Hello, friends! 🌸 Welcome to the third post of Pen-Demonium, where I share my love for pens, especially fountain pens. Today, I want to talk about one of the most special items I own and carry with me. This pen holds a dear place in my heart because it was given to me by my father. Just to clarify, my father is alive and well; I’m simply sentimental when it comes to receiving items that have been used by others. Whether it’s books, pens, or even something small like a hair tie, I cherish these things deeply. This particular pen is one of the most precious items I own, and I promised my father that I would pass it down to my child, ensuring that it moves from generation to generation within our family. 🫂
The pen I’m talking about is the Cross Classic Century fountain pen. Unfortunately, the exact origin of this pen is unknown. In the late 1970s – 80s, when my father was just a middle schooler, my grandfather gave him this pen and the same one to his little brother. At first, I thought this pen was relatively new because I couldn’t find any details about it. However, in a previous post, I mentioned a person who is one of the few people who take care of fountain pens in my country. When I received this pen, it wasn’t in good shape, so I wanted to get it cleaned or fixed if it had any problems. I took it to this expert with my friend, and after one look, he immediately told me that this pen was either from the 70s or 80s. It is quite old and has been very well preserved.
When I was in primary and middle school, I remember my dad using this pen often. However, in high school, I don’t recall him taking it out. I thought he kept it as a memento of his father (who is also still alive), but apparently, he couldn’t find a cartridge for it since the pen was so old, and he gave up. In my opinion, that’s not the best reason to stop using a pen, but I asked for it anyway. It wasn’t like he handed it to me specifically, saying, “I present this to you.” It was my idea to take care of it well, and my sister will take care of the mechanical version of this pen. This way, we both have something to give our kids from their grandfather or, looking at it another way, their great-grandfather. My dad was very happy to hear that, and after some polishing and care, the pen worked amazingly.
I don’t even know how to describe the joy this pen brings me. It may not be the most luxurious fountain pen, but it is definitely the most luxurious one I own at the moment. You can feel the quality compared to my other pens. It has an M nib, which is pure gold, not just covered in gold leaf, and it’s perfectly fine with no scratches, thanks to my dad’s careful preservation. The outside is slightly worn out and covered with 14K gold. I thought about covering it with another layer of gold leaf, but the expert advised against it. He said it would take away from its authenticity and could ruin the gold because the quality of gold used back then was much higher than what we can find now. So, I decided to keep the little details and, after a little polishing and a quick clean-up, filled it with beautiful green gold glitter ink from Ferris Wheel Press. Now, it’s in my hands.
The closest version I can find is from a website where the brand name is written in a computer-like font, while my pen has a cursive font. This difference allowed the expert to date it to the late 70s or early 80s. Using a medium nib isn’t usually my preference because I write very small, but the writing experience with this pen is incredibly smooth. It’s perfect for writing for long periods or scribbling notes. Being on the thinner side makes it slightly harder to hold for extended periods, but I enjoy it so much that I don’t even notice when my fingers get tired.
The pen only uses a specific type of cartridge, and I couldn’t find any converters in my country. So, I’ve been using the same old cartridge, washing it out, and refilling it with new ink. I’m happiest when it’s filled with this rich, deep green ink because it feels more elegant. At first, I tried to use this pen only for special occasions, like meetings or writing something sentimental. But in the end, I love this pen too much to save it for special days. I want to honor it by using it regularly, so my kids can remember me using it from their childhood and appreciate its sentimental value.
When it comes to these kinds of pens, I don’t have much experience, but I think this is one of the most elegant and useful things I’ve ever held in my hands. I’m so thankful to my father for agreeing to give it to me, and I will cherish it for the rest of my life.
Until next time, take care of yourselves and stay safe. 💕✒️
credit: the pen picture on the cover is from the website peyton street pens, but the ones in the post are mine!
Luster of Books 
go girl
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