Hi folks,

I'm hoping some of the Omas aficionados can help me figure out a bit of trivia about the Omas bronze Arco, old style.

I've noticed that some of the old style Arcos have the year stamped on the section and the words Omas Extra stamped on the body. I've seen other old style Arcos that do not have the year stamped and have Omas Italy stamped on the cap and nothing else stamped on the body. I suspect it has to do with the year the pens were produced and that the earlier pens did not have the year stamped, but I'm not sure. I think these pens have been out of production for more than 10 years now. Does anyone know or can point me in the right direction?

Please note this is not about the newly re-issued Arco with the metal section. This is the old style Arco.

Thanks,

Ed

I think there are basily three different versions of the old style celluloid pens (including the Arco).

1. imprinted section with production year; barrel says "OMAS EXTRA" (1990-1999)
2. imprinted section "2000"; no barrel imprint, cap imprinted "Italy 75 YEARS OMAS SYMBOL OF DISTINCTION" (2000)
3. no imprint on section, no barrel imprint, cap imprinted "OMAS ITALY" (2001-2004)

Plus there was the limited production set with "all" available celluloid colors; pens had a monotone nib and additional golden section rings like the Paragon.

So yours seems to be a later production model (2001-2004/5).

Cheers

Michael

Michael,

Thanks for the quick response and the detailed info. It is much appreciated.

Ed

You are welcome!

Do you have one or are you getting one?

Those are great pens and so far all of my celluloids write beautifully.

Cheers

Michael

I already have one. It's a wonderful pen.

I am too late to the party, methinks. Michael has already given a perfect answer.
I have one of those unstamped late-production Arcos, too. It is a lovely pen and a marvelous writer to boot.
In my view, this pen is THE quintessential Italian pen, but then I am biased....

Two celluloids:
Arco - no imprints anywhere
Royal Blue - 'Omas Extra' on the barrel, no other imprints
Your thoughts?
gary

Michael,

I bet you hate exceptions. I have an old-style Arco bronze with OMAS ITALY very lightly stamped onto the cap on the facet opposite from the clip, and 2002 on the section (between the threads for the cap and the faceted barrel).

Fred

My list just bases on what I have seen so far (so I'm only guessing pretty much). Looks like Omas got rid of the year imprint later then.

Plus, don't forget, those pens are made in Italy (no offense intended) ...but everything can happen there. I've seen Omas pens with feeds with the ink channels missing!

Cheers

Michael

I thought I had found a variant of the type 2
imprinted section "2000"; no barrel imprint, cap imprinted "Italy 75 YEARS OMAS SYMBOL OF DISTINCTION" (2000)

but looked more closely, and now se the cap imprint. It is very faint, and well hidden by the celluloid pattern.

Regards, greg