Sometimes it is easy to fall into the trap of assuming that ballpens are never going to live up to our beloved fountain pens. Well, when it comes down to sheer writing pleasure, the joy of vibrant liquid ink swirling out across the paper in calligraphic flourishes... Nope, the humble ballpen is not going to measure up.
On
the other hand.... For one thing, about the closest I've ever gotten
to "calligraphic flourishes" is "semi-legible".
For another, there are a lot of times when you really don't have the
time for the sometimes fussy nature of a fountain pen. Heck, at times,
you don't even want to mess with removing a cap!
It's at times like these that the ballpen comes into its own. The pen we're looking at today, the new Autocross from A.T. Cross is a perfect example of how a "humble" ballpen can actually manage to maintain that utilitarian edge, while bringing a little style and class along with it. To top it all off, it's one of those "mini" pens; a very handy compact pen that really does go anywhere!
Cross
has pulled their design elements for the Autocross from the world of
vintage automobiles. The bright chrome and textured leather do manage
to evoke the idea of a classic car, although not to such an extent that
the "theme" overpowers the simple good looks of the design.
This is a pen that you can like even if you're not a classic car nut.
The Autocross is a streamlined looking pen, with a pronounced taper to both ends of the pen. The leather wraps around the barrel, with a thin strip of bright chrome running along the top of the pen joining the chrome accents on either end. This strip has the Cross name engraved along it, as well as a pair of round accents.
The Autocross comes into its own when you consider it as one of those "go anywhere" kind of pens. This thing will fit easily into any pocket, purse, or briefcase. You'll always have a pen on hand when you need it. And, given the nature of things, those times are likely to be the times you least want to mess with the "ritual" of using a fountain pen. Just pull it out and twist the back of the barrel a bit and you're making marks all over the paper. Any kind of paper, too. Even those horrible thermal printer credit card receipts!
In terms of writing... Well, it's a ballpoint using a Cross refill. If you're happy with that, you'll love it! Seriously, I usually have a lot of trouble telling the difference between the various types of ballpen refills. I'm spoiled by fountain pens! But I certainly didn't find the Autocross to feel bad in the hand in use. The line seemed smooth enough, without any clumping or other trouble with the ink. Not as fluid as a nib, or even a nice broad tip rollerball, but easy enough in use for most daily tasks.
It seems clear to me that considering the design and size, the Autocross is meant to be more of a "have it on hand" accessory than something you would be likely to use to write your next novel. In this regard, the Autocross really shines. Especially in the summer months, it's nice to be able to wear a pocket-less tee shirt without having to worry about where to securely carry a fountain pen.
Once
you get it out of the pocket, the Autocross is a pleasant enough pen
to actually use. It's very short in overall length, but wide enough
to provide a good grip. For quick notes or signatures it's perfect,
and even longer periods of writing were not too uncomfortable. I didn't
try a novel, though! The leather surface provides a good gripping surface,
enough texture to keep the pen from slipping in the hand. Extending
and retracting the tip is easy enough with only a slight twist required
to fully operate the mechanism.
The Autocross is available in five colors,
black, red, brown, tan, and light blue. I preferred the red and tan
colors, they just seemed to set off the chrome trim the best to my eye,
but Cross has done a nice job in selecting all of the colors, and there
should be something for everyone.
copyright 2006 William Riepl
Images copyright 2006 William Riepl