Cross Bailey Blue Lacquer Fountain Pen
The A.T. Cross company produced their first product in the United States in 1846, they were the first manufacturer of quality writing instruments. The company is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. I first became interested in pens when I was 18 and I got my first Cross pen/pencil set when my grandfather passed away. It was a simple Century set, but I felt like I had finally grown up. Thirteen years later, I bought another Cross at a yard sale, this time a Cross Townsend fountain pen. I knew enough about Cross to know that they made high end fountain pens, but I didn’t know that they made entry level pens as well. Mark from The Pen Shop reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in reviewing the Cross Bailey and I was genuinely interested to see what an entry level Cross fountain pen was like. Thank you Mark for sending this my way and being patient in this review coming out. If you are interested in getting a Cross Bailey for yourself, check out The Pen Shop for a great selection of colors of the Bailey and a wide variety of other great brands.
Design: The Bailey has a snap cap closure, which holds the cap on very securely. The cap finial is chrome with a circle design engraved. The clip is chrome as well, it has a gradual tapered design with the word Cross engraved on it. There is a chrome cap band comprised of two raised and engraved rings. The body has a gradual taper down to the bottom finial which is chrome as well and matches the cap band, clip, and top finial. There are no threads since the pen is a snap cap, so the transition from the body to the grip section is smooth. The grip section is gloss black and tapers from a chrome section ring down to a chrome finger stop. Normally I am not a fan of smooth sections as my fingers slide on them, but the finger stop helps grip the pen nicely, even during longer writing sessions. While not a deal breaker for me, you are not able to post the cap.
Nib Performance: This is where the rubber meets the road. The Bailey is offered with a medium nib only. It is a polished stainless steel nib which has the Cross lion logo, an “X” below it with “1846” on one side, “USA” on the other, an “M” for medium and “Cross” engraved below. While the engravings are a bit busy, it does look well thought out and it is an attractive design. The nib is perfectly tuned and laid down a nice wet medium line. During the entire testing time, I never experienced a skip, hard start, or dry writing. I normally prefer fine or extra-fine nibs but the medium nib performs beautifully.
Filling System: Cross uses a proprietary cartridge/converter system. The Bailey came with two ink cartridges, but I found a converter at a local pen shop for about $5. The proprietary system was the only drawback that I found.Value: The Bailey is available at The Pen Shop for £53 or $67.36 USD.
Overall: I was really impressed with the Bailey. The performance and build definitely hit above their weight class. I received the blue model which was almost iridescent and the chrome matched it perfectly. This has quickly become one of my favorite pens to use and holds a top 5 spot in my everyday carry case. The performance and design of the Bailey just goes to show why Cross has been in business since 1846.Specs:Name: Cross Bailey Blue Lacquer Fountain PenDesign: Lacquered metal body with chrome accentsLength: 136mm (5.35 in)Posted: N/ADiameter: 11.5mm (.45 in)Weight: 29g (1.02oz)Nib: Stainless SteelFilling System: Proprietary cartridge/converter Pros: Secure snap cap, beautiful finish with chrome accents, perfect nibCons: Doesn’t post and proprietary filling system Same price range:Parker UrbanSheaffer 300Campo Marzio Filligree Silver Diners
Nib Performance: This is where the rubber meets the road. The Bailey is offered with a medium nib only. It is a polished stainless steel nib which has the Cross lion logo, an “X” below it with “1846” on one side, “USA” on the other, an “M” for medium and “Cross” engraved below. While the engravings are a bit busy, it does look well thought out and it is an attractive design. The nib is perfectly tuned and laid down a nice wet medium line. During the entire testing time, I never experienced a skip, hard start, or dry writing. I normally prefer fine or extra-fine nibs but the medium nib performs beautifully.Filling System: Cross uses a proprietary cartridge/converter system. The Bailey came with two ink cartridges, but I found a converter at a local pen shop for about $5. The proprietary system was the only drawback that I found.Value: The Bailey is available at The Pen Shop for £53 or $67.36 USD.Overall: I was really impressed with the Bailey. The performance and build definitely hit above their weight class. I received the blue model which was almost iridescent and the chrome matched it perfectly. This has quickly become one of my favorite pens to use and holds a top 5 spot in my everyday carry case. The performance and design of the Bailey just goes to show why Cross has been in business since 1846.Specs:Name: Cross Bailey Blue Lacquer Fountain PenDesign: Lacquered metal body with chrome accentsLength: 136mm (5.35 in)Posted: N/ADiameter: 11.5mm (.45 in)Weight: 29g (1.02oz)Nib: Stainless SteelFilling System: Proprietary cartridge/converter Pros: Secure snap cap, beautiful finish with chrome accents, perfect nibCons: Doesn’t post and proprietary filling system Same price range:Parker UrbanSheaffer 300Campo Marzio Filligree Silver Diners
