Omas Lives Again? Scribo

[clear1]

Calling it - Superflex - while using material removal with laser to increase the flexibility of 18C gold - is just not the right approach. The owner claimed they have spent a lot of time working on the alloy definition, but if they really did - it was composed of "wrong" metals, since they haven't achieved true flex. So they played with how much material can they remove and get softness. Rolled gold, not forged.The nib is soft (at best) and softness/rigidity varies widely from nib to nib.

 

This is very interesting! I wondered why they did the laser etching on the nib so extensively. By 'material removal by laser', you mean the etching was done to remove the gold and get the flexibility? Never imagined it! You enlightened me.

 

I got a question. In nib, what is the difference between 'rolled gold' and 'forged' one? You mean the nib was made in diffrent way? I've seen usage like 'rolled gold cap', but never heard of 'rolled gold nib'. Does that mean the nib is gold plated steel nib?

[clear1]

 

This information is correct. For the Wahl brand pens Manu partners with Syd Saperstein.

Manu also operates under the seller name italianpens on eBay.

 

Wow, I didn't know Manu is also Italianpens.

 

I've seen Italianpen is selling new Conway pens these days. Then, I wonder Manu bought the Conway trademark, too?

[Seney724]

Wow, I didn't know Manu is also Italianpens.

 

I've seen Italianpen is selling new Conway pens these days. Then, I wonder Manu bought the Conway trademark, too?

You might find this to be of interest. Scroll down to "Current Trademark Owner" & "Trademark Owner History:"

https://trademarks.justia.com/864/50/conway-86450393.html

 

See also the History Section here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conway_Stewart#Models:_1990_to_present

[clear1]

You might find this to be of interest. Scroll down to "Current Trademark Owner" & "Trademark Owner History:"

https://trademarks.justia.com/864/50/conway-86450393.html

 

See also the History Section here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conway_Stewart#Models:_1990_to_present

 

Wow, thank you very much!

[dapprman]

That's a US trademark - I checked the UK and the present trademark was registered in 1999 and renewed Feb this year. This one is certainly UK, Europe, Commonwealth countries, .... https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/Results/4/EU000751289

 

Manu did try one run of a Conway Stewart 100 but stopped and there were very poor reviews of build quality. I suspect his registration was only valid in the US due to the poor/corrupt nature of US intellectual property laws.

[dapprman]

Oh and this one is UK specific and does not expire till next year https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/Results/1/UK00001498389

[Seney724]

That's a US trademark - I checked the UK and the present trademark was registered in 1999 and renewed Feb this year. This one is certainly UK, Europe, Commonwealth countries, .... https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/Results/4/EU000751289

 

Manu did try one run of a Conway Stewart 100 but stopped and there were very poor reviews of build quality. I suspect his registration was only valid in the US due to the poor/corrupt nature of US intellectual property laws.

I think the core issue here is far more than a country's trademark laws. When a longstanding, venerable business finally shutters its doors....regardless of reason why....and some individual or group decides to take on that business's name and manufacture products as if it were the actual original business, most often the result is a product that cannot hold a candle to the original from just about every perspective. When these iconic institutions close their doors for the last time I think their name should go with them. Instead, world-wide and not just in the USA, we get someone with the name, someone with the remaining inventory, confused consumers and no one with the type of quality product the business was known for producing over a hundred(s) of years. Witness Conway Stewart, Omas and Tibaldi in our world of pens. Similar examples exist in timepieces, spirits, retail goods and a host of other industries which produce luxury items.

 

Just my opinion, of course, but my guess is there are some others who share my view.

[fabri00]

I think the core issue here is far more than a country's trademark laws. When a longstanding, venerable business finally shutters its doors....regardless of reason why....and some individual or group decides to take on that business's name and manufacture products as if it were the actual original business, most often the result is a product that cannot hold a candle to the original from just about every perspective. When these iconic institutions close their doors for the last time I think their name should go with them. Instead, world-wide and not just in the USA, we get someone with the name, someone with the remaining inventory, confused consumers and no one with the type of quality product the business was known for producing over a hundred(s) of years. Witness Conway Stewart, Omas and Tibaldi in our world of pens. Similar examples exist in timepieces, spirits, retail goods and a host of other industries which produce luxury items.Just my opinion, of course, but my guess is there are some others who share my view.

+1 !

[dapprman]

We're segueing badly from OMAS/Scribo here, but it depends how far back you go. Conway Stewart were restarted a number of times. Bespoke British Pens actually came out of the last time as started out trying to rescue CS (also caused a rift with Onoto).

[aardvarkbark]

 

Manu also operates under the seller name italianpens on eBay.

 

Are you sure about this? I had purchased several Omases and Deltas from Lou (the owner of ItalianPens in Miami) a few years ago. Did Manu buy ItalianPens? It's my understanding that ItalianPens is a US seller of ASC, but is not owned by Manu.

[aardvarkbark]

 

Manu also operates under the seller name italianpens on eBay.

 

I just now heard back from Lou, the founder and owner of italianpens on ebay and italianpens.com.

 

Your statement is simply false, and frankly, irresponsible.

 

Apparently, Lou knows Manu and represents his products. But you could have established this by contacting him, too.

[aardvarkbark]

 

Wow, I didn't know Manu is also Italianpens.

 

 

 

He's not.

[clear1]

 

He's not.

 

Oh, thank you! Full of surprises here.

 

Maybe the confusion arose as Italianpens is selling 'new version' CS pens?

My friend bought a 'new version' CS 100 from Italianpens. When he asked to the seller, he said it's a new CS pens made in Italy. I wonder if that's what dapprman said. It just looked like a downgraded copy of CS100.

 

And I agree. I realize we are moving away from original topic here. (Interesting chat, though.)

[dapprman]

I think Manu may have bought the trademark in the US not realising he could not get for most the rest of the world. Either had already had a batch of 100s made up or decided to do a run for the US, but I've read a number of issues with them. As to the material, I get the impression CS sold off lots of rods, possibly while, what became BBS, were trying to keep them alive.

[Seney724]

I just now heard back from Lou, the founder and owner of italianpens on ebay and italianpens.com.

 

Your statement is simply false, and frankly, irresponsible.

 

Apparently, Lou knows Manu and represents his products. But you could have established this by contacting him, too.

Un huh..................

[freakman]

Scribo will release their new regular model(1st public non store exclusive model) next month. And there will also be a new LE released.

[whichwatch]

Personally I don't usually have a lot of love for pens where someone bought a brand name and applied it to new creations that often don't have much to do with what came before.

 

Examples of "homage" cover quite a range. I think Syd Saperstein has great passion for Wahl Eversharp and did a good job at creating modern interpretations of what those pens once were. Manu at ASC uses actual Omas rod stock while attempting to improve upon some of Omas' prior weak points like their pistons.

 

On the far other end I see examples like the first monstrosities to which the Esterbook name was applied. Whether this will improve with input from Kenro remains to be seen, but I have my doubts.

 

The first efforts that were shown from Scribo did not strike me as being anything other than the Omas name applied to totally different pens that had virtually no visible connection or homage to Omas. Again, this may change in time as the market speaks.

[dapprman]

The Scribo Write Here was designed by a former OMAS designer, made by former OMAS pen makers, and the nibs were (and are) the same OMAS defined nibs produced by Bock. Can't see how you can not be much more OMAS without being OMAS

[mongrelnomad]

Personally I don't usually have a lot of love for pens where someone bought a brand name and applied it to new creations that often don't have much to do with what came before.

 

Examples of "homage" cover quite a range. I think Syd Saperstein has great passion for Wahl Eversharp and did a good job at creating modern interpretations of what those pens once were. Manu at ASC uses actual Omas rod stock while attempting to improve upon some of Omas' prior weak points like their pistons.

 

On the far other end I see examples like the first monstrosities to which the Esterbook name was applied. Whether this will improve with input from Kenro remains to be seen, but I have my doubts.

 

The first efforts that were shown from Scribo did not strike me as being anything other than the Omas name applied to totally different pens that had virtually no visible connection or homage to Omas. Again, this may change in time as the market speaks.

 

 

Interesting. So a random dude buying some materials, mimicking the visual language while cut-and-pasting the innards of another zombie 'legacy' brand is of more value than the original staff and knowledge reconstituted under a different name?

 

No post-Omas company will ever be Omas, but in my humble opinion, there is far more of that storied house in Scribo than the cynical exploitation of ASC.

Edited September 9, 2018 by mongrelnomad

[whichwatch]

The Scribo Write Here was designed by a former OMAS designer, made by former OMAS pen makers, and the nibs were (and are) the same OMAS defined nibs produced by Bock. Can't see how you can not be much more OMAS without being OMAS

 

I guess it depends on exactly what it was about the original Omas that one liked, and here everyone may have a different answer. To me, the attraction of Omas was:

 

1. The design of the Paragon

2. The gorgeous celluloids

3. The writing quality of the nibs

 

I was a Paragon fanatic, and at one time owned something like 50 or so. What can I say, I am just drawn to facetted pens. I didn't like their other models nearly as well. I never much cared for the Bologna, and actively disliked the 360. That doesn't mean someone else can't love them, they just weren't my taste.

 

I rarely have heard anyone say that Omas celluloids were anything but gorgeous. I don't think the pen world has seen anything quite like them since. The combination of Paragon design with Omas' celluloids was an unmistakable classic in my opinion, and one that stood the test of time for decades. I suppose that is the very definition of an icon.

 

I loved the way my Omas Paragons wrote. I could well be wrong, but I do not think Omas always used Bock nibs. If they only could make a piston as smooth and care free as Pelikan or even Aurora!

 

So to me, the fact that a former Omas designer created a new design for Scribo isn't necessarily an attraction to me. Heck, I didn't even like all of the original Omas designs. The fact that former Omas employees may be operating the same machines to produce different designs from different materials isn't necessarly an attraction for me. Again, I personally didn't care for the Omas resin 360's either.

 

Yes, I miss Omas and will continue to do so. But having the same people operate the same machines to produce different designs from different materials isn't much of an attraction to me if I don't like the new pen. And I don't. To be fair, I haven't held one or written with one. But the pictures are not attractive to me, and I'm not even encouraged enough to bother trying one if I don't care for the looks..

 

Everyone's take on that will vary and I'm sure if we ask 5 people we'll get 10 opinions. Mine is mine. Your mileage may vary.

Edited September 9, 2018 by whichwatch