Seemingly endless Arco supply?

[siddr90]

Hi all, just wanted to hear your views about the Arco supply / demand. 

 

I remember few years back when ASC launched their first pen with the arco material. There was a buzz in the community and in their marketing about how there are only a few rods remaining for the Arco material. 

 

Fast forward to 2021, I still see a lot of models made in Arco both from ASC brands and also from the likes of Leonardo. 

 

My personal view is that the price of any item is what people are willing to pay for it. But I write this post wondering how the overall messaging has been on the supply / availability of this material compared to the actual steady supply of Arco pens since Omas. 

 

That said I'm still on the lookout for an Oldwin Arco Verde (not ASC version)!

 

cheers

Sidd

 

[zaddick]

There was lots of arco rods at the time of Omas's demise. Almost all was bought by one person who tightly controls supply.

 

I am sure before supply is truly exhausted there will be a lot of marketing and ramping up of prices.

 

The Oldwin Classic models using arco are beautiful indeed and prices have shot up to reflect people don't want to let them go. I'm still holding onto mine.

[whichwatch]

It seems pretty obvious from ASC's constant releases of pens using the Arco celluloids that there was far more original material available than anyone believed or was led to believe.  Personally, I think it is a shame to see some of the pens for which this beautiful material has been used.

 

As for original (non-ASC) Oldwins, I consider myself fortunate to have them in my three favorite Omas celluloids as well as Tibaldi Impero.   I don't think these will be going anywhere until my heirs decide what to do with them.

 

[sirgilbert357]

Leonardo Officina Italia certainly DO have a limited supply of Arco material. I've conversed with them about having a custom pen made in the material and they confirmed they could do it, but the price was quite high (1500+). They also encouraged me to make up my mind soon because they didn't have much of the material left. I'm not sure what they consider "a lot of material" to be honest...I didn't ask how many rods they had total. And I have no idea how many pens you can make from a single rod, but I thought the rods were rather long...like 3 or 4 feet? I'm not sure...

 

I never had Leonardo make that pen for me. I kind of regret that, but the cost was more than I could spend at the time.

[whichwatch]

It is Emmanuel Caltagirone of ASC who originally bought the Omas raw materials and has controlled its use from the start.  He has obviously sold some to other companies along the way and they probably do not have large quantities, as Leonardo reports for their case.

 

[Doug C]

I'm one of those kids that got an Oldwin arco verde ..and not gonna let go.

[Marcwithac]

On 6/11/2021 at 5:28 PM, Doug C said:

I'm one of those kids that got an Oldwin arco verde ..and not gonna let go.

I was lucky enough to buy an Omas Arco Paragon back in the early 2000s, and I ain’t letting that one go either, but the Oldwin Classic in either color Arco is one of my grail pens.  I even tried to get one at Mora Stylos when I was in Paris a couple of years ago.

[Storch]

Arco has, in many ways, become the diamond of the pen world; it is not actually all the scarce, simply tightly controlled on the supply side.  In the past, Manu has commented that he plans to retire on the stash of rods he has.  That should give you an idea of the quantities involved.

[Carrau]

3 hours ago, Storch said:

Arco has, in many was, become the diamond of the pen world; it is not actually all the scarce, simply tightly controlled on the supply side.  

Likely an apt comparison. 😉