Leonardo Officina Italiana - Momento Zero

[fabri00]

The acrylic cost about 140 euro, the celluloid over 700 euro .....

[dms525]

The acrylic cost about 140 euro, the celluloid over 700 euro .....

 

Those prices include VAT. They are 20% less, if shipped outside the EU. Still, pricey for the LE, but it's not just a different barrel material. It's also a true piston filler and a gold nib. Stefano described the nib as springy. It's a Bock, and if it writes like the springy Bock nibs on some of my Conway Stewart pens, I will be delighted.

 

David

[fabri00]

Of course the price include vat, which is 22%, not 20%.

Everyone in his country has to pay vat ......

[dms525]

My Leonardo Officina Italiana pen has arrived! I have written a photo-heavy review which can be found here:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/334672-leonardo-officina-italiana-momento-zero-ebonite/?do=findComment&comment=4029696

 

Enjoy!

 

David

[sansenri]

thanks David, your ebonite version is quite something! and so is your stub nib!

[Hanoi]

nice pen...looks kind of big though for everyday writer.

[Nyoko]

Just want to add to this thread since my pen just arrived. I've had my eye on this brand for a while but I could not decide if I wanted yet another resin pen with a steel nib. But I couldn't help myself and on Fountain Pen Day sale I ordered one from Fontoplumo, who provides excellent service. This one is the new resin for their Momento Zero model called "Blue Hawaii". I am very impressed with the polish and finish on this pen. It shows excellent craftsmanship and is made from beautiful material. I can't even describe the complex mix of color but I really love it. Maybe this brand will fill some of the feeling of loss since Omas and Delta are both gone.

 

The nib is a Bock steel broad nib, and writes very well out of the box without adjustment. I has good ink flow. The nib has a minimal elegant imprint that looks really tasteful. It reminds me of the simple imprints on vintage nibs.

[pomperopero]

I'm having some problems with the photo server. That's why, I have uploaded them again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sansenri]

lovely version and terrific pics! thanks

[mauckcg]

I think the Armando Simoni Club is making them. I know they are making the Molteni's which i have a 55-S in Scarlet from the Columbus pen show. The Leonardo's look interesting, i think i will get one eventually.

[clear1]

I think the Armando Simoni Club is making them. I know they are making the Molteni's which i have a 55-S in Scarlet from the Columbus pen show. The Leonardo's look interesting, i think i will get one eventually.

 

You got it the reverse way. Leonardo is making the pens for ASC.

[mauckcg]

 

You got it the reverse way. Leonardo is making the pens for ASC.

That actually makes more sense.

[Silent Speaker]

I'm having some problems with the photo server. That's why, I have uploaded them again.

 

 

The horn looks wonderful. Wasn't too keen when I first glanced at it, but it does remind me of some horn buttons on a coat I once had. I've ordered a LeoMomZer with a broad too; hope there's not issues with it as had been reported in the general hubbub.

 

I really respect this maker in regards to how they handled the mundane cartridge converter filling mechanism; there's actual, real effort manifest here beyond the oh-so-typical, and absolutely boring "lets just slap this bog standard disposable schmidt inside our milquetoast, brass bodied writing tube with an a typically mediocre design that probably isn't all that well airsealed anyway".

No!

The converter is threaded! How delightfully rare in the grand scheme of things! Not just the average off the shelf friction fit business. One supposes that, as long as the seal holds (and with some grease maintenance, they should for a fair while), the screw in type should outlast the press fit kind that'll eventually loosen, right? At least in theory... I believe I've only ever worn out two converters myself, and the more pens you have in your rotation, the lower the chances of them wearing out before you wear out yourself (in theory..)

 

And the ability to access the converter via a blind cap! Sure, it's not a real piston filler, but all that extra effort to make it at least seem like a piston filler, is really quite remarkable (machining all those extra threads) even though I don't think many will actually use it.

 

I've heard that the celluloid models, which do have piston mechanisms, don't hold a lot of ink.

Anybody know what kind of piston mechanism it has? Anyone ever tried to take it apart? I wonder if the section unscrews like the C/C models, perhaps with some applied heat.

 

Is it:

A) "Oldschool" type mechanism; eg. old omas paragon (and pretty much all old pelikans and mb's), where the ink is held pretty much in the barrel of the pen itself (easiest to dismantle for service)

 

"Modern" style: eg. New omas paragon/milord, where the outer barrel of the pen is pretty much just a jacket and the piston mechanism is sort of a self contained module (apparently more difficult to service, if anything due to the greater number of components involved compared to the beautiful simplicity of A.)

 

C) The odious and deceptive "pisston failler" aka "the worst of both worlds": the captive converter, where a manufacturer wants to market something as a piston filler, but wants to skimp on the necessary engineering so just slaps a converter in there with glue, or otherwise makes it totally inaccessible. With the smaller capacity, perhaps also the "sticky ink" syndrome and the general lack of sophistication of engineering and design - for the price paid - of a humble converter, but with all the hindrances of a real piston filler in regards to cleaning and maintenance, magnified.

 

I hope it's not C). A) would be grand despite the apparently meagre capacity.

[clear1]

I've heard that the celluloid models, which do have piston mechanisms, don't hold a lot of ink.

Anybody know what kind of piston mechanism it has?

 

They say they built a new vintage style filler, taking ideas from Omas.

Whatever that means, it sure hold just a little bit of ink, and pretty stiff.

 

The good news is, they say they upgraded the filler and it will hold more ink and smooth.

[Silent Speaker]

 

They say they built a new vintage style filler, taking ideas from Omas.

Whatever that means, it sure hold just a little bit of ink, and pretty stiff.

I hope that means it's type A) like the old paragons and ogiva's. The fact that it's reportedly "stiff" kinda makes it point in the old omas-type direction.

 

I hadn't heard that they'd updated it.

I've ordered recently the mediterranean mk2, 3-cap-ringer model (2 week wait!); I wonder if I'll get the old piston or this upgrade you mention.

Either way, I hope it's the A-type

[fabri00]

I hope they or somebody else will start making faceted pens.

All those manufacturers coming out from Omas makes only round body pens, and I'm really missing the faceted bodies of Omas, more than any filling system.

[Silent Speaker]

I hope they or somebody else will start making faceted pens.

All those manufacturers coming out from Omas makes only round body pens, and I'm really missing the faceted bodies of Omas, more than any filling system.

Scribo has one now, the "Feel".

I'm not "feeling" it, to be honest; don't like the way it looks uncapped. To each their own and to own their each.

 

It would be nice to see Leonardo try their hand at facets. They have so many nice materials used on their other models that would look just as nice on a faceted pen. As I understand it, aren't facets much more difficult to produce on pens than the typical round body?

[sansenri]

I went for the Corsani Blue version (which I think is also now available as Hawai)

The resin is a fantastic mix of dark and light blue and light brown/beige.
If I am not mistaken this resin was used in Delta's LE Blue Jay version of the Dolce Vita.

I love the colour. The steel B nib is also really nice, smooth and springy.

 

The pen reminds me of the Delta The Journal, one of my favourite Delta pens (after the Dolce Vita), although the Momento zero seems to have improved the section, as there is less of a step down vs the Journal

 

[fabri00]

As I understand it, aren't facets much more difficult to produce on pens than the typical round body?

Yes, faceted pens are much difficult to be machined, except if they are produced by injected plastic, which is usable only on cheap pen like Bic for example.

I machine my own pens for myself, and parts for the pens I restore for me, and I'm trying since monthes to make a faceted pen without good results.

[SoCalBilling]

I own the Corsani Blue as well. The difference, the small difference, between the Corsani edition and the Blue Hawaii edition is that the new Blue Hawaii edition has 3 cap rings where the Corsani has only 2

 

 

I went for the Corsani Blue version (which I think is also now available as Hawai)

The resin is a fantastic mix of dark and light blue and light brown/beige.
If I am not mistaken this resin was used in Delta's LE Blue Jay version of the Dolce Vita.

I love the colour. The steel B nib is also really nice, smooth and springy.

 

The pen reminds me of the Delta The Journal, one of my favourite Delta pens (after the Dolce Vita), although the Momento zero seems to have improved the section, as there is less of a step down vs the Journal