Innovation, reinvention and loving craftsmanship – these are the watchwords of the internationally loved pen manufacturer A.T. Cross.
Richard Cross made the first Cross product in 1846 in Providence, Rhode Island, making A.T. Cross America’s oldest manufacturer of fine-writing instruments. Calling on the family’s history as jewelers, he and his son Alonso started making gold and silver casings for pencils and pens and, in doing so, cemented Cross as a household name in fine writing. In fact, Cross is the official pen supplier to the White House, with presidents signing legislation with their pens since the 1970s.
Cross is well-known for innovation in fine writing, registering several patents including the Stylographic pen (a predecessor to the ballpoint, some 70 years earlier) and the propel-repel mechanical pencil, a forerunner to today’s technical pencils. In the 1970s and 1980s, the brand became particularly popular with America’s up-and-coming professionals and businessmen, synonymous with success and ambition. Pen enthusiasts around the world still adore Cross instruments for their design features, build quality and sense of ingenuity.
Today, there are over 15 different pen styles in the Cross repertoire. The iconic Cross Townsend fountain pen has been re-imagined in precious metals and with stylish limited-edition designs, while the Peerless 125 collection brings together elements of the company’s original Peerless pen and the timeless Classic Century design. Modern takes, such as the Cross ATX, Cross Bailey, Century II, Cross Beverly and the everyday taskmaster Calais, as well as design-led editions such as the Botanica and Sauvage collections, mean there’s a fine-writing piece for everyone. On the more technical side, the Tech 2 and Tech 3+Tech 3+ multipens can be used as touch-screen styluses, proving the A.T. Cross is still at the forefront of writing innovation.
