A.T. Cross was established in 1846 by Richard Cross in Providence, Rhode Island, making them one of the oldest pen manufacturers in the world. Drawing on the family's background as jewellers, the early years of the company focused on ornate pencil casings made of gold and silver. Their debut pen, the Peerless fountain pen, was named to reflect its unmatched design and technology at the time.
The Cross Family and the Boss Family
Richard's son, Alonzo Townsend Cross -- after whom the company is named -- continued his father's vision and revolutionised the writing world with a series of patented inventions. He received his first patent in 1873 and went on to invent the telescopic pencil, the stylographic pen, and a prototype mechanical pencil, accumulating 26 patents in the US and 7 in the UK.
In 1910, 12-year-old Ellery Boss began helping out at Cross after school, eventually leading the development of Cross ballpoint technology. His relative Walter R. Boss, a passionate sales representative and mechanical engineer, purchased the company in 1916. The Boss family continued to run Cross through successive generations until September 2013.
Key Milestones
In 1946, Cross launched the Century pencil -- a design that became iconic for the brand. The Century ballpoint pen followed in 1953 and quickly became one of their most popular products.
In 1993, the Townsend Collection was released, named after the founder's son. Cross became the official supplier of pens to the White House in the 1970s, and the Townsend has been used by numerous US presidents to sign legislation ever since, earning it the nickname "Pen of the Presidents".
In 2013, A.T. Cross was acquired by American investment company Clarion. To mark the 125th anniversary of the first Cross fountain pen, the Peerless 125 was released, and the following year the brand underwent a full rebrand.
The Cross Guarantee
Cross have always been proud of their lifetime mechanical warranty -- something offered by very few other pen brands. A Cross pen is genuinely built to last a lifetime.
For a full overview of the Cross range and buying guidance, see our Cross Brand Guide or browse the Cross range at Pure Pens.