Omas Extra Vs Wahl Doric!

[sanpei]

Not a pool, not necessary find a winner,

just wanna hear some opinions,

I'm showing two examples in same size and same plastic

to make easier comparision,

I'm sure that in Wahl forum comments could be different

 

Now my toughts:

 

OMAS Extra,

better shape

better cap band

 

WAHL Doric,

better clip

better nib

 

I like them both (great pens).

 

S

 

 

http://i37.tinypic.com/e6db2u.jpg

 

http://i33.tinypic.com/eziov5.jpg

 

http://i33.tinypic.com/1255l5x.jpg

 

http://i37.tinypic.com/rwm3x1.jpg

 

http://i35.tinypic.com/213q812.jpg

[kazoolaw]

What beautiful pens!

I have two current celluloid Omas Paragons, and once owned a black Doric with the No. 10 adjustable nib. (It's one pen I miss often)

These are as close to a dead heat as there could be. I love the lower clip on the Doric with the gold seal. And the adjustable nib is great if you like the look of the slider. The Omas nib is classicly simple, sleek, and clean looking. I also prefer the lever end on the Doric, without the slight swelling at the end. The cap bands are a draw: my preference changes every time I look at them. The Omas Greek key with the classic design reference, and the Doric with the pierced band to allow the contrast of the cap material to show through.

Thanks for showing these two pens together. Have to ask: which do YOU think came first?

gary

[eric47]

OMAS Extra,

better shape

better cap band

 

WAHL Doric,

better clip

better nib

 

I like them both (great pens).

Whoa Garibaldi -- I mean Paolo. I'd be happy owning just one of those. Going only by the pictures, I'm in agreement on those points, while having to remain agnostic on the nibs. I haven't tried either of those.

 

I prefer the higher clip placement too on the Omas -- that's more a practical consideration rather than an aesthetic one.

 

Question: the Doric has the little badge above the clip, while the Omas Extra you show does not. Are all the Omas Extras of that period/design like that? (The Extra Lucens has the A/S badge under the clip, but that's a later pen, 1936+).

Edited October 10, 2009 by eric47

[sanpei]

Reading on official literature,

Doric was launched on 1931, the first faceted celluloid pen

(after Aurora Nuvum of course 1930) Omas Extra in 1931 a year later,

The small AS on caps was introduced from 1938 for Extra Lucens models only,

Doric restyling started about in 1936 if well remember,

EXL modes made two years later were very similar to Doric second series,

as happened for Extra and Doric first series.

 

So, Wahl came first, but Omas did it better

 

S

 

 

http://i36.tinypic.com/34q0olw.jpg

 

http://i36.tinypic.com/2jhys4.jpg

 

http://i38.tinypic.com/fbdfeg.jpg

 

http://i38.tinypic.com/21ua29.jpg

 

http://i38.tinypic.com/qx779l.jpg

[jde]

Beautiful, gorgeous, dazzling... Thanks for sharing these side by side. While I'd be lucky to have either of these pens, the Omas styling is a tad nicer!

 

Best,

Julie

[diplomat]

The lever shaped after the clip is another point for the Wahl. But the clip is too low to leave room for the doublecheck.

That's too bad because it reminds me of these Easter Island faces carved in stone...

[pmsalty]

Thanks for sharing, It would be hard to choose between the two. The higher clip placement has me leaning towards the Omas.

PMS

[jar]

Which of your children is your favorite?

[gyasko]

May i ask why the OMAS has better shape? Don't these pens have the same shape?

[sanpei]

May i ask why the OMAS has better shape? Don't these pens have the same shape?

 

Similar but not exactly same,

Omas facets goes until the threads,

Wahl facets ends bit below were cap screw,

I find the OMEX more elegant.

 

Will add an image tomorrow to better show difference.

 

S

[dannzeman]

I like the Omas cap bands more but it would really depend on the nib. Whichever one has more flex is the one I want!

Great lookin' pens!

[eric47]

May i ask why the OMAS has better shape? Don't these pens have the same shape?

 

Similar but not exactly same,

Omas facets goes until the threads,

Wahl facets ends bit below were cap screw,

I find the OMEX more elegant.

 

Will add an image tomorrow to better show difference.

 

In the mean time, there are some photos on R. Binder's blog. Scroll to the bottom, they're the last two pens. Photos are kind of small, but you can make out the "profile" difference between the Wahl and Omas.

 

The Omas has a nearly clean tapering down to the cap threads; and as Paolo mentioned the facets reach the cap threads. It's not completely a clean tapering, there's very discrete "step" -- the tapering get a little straight for the cap lip. At least, I'm basing that on my Extra Lucens, which shares the same shape as the Extra.

 

The Wahl has a much more defined step for the cap. From the step to the cap threads it's round. In a way it's like a modern Omas faceted pen (or a vintage one from the late 40s onward.)

 

One of the real beauties of the pre-50s Omases (round and faceted) are the clean barrels without any (pronounced) steps. Go on Paolo, let the round Omases into the party.

Edited October 11, 2009 by eric47

[sanpei]

Here images to compare shapes as promised yesterday,

not so clear but enough helpful, just I hope so.

 

1)Aurora Novum Caramel

2) Wahl Doric Burma

3)Omas Extra Gray Arco

 

S

 

 

http://i35.tinypic.com/qrherl.jpg

[jar]

It looks to me that the difference is primarily a manufacturing relic. I looks like the Italian pens were made from a bar of faceted stock that was then cut to length and the screw threads tapped. The Wahl looks like it began as round stock that was cut to length and that the facets were later machined.

[eric47]

It looks to me that the difference is primarily a manufacturing relic. I looks like the Italian pens were made from a bar of faceted stock that was then cut to length and the screw threads tapped. The Wahl looks like it began as round stock that was cut to length and that the facets were later machined.

Of course, I'm just speculating here. But I don't think that's quite what's going on with the Italians. It would make sense if the barrel circumference were the same throughout the length of the pen at least with the Omas Extra -- never seen the Aurora.

 

The Omas barrel is tapered on both ends. For the section end, see photos on Binder's blog I linked earlier. (And Richards photo the Wahl looks tapered too.) So even if you started with faceted stock at the largest diameter and cut it, it still required further work to drop down to the smaller diameter of the section. On my Extra Lucens medium, the difference between the widest to the narrowest part is about 2mm (measured with a ruler facet-to-facet).

 

In the 30s and 40s, Omas tapered the barrel and continued facets all the way down to the threads. Later they rounded that part of the barrel (like the Wahl) and have a noticeable step. Richard has a photo of a pre-2005 Arco in that same blog entry, but I think jar, you have more than one modern Omas to look at first-hand.

 

The only modern Omases I know that share the barrel design of the original Omas Extra and Extra Lucens are the LE pens that are tribute to this old design, the LE Extra Lucens.

Edited October 11, 2009 by eric47

[gyasko]

Thanks for the clarification and the lovely pictures. I've always liked the Doric's roundness underneath the cap. I'm not sure i like the Doric more than the Aurora or the OMAS because of that roundness, or that i wouldn't like a faceted 1930s OMAS or Aurora. I've never handled one. I do notice the transistion on my 557f OMAS.

[georges zaslavsky]

superb simply superb paolo are the pens in post #4 piston fillers? can you please post them with the filling system open? thanks in advance

Edited October 11, 2009 by georges zaslavsky

[eric47]

superb simply superb paolo are the pens in post #4 piston fillers? can you please post them with the filling system open? thanks in advance

Georges,

 

In #4, the Omas is an Extra Lucens; it's a plunger.

[georges zaslavsky]

superb simply superb paolo are the pens in post #4 piston fillers? can you please post them with the filling system open? thanks in advance

Georges,

 

In #4, the Omas is an Extra Lucens; it's a plunger.

thanks for the information eric, I will have to look at these vintage beauties even if they are not cheap.

[Brian]

Looks like two winners.