Difficulties At Omas In Bologna ?

[fabri00]

I wish them good luck. It's a difficult market, and also a complex brand that is not widely recognized outside of collectors' circles.

 

Well, here in Italy is quite recognizer also among common people.

In 1972/1973 when I did my holy communion, I got among presents also a Omas 72 in silver, which of course I still have.

And for sure at the age of 7/8, I was not yet a FP collector, as well as any of my parents .......

Just to say that here in the 70's omas was well known among common people's.

[fabri00]

I wish them good luck. It's a difficult market, and also a complex brand that is not widely recognized outside of collectors' circles.

 

Well, here in Italy is quite recognizer also among common people.

In 1972/1973 when I did my holy communion, I got among presents also a Omas 72 in silver, which of course I still have.

And for sure at the age of 7/8, I was not yet a FP collector, as well as any of my parents .......

Just to say that here in the 70's omas was well known among common people's.

[Feanaaro]

Maybe in the '70s, but I am not sure about today. I'm Italian and have been using fountain pens (much less expensive than Omas) since around 2000s, and I actually heard that OMAS was a thing only last year or so, probably watching some video on Youtube while I was in New York.

[fabri00]

Here where I leave, Omas is very well know. Among my generation, as well as among the generation of my son (mid 20).

In the past and today.

Maybe in 2000 when you started to look for FP, it was the time when montblanc was the first choice for all the new user of FP, as symbol of luxury, success, and so on.

And the FP for everybody was only montblanc.

 

Also Aurora is quite well known.

 

On the other hand many other more young brands, like Visconti, Delta, Montegrappa, Stipula, are almost unknown to people's not involved in FP.

[Feanaaro]

Here where I leave, Omas is very well know. Among my generation, as well as among the generation of my son (mid 20).

In the past and today.

Maybe in 2000 when you started to look for FP, it was the time when montblanc was the first choice for all the new user of FP, as symbol of luxury, success, and so on.

And the FP for everybody was only montblanc.

 

Also Aurora is quite well known.

 

On the other hand many other more young brands, like Visconti, Delta, Montegrappa, Stipula, are almost unknown to people's not involved in FP.

 

 

In fact one of my first pens was an inexpensive Aurora, which is perhaps the reason why the brand was and is more well known; if you only sell pens in the hundreds €, and you are not Montblanc...

It's a catch-22, you need the high margins to survive as a small firm, but you also need more name recognition which you don't get unless many more people use your pens, which they won't because they are too expensive.

In fact, while none of the other Italian manufacturers is exactly "cheap", all of them have at least one model under 100€ (actually I'm not sure about Visconti), which may be a reasonable compromise.

 

edit: btw, I'm 33, so I know a few people in the generation mid-20s, and I highly doubt that OMAS is a well-known brand, especially given that 99% of them has probably never used a fountain pen.

Edited January 16, 2016 by Feanaaro

[Lemony Cricket]

Yes, Visconti Classic (new edition, re-edition of the old one) costs cca 80 EUR.

 

at least one model under 100€ (actually I'm not sure about Visconti)

[akustyk]

OMAS makes beautiful pens and great ebonite feeds. The older nibs made in house are my favorite nibs of any modern or vintage nibs I've ever tried. The current Bock nibs are quite nice, too, but not as good, in my opinion. It would be such a shame if OMAS went out of business.

 

Let's assume that the pen market is divided into "writers" and "collectors." Writers are probably the majority of the so-called "pen community." Writers are passionate pen lovers who buy pens to use them, they seek pens-as-writing-instruments. Most writers are not wealthy, i.e., they typically buy pens well below $500. If they want a premium pen, such as the Paragon, they buy it second-hand, for half (or less) of the retail price. Collectors, on the other hand, are wealthy and buy pens-as-luxury-items, and for entirely different reasons. They enjoy the exclusive, luxurious pens and are willing to pay well above $1000. Of course, there's some overlap between writers and collectors.

 

OMAS has positioned itself as writers' dream brand. Their marketing is based on the concept of the pleasure of handwriting, and OMAS has definitely succeeded in making supreme writing instruments, but they priced their pens out of the range for most writers. At the same time, OMAS has released few truly luxurious pens lately, unlike Visconti, Montblanc, Montegrappa, etc., giving collectors few reasons to buy OMAS.

[Ghost Plane]

I would argue their italics and stubs give users every reason to prefer them over other brands. When a Visconti lover passes on a 1.3 stub to buy an Omas italic, the thing speaks for itself.

[Feanaaro]

OMAS has positioned itself as writers' dream brand. Their marketing is based on the concept of the pleasure of handwriting, and OMAS has definitely succeeded in making supreme writing instruments, but they priced their pens out of the range for most writers. At the same time, OMAS has released few truly luxurious pens lately, unlike Visconti, Montblanc, Montegrappa, etc., giving collectors few reasons to buy OMAS.

 

I'm not sure about this, there are limited editions OMAS in the range of thousands of €/$

[jmccarty3]

I certainly would like to get my hands on one of the new BBB stubs. Most of my OMAS pens are XFs, many of them the 14k extra flessibile type, and I wish I had gotten a wider variety of nibs.

[Sazerac]

For me, OMAS always has been and (hopefully) always will always be the standard for pleasurable, beautiful writing instruments. I own several OMAS, Delta, Visconti, Stipula, and Pelikan pens (as well as many other brands), but I always come back to my OMAS pens from many generations and find them reliable and pleasurable. I hope the company continues in some form that replicates past successes.

[dms525]

I certainly would like to get my hands on one of the new BBB stubs. Most of my OMAS pens are XFs, many of them the 14k extra flessibile type, and I wish I had gotten a wider variety of nibs.

 

 

This is the first I have heard that OMAS had stubs in different widths. Can you share the source of this news of BBB stubs?

 

I just got an Ogiva with a OBB nib. (I didn't want an oblique, but the vendor did not have a BB nib in stock.) As it happens, I have sent off the pen to have the nib ground to a cursive italic, but I took a good look at it before packing it up. There was nothing stubbish about it. It had a humungous blob of iridium (or whatever OMAS uses for tipping material) in an almost perfect spherical shape. The was at most 15º of obliqueness to the very tip.

 

David

[jmccarty3]

 

 

This is the first I have heard that OMAS had stubs in different widths. Can you share the source of this news of BBB stubs?

 

The only place I have seen the BBB (1.6 mm) nib is on the Paragon Vintage pen in the 90th Anniversary set, seen here:

 

https://chatterleyluxuries.com/product/omas-90th-anniversary-limited-edition-icons-fountain-pen-set/

 

I don't know if this nib can be special ordered on any of their other pens.

[Bisquitlips]

Has anyone heard any more on whether Omas will survive intact?

[dms525]

 

The only place I have seen the BBB (1.6 mm) nib is on the Paragon Vintage pen in the 90th Anniversary set, seen here:

 

https://chatterleyluxuries.com/product/omas-90th-anniversary-limited-edition-icons-fountain-pen-set/

 

I don't know if this nib can be special ordered on any of their other pens.

 

 

Since posting my question, I received my December (!), 2015 copy of Pen World. There is an article about OMAS, obviously written before all this brouhaha. They mention two new products for this year: The BBB nib and a re-creation of the 361 from the 1940's and '50's. This was the model with the semi-hooded nib that was variably flexible, controlled by rotating the hood.

 

The BBB was available initially only on the Paragon in that 90th Anniversary set. It is supposed to be more widely available this year.

 

David

[jmccarty3]

 

The BBB was available initially only on the Paragon in that 90th Anniversary set. It is supposed to be more widely available this year.

 

 

That is good news. I would like to see one of those nibs on a brown Arco pen.

[by78]

Has anyone heard any more on whether Omas will survive intact?

 

I'd like an update as well.

Edited January 28, 2016 by by78

[tryphon]

I heard some positive rumors. Let's hope they turn out to be true.

[freeboy]

As a pen lover I want Omas to thrive, heck move to my block etc. As a business person of sorts, I understand business exist to serve their clients needs, weather they are the dealers selling there goods or the end user, and to have a return on investment for the owner. This is a philosophical and very limited description, but a start to give you an idea of my perspective. I think employee ownership is a good idea... and the name, surely the name is a big winner, seems like they could do a multi tier approach and have more entry pens, but honestly they have a great reputation.

 

If we look at the "why" ie know your why etc see Ted Talks Simon Syneck, sp?, they do have a good and clear why. The pleasure of writing... great pens and these pens having really high quality feeds and nibs.

While I deplore bad QC, sometimes I reason that with change and growth qc fluctuations are the cost of change, to have SOME level of growing pains. And I do not have a problem with outsourced work to any growing market, that said hand made goods often suffer when not under the control of the parent company...

 

This is backed up by the stats.. VW from Germany compared to those assembled in growing markets, ie Mexico, are less prone to failure etc, simply as an example. Granted not hand made but my point remains.

 

If my hand made omas came from china, it does not mean its a poor pen, but it might be. This is not building the Space Shuttle.. this is assembling a fountain pen with some hand made parts, or none, depending on the maker. Would I want a inexpensive Omas pen that was indistinguishable from the Italian one made in China? Maybe if it actually wrote with the kind of grace and flow of those. The parent needs to own the failures of the bad pens seen above in theory. So, if I owned Omas where would I have my workforce? you tell me? I do not believe there is more than one race, we are one... just with some differing traits. So, if its just about cultural values, what culture has the best value for making a pen, the best workers that fit that VALUE?

 

Food for thought..

 

 

I wonder that there is a value for creativity native to the culture in Northern Italy. Seems that way.

 

Long winded so please forgive me... lets all hope and pray a glorious new future for Omas becomes the reality we all are able to enjoy.

 

 

and in a funny odd note, Pyrex was designed by accident from an engineer who was involved with the creation of Rail lanterns. Now Pyrex owned and operated in the Far East, had reversed to code of ingredients and makes a terribly heat sensitive product.... opposite its origins.

 

It is not the fault of any worker making Pyrex that this new formula sux. That is 100% on management.

 

Now in regard to Omas I want a great new leader to run the company, where ever they make them.....Omas forever or at least for our tomorrow...

[youstruckgold]

As a pen lover I want Omas to thrive, heck move to my block etc. As a business person of sorts, I understand business exist to serve their clients needs, weather they are the dealers selling there goods or the end user, and to have a return on investment for the owner. This is a philosophical and very limited description, but a start to give you an idea of my perspective. I think employee ownership is a good idea... and the name, surely the name is a big winner, seems like they could do a multi tier approach and have more entry pens, but honestly they have a great reputation.

 

If we look at the "why" ie know your why etc see Ted Talks Simon Syneck, sp?, they do have a good and clear why. The pleasure of writing... great pens and these pens having really high quality feeds and nibs.

While I deplore bad QC, sometimes I reason that with change and growth qc fluctuations are the cost of change, to have SOME level of growing pains. And I do not have a problem with outsourced work to any growing market, that said hand made goods often suffer when not under the control of the parent company...

 

This is backed up by the stats.. VW from Germany compared to those assembled in growing markets, ie Mexico, are less prone to failure etc, simply as an example. Granted not hand made but my point remains.

 

If my hand made omas came from china, it does not mean its a poor pen, but it might be. This is not building the Space Shuttle.. this is assembling a fountain pen with some hand made parts, or none, depending on the maker. Would I want a inexpensive Omas pen that was indistinguishable from the Italian one made in China? Maybe if it actually wrote with the kind of grace and flow of those. The parent needs to own the failures of the bad pens seen above in theory. So, if I owned Omas where would I have my workforce? you tell me? I do not believe there is more than one race, we are one... just with some differing traits. So, if its just about cultural values, what culture has the best value for making a pen, the best workers that fit that VALUE?

 

Food for thought..

 

 

I wonder that there is a value for creativity native to the culture in Northern Italy. Seems that way.

 

Long winded so please forgive me... lets all hope and pray a glorious new future for Omas becomes the reality we all are able to enjoy.

 

 

and in a funny odd note, Pyrex was designed by accident from an engineer who was involved with the creation of Rail lanterns. Now Pyrex owned and operated in the Far East, had reversed to code of ingredients and makes a terribly heat sensitive product.... opposite its origins.

 

It is not the fault of any worker making Pyrex that this new formula sux. That is 100% on management.

 

Now in regard to Omas I want a great new leader to run the company, where ever they make them.....Omas forever or at least for our tomorrow...

 

Good thoughts - let's see.