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WriteAway · Seasoned

Colorful Cross Solo Sport BPs

Chthulhu · Rawr.

I don't think I've ever come across one of these; a nice departure from the usual Cross offerings.

Frank · Admin

Yeah- Great looking pens!
I'm really liking the green demo!

Frank

WriteAway · Seasoned

Frank wrote:
Yeah- Great looking pens!
I'm really liking the green demo!

Frank

Frank,

The demo pen came from Amazon a couple of years ago. They had orange and red models too at the time, but I liked the green best so I bought a couple. I've seen the red transparent on Amazon this year, but red's not my color, and the price was getting way up there. But I think they may still be around, and FPs still pop up on occasion - I've got a white one of those with a fine nib. Smooth.... I like Cross pens, especially American and Japanese models (like the Solo) the best.

WriteAway · Seasoned

Chthulhu wrote:
I don't think I've ever come across one of these; a nice departure from the usual Cross offerings.

Mike,

As I told Frank, US/Japan Cross pens are my favs. The current Chinese versions are close, but just not the same as the earlier models (almost called them "vintage", but caught myself in time).

The Solo (which later morphed into the more elegant Radiance model, which I own 2 of), can be found in both BP and rarely FP models. Some people collect the Lamy Safari in all the colors, Solos are one of my weaknesses. They are very good (some do have dried up mechanisms that I work to free up) and well within my budget.

Chthulhu · Rawr.

I just snagged a translucent green one like yours off the 'bay, just so I can have one. <G>

WriteAway · Seasoned

I sometimes wonder how they secured the twist mechanism into the plastic body of the pen.

And, below, my only Solo FP, with a Fine nib. Writes very well, but I need to use it more often.

-- Edited by WriteAway on Wednesday 17th of July 2013 01:31:51 AM

WriteAway · Seasoned

I think you'll enjoy it!

Chthulhu · Rawr.

Shipped today and *arrived* today! Very pretty, and nice to be able to see the Cross mechanism for once.

Chthulhu · Rawr.

Look closely, just behind the metal nose cone and you'll see flats around the tip end of the mechanism (to keep it from turning inside the barrel), and just barely see the threaded end that screws into or onto the nose cone. The threads are most likely locked with a clear sealant, just as the threads of the cap's bushing are (that's definitely visible in mine).

Cross *likes* thread lockers.

WriteAway · Seasoned

Chthulhu wrote:
Look closely, just behind the metal nose cone and you'll see flats around the tip end of the mechanism (to keep it from turning inside the barrel), and just barely see the threaded end that screws into or onto the nose cone. The threads are most likely locked with a clear sealant, just as the threads of the cap's bushing are (that's definitely visible in mine).
Cross *likes* thread lockers.

You are correct, sir. I see the same setup on both of my green pens. These mechanisms are really free-twisting, so I don't think I'd ever need to mess with those innards!

Chthulhu · Rawr.

Whatever the black plastic is that the bushing at the top of the barrel is made from, it's quite slick. The threaded bit down inside the mechanism looks to be the same material, and there's lots of bearing surface between the threads. A bit of PTFE lubricant between slick plastic and bright stainless is probably about as smooth as you can get short of a ballscrew.