CROSS history

1879 – Stylographic pen (forerunner of today's ball-point pens)

The semi-classic book A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry by James Parker (1894) is online, and contains much information about variants of crosses used in heraldry.

From 1916 forward and from Walter Boss downward, the Boss family built Cross into one of the most recognizable brands in the history of American business.

1953 – Century ball-point pen introduced using Ellery Boss' internal (patented) design

Cross Sales and Engineering Company was founded in November 1954 by Bill Cross, a young salesman and professional engineer with an entrepreneurial spirit.

Due to changes in the industry, Cross Company lost its major product line in 1962 – Aeroquip which had represented 80% of sales.

Our first branch was opened in 1967 in Greenville, SC. In 1967, our longstanding representation of Parker’s hose & fittings lines led to the origination of Hose Products Company.

1968 – Women's 14 karat gold filled and sterling silver ball-point pen and pencil sets

1971: A.T. Cross Company goes public.

The company's plant in Ballinasloe, Ireland, which had been in operation since 1972, was closed, and writing instrument manufacturing and distribution was consolidated at the company headquarters in Lincoln, Rhode Island.

1974 – Soft Tip Pen - felt tipped (forerunner of today’s Selectip rolling ball pen)

1982 – Women's 10 karat gold filled writing instruments

1983 – Two new executive desk set models introduced (Solid American Cherry and Select Walnut and Leather)

1985 – Rolling Ball refill introduced for Selectip pen

1986 – Gray writing instruments (with chrome appointments)

The acquisition of Mark Cross was followed by the purchase of a similarly oriented company, Manetti-Farrow, Inc., in 1987.

1988 – Pen stands and remodeled single unit desk sets

Financially, the company faltered, as annual sales and earnings fell from their record highs in 1989.

1990 – 18 karat gold filled writing instruments introduced in the United States, including fountain pen and Selectip rolling ball pen

1991 – Burgundy writing instruments; Women's burgundy and lustrous chrome writing instruments

1992 – Medalist writing instruments (chrome with 22 karat gold plated appointments)

1993 – Jewelers with 22 karat gold plated appointments

1994 – Selectip rolling ball pen/key ring gift sets

Late in 1996 the division launched its first product, the Cross DigitalWriter, which was an inkless "pen" designed for writing on the screens of personal digital assistants (PDAs), such as the PalmPilot.

1997 – Pinnacle™ 22 Karat Gold Plated, Sterling Silver and Peacock Blue accented with 22 karat gold plated appointments.

1998 – Cross Timepieces expands line to include Sonoma™ chronographs and three-hand date series for him and her.

In November 1999 David G. Whalen was named president and CEO of A.T. Cross.

2000 – Morph ball-point pens in Jet Black, Electric Blue, Mars Red, Quicksilver, Aztec Orange, Copper, Sherwood Green and Sage Gold, with chrome plated appointments.

2002 – Cross Matrix® Multi-Function Pen, includes dual ball-point, stylus and option of a fountain pen or rolling ball feature.

After trading on the NASDAQ for five years (under the now-defunct symbol ATX), the company was sold in 2013 to Clarion Capital Partners, LLC, but it retained its headquarters in Lincoln, Rhode Island.

The Sheaffer pen company was acquired by A.T. Cross in 2014.

On November 16, 2017, Transom Capital Group, LLC announced that it had bought the assets of A.T. Cross Company.