Cross Bailey

            With many office supply stores removing their Fine Writing sections; it can be pretty easy to find decent fountain pens at a reasonable price. Today’s pen is one of those finds: the Cross Bailey.

             Stats:

            Diameter – Body 13mm

            Diameter – Grip 10mm

Length – Body 120mm

Length – Overall (Capped) 137mm

Length – Overall (Posted) 142mm

Weight – 40g

Nib Sizes – Medium

Street Price – ~$20

            Looks

            The Cross Bailey is one of several fountain pens that, at one point in time, were being sold as Staples exclusives. This pen comes in several finishes, all of which are various colored metal. Anyone that has read enough of this blog knows that I do not enjoy heavy pens, but to each their own.

            The finial is a plain dome that continues to the clip, which reads “Cross”. The clip is fairly tight, but should slip onto most materials. The cap ends with two center bands, each of which has a slight ribbed texture to them. The pen continues in a tapper to a rounded off end. Seeing that this pen is all chrome, it becomes a magnet for fingerprints. Even uncapping this pen leaves it looking smudged and dirty, definitely not something you’d want to see at a business meeting.

            Popping off the cap (which often requires some force) reveals a slippery black-plastic grip section. The grip section is of decent size, and it tappers slightly to the nib. Cross fountain pens all have the same steel nib, but even though each is “Medium” I have never had 2 Cross pens that write the same size line. Unscrewing the barrel reveals space for Cross brand cartridges or a proprietary converter, neither of which hold much ink.

           

            The Cross Bailey is on the heavy side for my tastes. And when posted the pen is unusable for me.

            Writing Experience and Writing Sample:

            The nib of this pen is over polished. Some companies like to think that polishing the tip of the nib, where the nib meets the paper, is a good idea. It isn't. When the iridium on the nib is polished the pen will experience what is called “Hard Starts”, meaning that it will not write when first put to paper. It is possible to fix this problem, however I would not recommend a novice do it. Besides the bad nib, this pen it too heavy for me. Personal preference is everything with fountain pens, however just because this reviewer doesn't like heavy pens that doesn't mean you shouldn't too. Here is a writing sample with this pen (note the hard start):

            Final Thoughts:

            The Cross Bailey is an alright fountain pen, I just would prefer to use a different one. Perhaps you’d like it, and at the price why not try it out?

Why Use Fountain Pens?

            In this age of technology it might seem that handwriting is a dying art. Cursive penmanship is no longer taught in many elementary schools. Writing letters and other notes have been replaced by email, word processing, and text messages. With all the ease that modern technology give us; why would anyone want to use such archaic tools as fountain pens?

            Most people are intimidated by these seemingly ancient tools. For those that might be wanting a few reasons to start using fountain pens; I’ll list some reasons why one might consider using a fountain pen in their daily life:

•Using a fountain pen greatly reduces the pressure one uses to write, thus making writing for a longer period of time possible, and the overall experience of writing more enjoyable. A fountain pen will be able to write under its own weight, allowing the user to simply guide the pen across the page. This makes fountain pens ideal for those with weak hands or carpal tunnel.

•Fountain pens, if well maintained, last a lifetime. Many pens are able to outlive their owners. They can be much more expensive than your typical disposable ballpoint, but each pen will be will you throughout life.

•On the topic of lasting through life; a fountain pen will be a tool for you to record your thoughts. Using a particular pen might very well remind you of a specific person, event, or time in your life. This nostalgia is a main reason for using fountain pens.

•Fountain pens, in my opinion, are the most personal accessory a person can have. They allow for the expression of us, through writing, in a way that no other writing tool can. One’s writing style can be expressed through the many different nib grinds available, and one’s personality can be further expressed through the style of pen used.

•A handwritten letter is a rarity. Receiving one is special, the fact that someone you know took the time to sit down a write one out means a lot. When writing one you can reflect your mood through the ink and writing style that you use. Getting a letter that has had thought put into it really means something that hopefully you can give to someone, and fountain pens are a perfect vehicle to write that letter.

•Another advantage of the fountain pen is that the nib and overall pen slowly shapes itself to the user. It is distinctively yours. A new pen or someone else's pen will not feel the same. And ultimately, using a fountain pen (even just for signatures and whatnot) conveys a sense of style. For many people the novelty of using a fountain pen is a great conversation starter. For someone who isn’t familiar with fountain pens, seeing one used can be shocking and on many occasions very much appreciated. Like a good watch or piece of clothing, a lot can be said from what sort of fountain pen a person uses.

•Fountain pens are, in most cases, handheld pieces of artwork. The act of getting a pen out, inking it, and then putting it to paper is an extremely cathartic experience. The sound of a nib gliding across a page and watching the ink dry is calming. Writing takes on a whole other form when using a fountain pen.

Fountain pens are pretty cool. If you’re reading this blog, chances are I’m preaching to the choir. But for those of you who don’t use fountain pens: don’t let them scare you away. Choosing a first pen can be a daunting task. The investment in not only a pen, but ink and decent paper, can be intimidating. But trust me; after you use a fountain pen for a while, it will be hard to use anything else but.

Platinum 3776 Century

            When it comes to Japanese fountain pens there are three main manufacturers. Today’s pen is made by one of those companies. We will be looking at the Platinum 3776 Century.

            Stats:

            Diameter – Body 13mm

            Diameter – Grip 11.5mm

Length – Body 120mm

Length – Overall (Capped) 140mm

Length – Overall (Posted) 159mm

Weight – 20g

Nib Sizes – Ultra Extra Fine, Extra Fine, Fine, Soft Fine, Medium, Broad (Reviewed),                  Double Broad, Music.

Street Price – ~$90 to $175

Looks:

The 3776 Century is Platinum’s flagship model. Coming in many colors and patterns, the 3776 Century is most commonly found in either Black, Bourgogne, Chartres Blue, or in a clear Demonstrator. Much like other company’s flagship models, the 3776 means something. In this case 3776 represents the height, in meters, of Mount Fuji.

Until purchasing this pen I had yet to own a staple in all fountain pen collections; a black-cigar-pen with gold trim. The allure of such a “boring” pen, to most people, is that such a pen is exactly what almost every person thinks of when they think about fountain pens. It is a very classic design.

The finial of the cap is a plain black dome, which is immediately followed by a tight and flat gold clip. The cap concludes with a gold band that reads “Platinum #3776 Japan”. The cap is made with Platinum’s “Slip and Seal” claims if this pen were to be left inked and capped for a maximum of two years that it would not dry out. I would not recommend testing this claim, leaving any pen inked without writing is very bad for the pen as it leads to staining of the nib, feed, converter, and interior section. The body continues in a taper until it rounds off, giving this pen the classic cigar shaped look.

Unscrewing the cap reveals a grip section that is almost the same girth as the body. The grip barely tapers to the nib, and is smooth to the touch. The large 14k gold nib is flat and held tightly to the feed. Although the nib and feed are friction fit, they do not come out easily, do not attempt to remove these parts unless you are well versed in pen maintenance. Unscrewing the section from the body to reveal a proprietary Platinum converter; which sadly doesn't hold much ink.

The 3776 is a light pen, as it is made of a resin. Even the added cap mechanics don't add too much weight. I prefer to use this pen posted, although it is a decent sized pen unposted.

            Writing Experience and Writing Sample:

            Writing with this pen is amazing. This is a perfect sized pen for me, especially when posted. Japanese nibs run finer that European nibs, as their writing tends to be very thin and intricate which is something that broader nibs cannot easily reproduce. Typically each nib will run one European size smaller (Japanese Medium = European Fine). However this is a true broad nib, which is able to produce thick lines, lay down a wet line, and offer shading with almost any ink. Japanese nibs also tend to write wetter than what we are used to with other pens. Having a very wet pen, a very flow-y ink, and a converter with a small capacity makes for a pen that needs to be inked every couple days. Here is a writing sample with this pen:

            Final Thoughts:

            The Platinum 3776 Century is a great pen. Writing with this pen is a joy, it glides effortlessly across the page under nothing but its own weight. My only minor complaint is the very small ink reservoir of the converter. If you are looking for a high end pen but aren’t wanting to break the bank, then the Platinum 3776 Century is definitely one to consider. I highly recommend this pen.