Difficulties At Omas In Bologna ?

[Ghost Plane]

I wrote a thread 'Omas Factory Visit' two days ago on this forum, and Mr. Carano, the Sales personnel who had shown me around that day wrote me an email today, saying that he had read my report of the tour and hoped members of the Forum will enjoy it. And then he added:

'Regarding OMAS' situation the only thing I can say in addition to what is wrote on the newspapers is that everything is going on as usual, production and a/sales, and personally I don't think OMAS will just close down.

Let's see the next coming future...'

Hope they laid in a good stock of those italic nibs as I'm buying when I can. Fabulous writing experience.

[youstruckgold]

I wrote a thread 'Omas Factory Visit' two days ago on this forum, and Mr. Carano, the Sales personnel who had shown me around that day wrote me an email today, saying that he had read my report of the tour and hoped members of the Forum will enjoy it. And then he added:

 

'Regarding OMAS' situation the only thing I can say in addition to what is wrote on the newspapers is that everything is going on as usual, production and a/sales, and personally I don't think OMAS will just close down.

 

Let's see the next coming future...'

Thank you for this update - here's hoping!

[2brothers]

Thank you for the question. In keeping with OMAS policies, nib swaps will be done at no charge on pens still under warranty provided that the original nib is still in new/mint condition.

 

If the nib is no longer in mint condition or if the pen is not covered by warranty from a North American retailer, nib swaps can only be done by purchasing a new nib. Limited trade-in credit for the old nib may be available.

 

If you have any additional questions, please see our OMAS Warranty Repairs page or contact us at info@nibs.com. Thank you again...

 

Hello,

 

When I called your office, I was told that you don't offer the free warranty period nib swap unless the Omas was purchased from you.

 

Now you're saying the nib swap is free as long as it was purchased from any Omas supplier in North America.

 

Can you please clarify?

 

Thank you.

[Nibs.com]

Hello,

 

When I called your office, I was told that you don't offer the free warranty period nib swap unless the Omas was purchased from you.

 

Now you're saying the nib swap is free as long as it was purchased from any Omas supplier in North America.

 

Can you please clarify?

 

Thank you.

Thank you for your post, Todd, and we're sorry for any misunderstanding. Yes, we can do a complimentary nib swap on any OMAS pen which is still under warranty and which was purchased from an authorized North American retailer. See http://nibs.com/omas-warranty-repairs.htm for more details, and please e-mail us at service@nibs.com if you have any more questions about this. Thank you again...

[Calabria]

As a longtime collector (I visited the factory once but it was closed for the long Italian summer holiday which lasts for several weeks in August), I'm not surprised.

 

I heard the stories about the grandson who sold the company to LVMH, then watched as the new Paragon models were introduced, and bought my last pen in Rome where the salesman laughed and said I had gotten a Chinese pen. I sold most of my collection in 2012 after some catastrophic QC failures.

 

I have to say that the company was not ruined by the "wicked" Chinese, but was already in decline under the Simoni heir. Pelikan is also run by an Asian holding company and apparently doing quite well, continuing to manufacture in Germany.

 

Sadly, there are only very few independent pen manufactures left. Aurora is one of them. I think that for Christmas, I'll go with another Aurora.

 

Btw, it DOES matter where a product is manufactured. Louis Vuitton has trouble keeping up with demand because they insist on manufacturing in France which is part of the mystique of the brand.

[Keyless Works]

What QC problems did you have? Aurora is one of the best pen makers out there...independence makes a difference for sure.

 

Simoni's heirs saved the brand in the 90s bringing back beautiful celluloid pens.

 

Also LV makes a bunch of their leather and canvas products in Spain and the USA. Goyard makes everything in France and Hermes makes almost everything in France with the exception of a few select items.

[gerigo]

Calabria, I have not had the luxury to be able to buy OMAS's before all the change in management.

 

However, based on what I have experienced with the many Italian made pens I own, OMAS's quality is certainly one of the best, perhaps only surpassed by Aurora, a point that Keyless Works also mentions. I can easily name other Italian companies that have abysmal QC even if they were independent. The point about OMAS doing better these past couple years have also been corroborated by some of my favorite pen stores. I really appreciate the fact OMAS has such a wide variety of nibs to choose from, that I really appreciate their place in our little collecting world.

[Calabria]

What QC problems did you have? Aurora is one of the best pen makers out there...independence makes a difference for sure.

 

Simoni's heirs saved the brand in the 90s bringing back beautiful celluloid pens.

 

Also LV makes a bunch of their leather and canvas products in Spain and the USA. Goyard makes everything in France and Hermes makes almost everything in France with the exception of a few select items.

 

 

 

The LE Anniversary pen (Blue Lucens): changed color, corroded furniture, and cracked barrel around the piston

 

The Senape: changed color (the blue disappeared), corroded furniture.

 

These are Simoni-era (ca. 1997-2000) pens. I didn't include the OLuxe-era Arco which was leaking and returned to me with a ding in the cap. The furniture is also corroding.

 

Sorry, I kept these pens for archival interest, and didn't want to post pictures before because I have a soft spot for the OMAS brand. I do have some beautiful pens - top among these the AM briarwood which is a marvel. I used to travel to Bologna especially to seek out OMAS pens in little corner stores and have many fond memories. But like other memories ... some of them don't keep.

Edited November 25, 2015 by Calabria

[Calabria]

PS I share Keyless Works' fantasy of buying out OMAS - the craftsmanship and talent of the workers there is becoming rare. I never could afford the T2 but what an amazing pen that was!

[freakman]

 

 

 

The LE Anniversary pen (Blue Lucens): changed color, corroded furniture, and cracked barrel around the piston

 

The Senape: changed color (the blue disappeared), corroded furniture.

 

These are Simoni-era (ca. 1997-2000) pens. I didn't include the OLuxe-era Arco which was leaking and returned to me with a ding in the cap. The furniture is also corroding.

 

Sorry, I kept these pens for archival interest, and didn't want to post pictures before because I have a soft spot for the OMAS brand. I do have some beautiful pens - top among these the AM briarwood which is a marvel. I used to travel to Bologna especially to seek out OMAS pens in little corner stores and have many fond memories. But like other memories ... some of them don't keep.

I own more than 40 paragons and I agree with you on this point.

Some of their celluloide paragons needs to be checked often(every 1 or 2 months), and you can never store them in a sealed box for long.

But I still prefer OMAS celluloide pens to most other modern celluloide pens, because the pen combines the beauty of material and the elegance of design. That what I fail to see in many other pens. Montegrappa now make some really beautiful ones like their Otto Extra LE, but it's just too expensive(considering it's just an extra based pen).

Edited November 26, 2015 by freakman

[sakayume]

I've admired the beautiful Omas celluloid designs since I 'discovered' them not too long after I really got into fountain pens, but the price has always put me off. This thread, however, finally instigated me into actually buying one, and it is every bit as beautiful as I'd imagined. I hope the company will be able to find a suitable buyer to continue their tradition.

[mhphoto]

I've admired the beautiful Omas celluloid designs since I 'discovered' them not too long after I really got into fountain pens, but the price has always put me off. This thread, however, finally instigated me into actually buying one, and it is every bit as beautiful as I'd imagined. I hope the company will be able to find a suitable buyer to continue their tradition.

Woo! Watcha gonna get?

[Uncial]

For a long time I have admired the Omas Ogiva Arco in that incredible looking celluloid. The moment I heard this news (as a mere rumour intially) I knew what I had to do. The blessing of my tax return and a little disciplined saving did the job. It's been on order for nearly a month now and I've been a little jittery as news of this has leaked out, but I'm assured they are honouring new orders. It will be the most expensive pen I have ever bought, despite the fact that I own a new 149, but there is a backstory to that purchase which means I cheated a little (well, a lot actually) on the price. But that's a whole other story. I've never seen these pens in the flesh, never had a chance to hold one in my hand, so I'm a little bit nervous, but also excited.

[whichwatch]

Maybe I should hope that prices on my 50 or so Omas follow what has happened with Parker Penman Sapphire?

[Barkingpig]

For a long time I have admired the Omas Ogiva Arco in that incredible looking celluloid. The moment I heard this news (as a mere rumour intially) I knew what I had to do. The blessing of my tax return and a little disciplined saving did the job. It's been on order for nearly a month now and I've been a little jittery as news of this has leaked out, but I'm assured they are honouring new orders. It will be the most expensive pen I have ever bought, despite the fact that I own a new 149, but there is a backstory to that purchase which means I cheated a little (well, a lot actually) on the price. But that's a whole other story. I've never seen these pens in the flesh, never had a chance to hold one in my hand, so I'm a little bit nervous, but also excited.

You will be very happy I feel sure when your pen arrives. My obsession was the Burkina finish & after buying four used Omas I realised I was not going to be happy until I had one in my desired finish. This year when they introduced the Ogivia in Burkina I ordered mine (& it was also the most expensive pen I had purchased.) It was a very happy day when I received notification it had shipped & even happier when I received it, filled it with ink & felt suddenly content! I haven't really wanted another pen since & sincerely doubt I will be tempted again. I would have also liked to have a 360 when I read about it being available in the Arco finish; but I have two 360's & couldn't rationalise the additional cost for a different finish in a pen I already had.

I sincerely hope Omas can continue but if it does not I am grateful I purchased my last one & imagine you will be as well. I hope you receive it with haste!

[fabri00]

...I have also bought a couple of Omas more this week ....

Never know ......!

[sakayume]

Woo! Watcha gonna get?

 

I got this little one! (Pardon the lousy lighting and phone camera) I think it's an Arco Brown Princess, though the tassel seems to have gone missing. It's the most expensive pen I own so far, but without a doubt also the most beautiful. I used to drool over pictures of the Saft green pens, but once I saw this one, I had to have it. (Wouldn't say no to a saft green though! )

 

Edited November 28, 2015 by candide

[mongrelnomad]

You will be very happy I feel sure when your pen arrives. My obsession was the Burkina finish & after buying four used Omas I realised I was not going to be happy until I had one in my desired finish. This year when they introduced the Ogivia in Burkina I ordered mine (& it was also the most expensive pen I had purchased.) It was a very happy day when I received notification it had shipped & even happier when I received it, filled it with ink & felt suddenly content! I haven't really wanted another pen since & sincerely doubt I will be tempted again. I would have also liked to have a 360 when I read about it being available in the Arco finish; but I have two 360's & couldn't rationalise the additional cost for a different finish in a pen I already had.

I sincerely hope Omas can continue but if it does not I am grateful I purchased my last one & imagine you will be as well. I hope you receive it with haste!

 

I love the Burkina too - I have a 360, Paragon and non-facetted (not quite sure what they're called) Paragon-style in the finish. They are gorgeous.

[aardvarkbark]

....Some of their celluloide paragons needs to be checked often(every 1 or 2 months), and you can never store them in a sealed box for long....

 

 

I have a '93 saft green Extra and a half dozen celluloid paragons produced over the past couple of years. I keep them in one of BamaPens' cigar box conversions. Why should one never store them in a sealed box? What will happen to them?

[pen2paper]

 

I have a '93 saft green Extra and a half dozen celluloid paragons produced over the past couple of years. I keep them in one of BamaPens' cigar box conversions. Why should one never store them in a sealed box? What will happen to them?

I can't answer as to specific model, but a advanced pen collector posted some time ago about an Omas packaging material change, which caused the celluloid that was in direct contact with the packaging material to deteriorate. After some back and forth discussion with Omas the damage issue was rectified. The packaging change had already been rectified.

 

My personal preference is to store in moderate temperature, low humidity, out of direct light, allowing air to circulate, in neutral material containers.