Omas Lives Again? Scribo

[frantic]

Best of Omas were nibs. Especially the Flex. And, as long as I know, only SCRIBO ca make them now.

Edited August 4, 2018 by frantic

[gmax]

The Scribo 2 pens are available for pre-order.

 

https://www.writeherekitenow.co.uk/write-here-scribo-2.html#

 

The new material looks wonderful

[dapprman]

Best of Omas were nibs. Especially the Flex. And, as long as I know, only SCRIBO ca make them now.

OMAS stopped making the nibs themselves, but got Bock to make them for them to a very similar specification. Fortunately Bock appear to have agreed to carry on making the same nibs for Scribo. I can confirm the broad 18k I tried on the demonstrator at the London Writing Equipment Show and the 14k extra flexible (extra flessibile) are just like the OMAS nibs from before they were closed (right down to the 14k nib getting softer and springing .... - now fixed thanks to John Sorowka via Write Here)

[Stylo_dOr]

www.fp-hakase.com

 

Handmade pens in Tottori, Japan, since the 1930s. My avatar is a photo of two of their pens I am lucky enough to own, and I wrote several reviews here on FPN (though I think the photos were lost in the great Photobucket cull of 2016).

 

Thank you for the information on Hakase. Now I understand why you cherish your two Hakase pens. Ryo Yamamoto is a grand master pen maker. I've never seen a pen maker offer such a variety of pen sizes and shapes for each pen model.

 

 

Platinum has already annouced that for a while now. They use Daicel celluloid and Daicel stopped manufacturing. I believe this will also affect Hakase too.

For celluloid I believe there're still 2 factories remaining. But for celluloid rod I think there might only be one now. And that one is the supplier for Montegrappa celluloid. I don't know if it's located in China or not.

I've been to the other factory last year, They produce celluloid boards but not rods. They will try to make thicker ones in the future.

 

Hakase's "Jade Green" and "New Jade Green" celluloid pens are drop-dead stunning. But from Hakase's website, those celluloids were apparently produced back in the mid-1980's and done in sheets, which from what I now understand, are far more efficient than celluloid rods, at least for pen production. In any case, I think you're right -- Hakase doesn't sound like a current celluloid producer.

Edited August 5, 2018 by Stylo_dOr

[frantic]

Correct. I have a Scribo 14k EF and its amazing.

OMAS stopped making the nibs themselves, but got Bock to make them for them to a very similar specification. Fortunately Bock appear to have agreed to carry on making the same nibs for Scribo. I can confirm the broad 18k I tried on the demonstrator at the London Writing Equipment Show and the 14k extra flexible (extra flessibile) are just like the OMAS nibs from before they were closed (right down to the 14k nib getting softer and springing .... - now fixed thanks to John Sorowka via Write Here)

Edited August 5, 2018 by frantic

[Stylo_dOr]

OMAS stopped making the nibs themselves, but got Bock to make them for them to a very similar specification. Fortunately Bock appear to have agreed to carry on making the same nibs for Scribo. I can confirm the broad 18k I tried on the demonstrator at the London Writing Equipment Show and the 14k extra flexible (extra flessibile) are just like the OMAS nibs from before they were closed (right down to the 14k nib getting softer and springing .... - now fixed thanks to John Sorowka via Write Here)

 

Hats off to John Hall of Write Here Pens, and Elena Bettazzoni and Luca Baglione of Scribo for creating an elegant new pen that writes beautifully. From what I now understand, the Bock nibs in 14k extra flexible and 18k gold make all the difference in the world. I look forward to seeing more photos of the new red and green Scribo pens.

[freakman]

 

Wow, thank you for the precious information!

 

I've seen some Chinese pen makers are making celluloid pens. I wonder if those materials are coming from that factory. I hope some safe and economic method of making celluloid be invented. It's a beautiful material...

No, most of them are cellulose acetate. Very few use celluloid, and they were rolled from films, not machined from blocks.

 

 

Thank you for the information on Hakase. Now I understand why you cherish your two Hakase pens. Ryo Yamamoto is a grand master pen maker. I've never seen a pen maker offer such a variety of pen sizes and shapes for each pen model.

 

 

Hakase's "Jade Green" and "New Jade Green" celluloid pens are drop-dead stunning. But from Hakase's website, those celluloids were apparently produced back in the mid-1980's and done in sheets, which from what I now understand, are far more efficient than celluloid rods, at least for pen production. In any case, I think you're right -- Hakase doesn't sound like a current celluloid producer.

Sheets are no good for producing pens with polygonous cross section.

 

I had no idea until I read the posts above that celluloid for pens had become such a scarce commodity. So, even if Ancora does have OMAS' old celluloid formulas, it will do Ancora little good unless they find someone to produce it. It obviously won't be Daicel Corp. in Japan. I've never heard of Hakase, wherever they're located. I'd be interested to know who produces celluloid for Montegrappa.

 

Daicel had celluloid manufacturing in China since 1994. And it's now closed. It's really hard to tell who is the maker for Montegrappa celluloid. All their rods seemed to be exclusive.

[clear1]

It's really hard to tell who is the maker for Montegrappa celluloid. All their rods seemed to be exclusive.

 

Thank you for your valuable informations.

 

There are still some Italian companies that use celluloid. Stipula, Leonardo, and maybe Ancora? I'm not sure about Ancora. I wonder where they get theirs...

[freakman]

 

Thank you for your valuable informations.

 

There are still some Italian companies that use celluloid. Stipula, Leonardo, and maybe Ancora? I'm not sure about Ancora. I wonder where they get theirs...

Stipula don't use celluloid now. Leonardo use OMAS celluloid I think? But their blue looked like Montegrappa blue.

Ancora don't use celluloid.

[Stylo_dOr]

No, most of them are cellulose acetate. Very few use celluloid, and they were rolled from films, not machined from blocks.

 

Sheets are no good for producing pens with polygonous cross section.

 

 

Daicel had celluloid manufacturing in China since 1994. And it's now closed. It's really hard to tell who is the maker for Montegrappa celluloid. All their rods seemed to be exclusive.

 

Celluloid sheets can't produce pens with a polygonous cross section. Nevertheless, creating polygonous pens from celluloid rods wastes about 80% of the celluloid rod material. No material is wasted by using celluloid sheets -- the sheet is rolled around a rod and the seam sealed. But, as you know, that seam can be visible with some celluloid colors... and, of course, the pens produced are limited to round cross sections.

[freakman]

 

Celluloid sheets can't produce pens with a polygonous cross section. Nevertheless, creating polygonous pens from celluloid rods wastes about 80% of the celluloid rod material. No material is wasted by using celluloid sheets -- the sheet is rolled around a rod and the seam sealed. But, as you know, that seam can be visible with some celluloid colors... and, of course, the pens produced are limited to round cross sections.

The cost of celluloid consists of a very low portion of the total cost for producing a pen that has a MSRP more than $800. The problem is that there're no manufacturer for rod at the moment. Even Platinum use rods for their hexagonal models.

[Stylo_dOr]

Stipula don't use celluloid now. Leonardo use OMAS celluloid I think? But their blue looked like Montegrappa blue.

Ancora don't use celluloid.

 

You bring up an interesting fact -- Ancora has no experience whatsoever with celluloid. Ancora pens have only used acrylic resin and never celluloid. Yet, the most important OMAS niche was arguably its celluloid pens. Unless Ancora has some trick up its sleeve in the future for producing new OMAS celluloid pens in the iconic OMAS shapes, it's safe to assume that the only way (for years to come...or forever) to get an OMAS celluloid pen is to either buy an existing OMAS pen or buy a new ASC pen using OMAS' old celluloid rods. Manu of ASC was right on the money.

 

That said, I do think that Ancora has the potential for doing a bang-up job at producing new OMAS pens in the iconic OMAS shapes made from acrylic resin, cotton resin, exotic materials (like titanium), or wrapped with engraved precious metals. And who knows, perhaps Ancora will create new "OMAS" branded pens using celluloid sheets, although the cross sections won't be polygonous like the Paragon or 360. But unless Ancora finds someone to produce new celluloid rods using the old OMAS formulas, forget about Ancora ever recreating OMAS pens made from those amazing celluloids -- the Arcos, Saft Green, Extra Lucens, Black Gold, Pearl Grey, and the Wild. You said it best -- there's simply no manufacturer for the rods at this moment.

Edited August 7, 2018 by Stylo_dOr

[strelnikoff]

And this is what I have received from SCRIBO (I have subscribed to their newsletters and infos):

 

We are back...

 

to write a brand new story!

 

Beginning this new great adventure we would like to express our opinion on the rumors that have chased the unfortunate end of Omas glorious history.
This is the first and last time that we will give our interpretation to the events that occurred between the end of 2015 and the beginning of 2016, without any polemic or revenge intent, but with the sole objective of sharing the story that brought us here today.

Many words were spent on the closure of Omas, someone said that the Company went into bankruptcy, some others that it was unable to manage production costs or that it had lost the quality of its products and others again said that the Company had even relocated production to China.

None of this corresponds to truth, it is all much simpler: the Holding Company that owns Omas simply decided to cease the business of writing instruments and, despite the various attempts made, including a formal offer of acquisition by us and all other employees presented to the representative of the owner based in Bologna,

the Omas owner never wanted to consider the idea of transferring the brand to employees so that we could continue the work we had started.

Only after opening the voluntary liquidation procedure (not bankruptcy!) all materials and finished products were sold, and lately, according to rumors, the brand was sold too.

We are convinced of the fact that, for a mere matter of image, the Omas owner did not accept the idea that employees could even try to do better. There was the doubt that they could make it. This, at least, is our opinion.

So, it was better to close Omas down, to interrupt a history of almost centenarian Italian excellence, rather than to give it the opportunity to be reborn under different hands.

A real pity which, as soon as the disappointment was absorbed, turned out to be a new great opportunity, SCRIBO.

[clear1]

Stipula don't use celluloid now. Leonardo use OMAS celluloid I think? But their blue looked like Montegrappa blue.

Ancora don't use celluloid.

 

I see. I heard an answer from them through a dealer that they can make a new celluloid pen, but that was an old model.

I guess there are still some left-over celluloids, but perhpas that's it.

 

Leonardo offered two kinds of celluloids until now. (Except the Arco one at the first time, 10 pens.)

Interestingly, one was the same as the Miya turquise, and the other is newly used by Montegrappa after Leo.

I guess maybe they share the same source? I love celluloids, so I hope there will be more!

[Stylo_dOr]

 

And this is what I have received from SCRIBO (I have subscribed to their newsletters and infos):

 

We are back...

 

to write a brand new story!

 

Beginning this new great adventure we would like to express our opinion on the rumors that have chased the unfortunate end of Omas glorious history.

This is the first and last time that we will give our interpretation to the events that occurred between the end of 2015 and the beginning of 2016, without any polemic or revenge intent, but with the sole objective of sharing the story that brought us here today.

 

Many words were spent on the closure of Omas, someone said that the Company went into bankruptcy, some others that it was unable to manage production costs or that it had lost the quality of its products and others again said that the Company had even relocated production to China.

 

None of this corresponds to truth, it is all much simpler: the Holding Company that owns Omas simply decided to cease the business of writing instruments and, despite the various attempts made, including a formal offer of acquisition by us and all other employees presented to the representative of the owner based in Bologna,

the Omas owner never wanted to consider the idea of transferring the brand to employees so that we could continue the work we had started.

 

Only after opening the voluntary liquidation procedure (not bankruptcy!) all materials and finished products were sold, and lately, according to rumors, the brand was sold too.

 

We are convinced of the fact that, for a mere matter of image, the Omas owner did not accept the idea that employees could even try to do better. There was the doubt that they could make it. This, at least, is our opinion.

 

So, it was better to close Omas down, to interrupt a history of almost centenarian Italian excellence, rather than to give it the opportunity to be reborn under different hands.

 

A real pity which, as soon as the disappointment was absorbed, turned out to be a new great opportunity, SCRIBO.

 

 

What an honest account of what took place within OMAS. Finally, some insight from those who were actually there within OMAS at the end. Kudos to @Strelnikoff for posting Scribo's letter. Kudos to Scribo for writing their account in such a plainspoken, yet humble, manner.

 

It was a well-known fact back in 2014 that the Chinese O-Luxe holding company had become disillusioned with preserving the OMAS brand -- that OMAS' fine writing instruments were not earning enough money for O-Luxe's financial bottom line -- that O-Luxe didn't fully appreciate the longstanding history and reputation of OMAS. I personally think that this was just a sign of the times -- that the interest in expensive fountain pens had taken a (temporary) downturn and that most of us, unfortunately, had by then taken for granted OMAS' survivorship of this downturn.

 

One thing that I strongly admire about the Italians is their pride in what they do and who they are -- their pride in their fine workmanship and in their history and heritage. That's what OMAS was all about, notwithstanding their beautiful celluloids. I personally think that it's unfortunate that the owner(s) of OMAS didn't place more faith in the commitment-to-excellence of their employees -- that finances (and perhaps hubris) interfered with the owners' final decision to liquidate OMAS.

 

I hearken back to the what Manu writes on the ASC website about his repeated attempts to purchase of OMAS' old celluloid rods from O-Luxe -- that it took him more than one attempt before he was able to convince O-Luxe to relinquish those rods. There was no doubt, at least in my mind, that O-Luxe finally did a "fire sale" of both OMAS and its inventory. So who has emerged from the ashes? ASC, Leonardo, Ancora and, of course, Scribo.

Edited August 9, 2018 by Stylo_dOr

[mongrelnomad]

Thank you for the inside scoop on the demise of Omas. Such a shame, especially as what made Omas great will now be divided among three separate entities: the materials (ASC), the intellectual property (Ancora) and the know-how (Scribo). None will ever come close to what was lost: Omas was more than simply even the sum of its parts.

 

Wishing Scribo the best of luck.

Edited August 9, 2018 by mongrelnomad

[Kodiac136]

What a fascinating thread. Wishing all the best for the folks of SCRIBO.

[dapprman]

New ScriBo Write Here 2 pens can be seen at https://www.writeherekitenow.co.uk/write-here-scribo-2.html

Edited August 9, 2018 by dapprman

[mongrelnomad]

Quick question: screw piston filler - is this a captive converter or a proper integrated piston?

[InkofLife]

I did not know about these pens! Other than going around buying up vintage and NOS Omas, this is great to know about!