Spain, France, Japan, and many more.

Like many other companies, A.T. Cross had humble beginnings. Originally, starting out in a small plant in Providence, Rhode Island, they started by making precious metal casings for wooden pencils. Yet, simple ornamentation was not enough for this wunderkind, for shortly after starting, the A.T. Cross Company began to tinker around with cutting-edge designs and technology. It was this research and development that led the company in the creation of numerous breakthroughs in writing technology.

The first of these breakthroughs came with the invention of the propel-repel mechanical pencil, a predecessor to the modern mechanical pencil. Second and perhaps even more important was the creation of the Stylographic pen. The Stylographic pen predated the ballpoint pen by over 70 years and was ultimately a major factor in its design.

Today, Cross produces a range of luxury goods, including watches, stationary, and leather goods. However, writing instruments are still the main focus at Cross, and while other companies have chosen to remain firmly attached to the fountain pen, Cross has expanded its offerings. Some of these newer options include mechanical pencils, ballpoint pens, gel ink pens, and electronic pens.

Even though Cross' has expanded its line of writing utensils, their fountain pen selection still turns heads. While most other fountain pen manufacturers have designs stretching back over 50 years, Cross had a brief stint in 1930, but the overwhelming majority of designs are no older than the 1980s. For this reason, the Cross fountain pen selection embodies the very essence of modern style.

So what else is in store for this amazing company? In a changing world with changing ideas of business, the flexibility of the A.T. Cross Company insures more than just a future for this bold venture, but a host of ideas and creations yet to be seen

Scott Bailey is an avid collector and writer. For more information on Cross Fountain Pens, or to browse our large selection, please visit us at Only Fountain Pens

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