The Arco Brown seems to be more popular but I really like the subtle Arco Green (even it is less striking)

The traditional two-tone Omas "BB" nib performs flawless

The new Arco Brown Celluloid is much bigger and heavier compared to the 1990's Celluloid model

Usually the Arte Italia Celluloid models have the year of production imprinted on the gripping section (Omas claimed to produce 2500 pieces a year; it is not clear if this is per model, per color or celluloid pens in total...). This one does not; also it is missing the "OMAS EXTRA" imprint on the barrel. I think this is a fairly later model and Omas changed imprints. This one only has an OMAS imprint on the cap.

Michael

Now that my own baby,my Arco is off to the motherland for repairs,all i can do when i look at the above photos is and then and then at such beauties.

I know everyone has an opinion,but mine is that the Arco by Omas is THE best looking celluloid on the market over the last 60 years.

Jim

I know how you're feeling; I'm afraid of this as well! Check out this link on John Mottishaw's site:

http://www.nibs.com/OmasParagon2005ReEngineered.htm

He only talks about the natural resin (=black) Paragon so I always wondered if this will be an issue on the celluliod pens as well.

At least I knew before so I'm (mentally) prepared if this should happen to my Paragon

I hope it does not take too long for yours to return from its vacation...




Yes the Arco material is great. I wish they would make it in bright green or bright red as well!



It's funny, some Omas catalogs of the 1990's show the same image of the Celluloid pens over and over again; they just photoshoped the colors! But they made the mistake to photoshop the Arco Celluloid for the Pearl Grey models so there is an Arco Grey listed in the catalogs (but never made in modern times).

Somehow the Arco Brown looks much better on my old pen if you compare it side by side with the new model. Also the material looks transparent on the new pen's cap lip.

Cheers

Michael

Thanks for that link Micheal.That might explain the problem with the piston issue. What i really am nervous about as well is that the pen is not givena good going over.Take that thing apart and make it new is what i want. If it is going all the way to italia and back it had better be fixed! Granted,they did an outstanding job on my Roma so i have high hopes.

Although my piston didn't leak,it might have stopped working due to something akin to an engineering flaw.I don't know as i didn't take it apart.Thats for Omas to do!

What i REALLY want is to own a few pre-2005 (or even older) Extra brown celluloids.Getting rare these days and they command prices too high for my pocketbook.I flip though my Omas book by Dolcini and drool all the way!

Jim

Were these called Brown or Bronze by the manufacturer?

Fred

I think they originally were named "Arco" (=brown pen) and "Arco Green". Later they might have switched to Arco Brown and Arctic Green (Arco Green with silver trim). The new one is simply named "Arco" again.

I don't think the brown pens were named Bronze at any date (modern = 1990's times).

Correct me if I remember wrongly...

Cheers

Michael

Compare the results of googling:

1. "omas arco bronze"
2. "omas arco brown"

Fred

Am I missing something?

Only John from www.nibs.com calls it "bronze"; all the others go for naming it "brown".

I just quoted original Omas sources like website, catalogs or price lists....most correct term for modern Omas pens would be just "Arco" for the brown pen and "Arco Green" for the green one.


"bronze" might be a good term to describe color but I don't have any evidence about Omas calling this color "bronze".

But you have to remember that the original name was in Italian anyways :-)



Michael