In 1873, Alonzo received his first patent in the U. S. and invented pencil cases and pen holders. 
In the 1880s, Alonzo invented the "telescopic pencil", which could be extended and retracted freely like a telescope. Fascinated people called it "magic". He also invented the forerunner of modern ballpoint pens, the "stylographic pen", and the prototype of modern mechanical pencils, the "crayon holder". He received 26 patents in the U. S. and 7 patents in the U. K.

Cross Factory was established at 53 Warren Street, Providence, Rhode Island. The factory was operated by a 10 horse power steam engine. Cross Factory would serve the company for the next 80 years.

Cross created its very first fountain pen in Providence, Rhode Island. It was called "Peerless" because it had no peers to match its exquisite design, and quickly became an American classic of writing instruments.

In the years to follow, the Boss Family became an integral part of Cross history. The first family member to work for Alonzo Cross was 12 year old Ellery Boss. Ellery would work after school helping out where he could, slowly learning the trade. In later years he would lead the development of Cross ballpoint pen technology. 
Ellery Boss, featured in center

The second Boss to work for Cross was Walter R. Boss. Walter quickly learned the trade and had a passion to keep the Cross business alive as the sales representative and mechanical engineer. He purchased Cross in 1916. The Boss family would take over the business of Cross in the following years. 
Under the management of the Boss family, Cross continuously developed writing instruments with an ever increasing sophistication of design. 
In 1918, "Alwrite" with a beautifully colored body, and in 1935, "Signet", the predecessor of Cross' flagship product "Century" were released. 
The Boss family continued to manage the business until September 2013.

As this 1940s advertisement depicts, Cross was renowned for their custom corporate gift (novelty) services. Cross launched what would have been utterly unforeseeable at the foundation of the company: a novelty line of pencils, letter openers, rulers, screws and more.

The Townsend Collection, named after Alonzo Townsend Cross, the eldest son of the founder, features a full-bodied Art Deco design, stable wide-diameter body, and double bands in the center. 
The Townsend Collection offers fountain pens, pencils, ballpoint pens, and Selectip rollerballs. 
To this day it's known as the "Pen of U. S. Presidents".

In 1996, A.T. Cross Company commissioned Whitechapel Bell Foundry, a bell factory in London, the oldest manufacturing company in the U.K., to manufacture a bell and presented it as a gift to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., which also celebrated its 150th anniversary that year. 
Since 2000, Cross has released collections of contemporary designs, such as "ATX", which broadened the concept of writing instruments. Cross is also expanding its scope beyond writing instruments, to time pieces and accessories.