Did Newman get Cross envy?

[metal_punching_grip]

As part of a lot I got an atypical Newman MP: with its black tip, teardrop-shaped clip and engraved lines, it looks a lot like a Cross Century.

However, in direct comparison they are quite different: the Cross uses a twist mechanism while the Newman is a knock-type and the split between the body and nose cone occurs at a different level.

So I’m wondering what the story is: a loving hommage, a shameless copy, an OEM relationship for another Cross MP?

To complicate things further, I have recently found an almost identical MP under the Sonica brand:

Do you have any information on the history of these models and the relations between these brands?

[speedfreek]

If that nose cone would have been perfectly straight, that Newman would have been my new favourite pencil.

[drifand]

Don’t forget the ‘cross type’ Mistral body knock pencils by Kokuyo… absolutely follows the Century clip and silhouette.

[amjacobs7]

One thing that is annoying about Cross Century is the grip tapers too early. Because of this, it is always trying to slip out of one’s fingers. The taper on the Newman starts closer to the tip, which resolves this problem.

[metal_punching_grip]

@drifand

Don’t forget the ‘cross type’ Mistral body knock pencils by Kokuyo… absolutely follows the Century clip and silhouette.

I didn’t know of this, do you have a picture?

[drifand]

Kokuyo PS body knocks

[KOKUYO-Mistral_group-plus-Artline] My KOKUYO Mistral (only metal) collection, adjacent to some Artline Shachihata MPs. Note the one on the far left is not a MP, but instead a BP. It telescopes like the Artline, where full extension deploys the refill, and body contraction retracts it. Sadly, I’m missing a few… namely the PS-4 with naked engraved grid and PS-3 with black etched lines. And I don’t have any of the plastic bodied ¥1000 or ¥700 models (just don’t care for their appearance). I did…

[metal_punching_grip]

Nice! This one is clearly on the “hommage” side while for the Newman/Sonica I’m still unsure.

[Alain4s]

Although A.T. Cross is still headquartered in the United States, the brand has been manufacturing its products overseas for decades, with the exception of their presidential pens. Most of their fountain pens and ballpoints are made in China, and a few rare models were produced in Japan, notably the Peerless 125th Anniversary, manufactured by Sailor.

So I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the same applies to their mechanical pencils. I doubt it’s an homage or a copy of a Cross pencil; it’s more likely that Cross commissioned Japanese companies to produce their items.

[metal_punching_grip]

@Alain4s

I doubt it’s an homage or a copy of a Cross pencil; it’s more likely that Cross commissioned Japanese companies to produce their items.

That’s a possibility, however I have never seen the corresponding Cross model. The current knock version doesn’t look at all like the Newman I have. There may be a discontinued model that’s closer but I know very little about Cross so I’ll leave the question to the specialists.