The OMAS brand has made some new pens

[fpupulin]

The big news of the day is that the OMAS brand, the one founded by Simoni in 1925, has put some pens back into production.

 

 

 

I will talk about the pens shortly, commenting on a couple of models, but for now I want to underline that this is the real OMAS brand, unlike the junk that in recent months has usurped this historic name of the Italian industry. The "certificate" is signed by the CEO of Ancora, owner of the OMAS brand.

 

 

I would also add that OMAS pens are no longer made by Bolognese artisans, and perhaps they have little more in common with historical OMAS than the external shape, and not always. However, the brand, if not in the facts, in law is the real one, legally purchased by the last owners of OMAS. It may well be that to some, or to many, this appears completely irrelevant, but not to me, who doubt it is possible to build anything decent outside the law.

 

I imagine that legal disputes will now emerge between OMAS (by law) and fake-OMAS which makes pens with the OMAS name without owning the trademark and uses the names of the OMAS lines, which "should" be inextricably linked to the trademark. This is to say that, among the many evils, I at least choose the side that does it legally.

 

Now, to prevent those of my readers who are thinking that I have lost my mind and believe that the models still hot from the oven are "real" OMAS, I will immediately clarify that, as far as I am concerned, the latest "real" OMAS are were made nine years ago, in 2015. But at least, whatever they are, the new ones are made under the aegis of the real brand.

 

Well, what are they?

 

These are two models, both in a limited edition of 98 pieces, a rollerball and a fountain pen, in three types of colored resins, the first almost perfectly modeled on the post-2005 OMAS Grand Paragon (including the arched clip) and the other a cartridge/converter fountain pen, also a Grand Paragon type.

 

 

The fountain pen has a "Delta style" clip and two rings with the Greek in “OMAS style” in high relief, one at the base of the cap and the other on the section, also in resin - unlike the metal section of the Grand Paragon. When I say that the new pens are "almost" perfectly modeled on the Grand Paragon it is because it seems to me that the filler cone, at least in the fountain pen, is perhaps slightly less conical (and therefore less beautiful) than that of the original.

 

 

The three resins are a mottled blue, which I found beautiful and not excessive, and two other colors that OMAS defines as "Arco" and which are not at all, one in brown and one in green. If they didn't want to make fun of their customers by foolishly calling this resin "Arco", it wouldn't be ugly in itself: at least it doesn't have those doodles of colors like sugar sweets from the fair that are so popular today and which I find childishly awkward.

 

 

The body has the beautiful - or beautiful - tapered twelve-sided shape of the Grand Paragon, and the cap of the rollerball pen ends - as in the model that inspired it - in a non-pronounced cusp adorned with a metal circle before reaching the top. From the photographs I saw online I couldn't understand whether the cap of the fountain pen also has the OMAS "O" ring, but it seems to me that it doesn't. You may like the arched roller clip or not, but it is part of the DNA of the new Paragon, and I find it perfectly successful.

 

In fact, the "Delta" style clip of the fountain pen is in my opinion much less beautiful, too thin compared to the volumes of the pen. The rings with the Greek key on the cap and on the section of the fountain pen "are there", but for the clean lines of the Grand Paragon they are in my opinion superfluous due to their exaggerated high relief compared to the simple ring of the original pen, and they could well have not stay there.

 

 

But the golden rule according to which "less is more" seems to be completely unknown to today's pen producers, inspired rather by "the more you have, the more you put in"... In fact, while the roller, which almost completely copies the Grand Paragon, is in my opinion very beautiful, the fountain pen seems to me to be one of those “too large pens”, with "too much of anything” to which many contemporary fountain pen manufacturers have accustomed us in recent years (but I don't give up). The section of the new OMAS fountain pen does not end with the small twelve-sided lip of the original, but with a slight flare which seems successful to me due to its resin design.

 

The 14K gold nib has an original engraving, which I think refers to various historical OMAS "motifs". Judging from the photographs, it seems to me to be a size 6, a little small for the size of the pen, as was the original Grand Paragon.

 

I conclude this post by saying that, for being the first attempt by the owners of OMAS, the pens are not perfect (especially the fountain pen, which has little of the "OMAS grace"), but they give some hope. By correcting something here and there you could get a cartridge OMAS Grand Paragon, in some nice resin - including the black one and some other solid colors -, priced cheaper than a used Grand Paragon, and with the undeniable advantage of actually being called OMAS and - hopefully - serviceable.

 

Of course, just as OMAS presents its new pens, the company's rights to the brand's official page, omas.com, have expired, and the domain appears for sale... They really can't do things right!

[dms525]

Thanks for this review, but I remain confused regarding the provenance of these pens. Are these the pens manufactured by the founder/owner of Opus 88 or a completely different venture? 

 

Where can one get more information about this "legitimate" OMAS company?

 

Thanks, Franco.

 

David

[fpupulin]

David, sorry that I have no more information on the matter. I casually found these pens in a search on EBay (you could search for Omas XL to reach the vendor).

 

I only know that, at the time of OMAS dismise, Ancora bought the right on the brand and the name. Matt Briling is Ancora’s CEO, and you can see in the pens certificates that he is signing as OMAS CEO. For this reason I conclude that these are “legitimate” OMAS pens - strictly from the point of view of the trademark ownership. 
 

For long time I asked myself why Ancora was not using the OMAS trademark, having the rights to do so. It maybe that the recent “abuse” of the OMAS name pushed them to react.
 

If they only would made a few c/c Grand Paragons in the exactly the same shape of the rollerball, true to the original, I would be a sure client!

[dms525]

Ancora may own rights to the OMAS name, but I'm not so sure about those pens. They are CC fillers. They use the OMAS material names, e.g., Arco Brown, but the materials are not celluloid. The nib design is from one of the OMAS LE's, not the classic feather pattern, and only in EF? The ebay listings are for a vendor in Dubai! The description of the pen says they are made in Italy. In Ancora's factory?

 

If I remember correctly, the OMAS workers who started the Scribo company own the OMAS nib-making equipment (although they loaned it the Bock or JoWo - can't recall which - to actually make the nibs.).  The "Pen Family" bought the celluloid rods, didn't they?

 

 

Anyway, in my mind, the assets of OMAS (materials, equipment, name, etc.) were so scattered that no one can really recreate or revive OMAS. I own a small number of Scribo pens, representing all 3 models. They are outstanding writers, but their only feature reminiscent of OMAS pens is their nibs. There are some more recent releases of "OMAS" branded pens which, in form, are close to OMAS Paragons and Ogivas.  Most of the Paragons use OMAS celluloids. Neither of the sites that I know sells these pens lists where they are made.

 

My diagnosis is: It's a mess.

 

Happy writing!

 

David

[Seney724]

2 hours ago, dms525 said:

Ancora may own rights to the OMAS name, but I'm not so sure about those pens. They are CC fillers. They use the OMAS material names, e.g., Arco Brown, but the materials are not celluloid. The nib design is from one of the OMAS LE's, not the classic feather pattern, and only in EF? The ebay listings are for a vendor in Dubai! The description of the pen says they are made in Italy. In Ancora's factory?

 

If I remember correctly, the OMAS workers who started the Scribo company own the OMAS nib-making equipment (although they loaned it the Bock or JoWo - can't recall which - to actually make the nibs.).  The "Pen Family" bought the celluloid rods, didn't they?

 

 

Anyway, in my mind, the assets of OMAS (materials, equipment, name, etc.) were so scattered that no one can really recreate or revive OMAS. I own a small number of Scribo pens, representing all 3 models. They are outstanding writers, but their only feature reminiscent of OMAS pens is their nibs. There are some more recent releases of "OMAS" branded pens which, in form, are close to OMAS Paragons and Ogivas.  Most of the Paragons use OMAS celluloids. Neither of the sites that I know sells these pens lists where they are made.

 

My diagnosis is: It's a mess.

 

Happy writing!

 

David

This is a very concise, precise and accurate assessment of the current, shameful state of "Omas."

 

Personally, I find what has transpired to be very distressing.  The quality and beauty of the classic creations from Armando Simoni at House of Omas has been completely disrespected in every regard by these various groups who now hold claim to a portion of the remaining assets and/or Company name.  

 

Omas, as we knew it, is gone.

 

 

 

 

 

[como]

@fpupulinThank you for bringing attention to the Omas resurrection on ebay. I found myself looking longingly at these photos, reminiscence. You are right, they do also remind me a little of Delta, the clip... I miss Omas when Omas was. If Omas could be compared to a relationship, it would be a complete one: the beautiful, the difficult, the painful, and still I can look back in fond memories.🙂 Personally, the real and original Omas was the best of my pen journey experience. I have since moved on (still have a few), but that part of the journey was a beautiful and passionate one, more so than any other. Whenever you bring back something of Omas, I would always look. @Seney724Let bygones by bygones, especially if they are going to fight an ugly battle about it.

[Seney724]

5 hours ago, como said:

@fpupulinThank you for bringing attention to the Omas resurrection on ebay. I found myself looking longingly at these photos, reminiscence. You are right, they do also remind me a little of Delta, the clip... I miss Omas when Omas was. If Omas could be compared to a relationship, it would be a complete one: the beautiful, the difficult, the painful, and still I can look back in fond memories.🙂 Personally, the real and original Omas was the best of my pen journey experience. I have since moved on (still have a few), but that part of the journey was a beautiful and passionate one, more so than any other. Whenever you bring back something of Omas, I would always look. @Seney724Let bygones by bygones, especially if they are going to fight an ugly battle about it.

Thank you @como.  Very well stated and good advice.  As always!!  🙏

 

As for the possibility of an ugly fight, that might be the best way to showcase all the unnecessary greed and bring this matter of "Omas" to its final resting place.

[dms525]

I love mysteries, especially ones that are solved and have a sort of happy ending.

 

Here's the current status of OMAS's former property: At OMAS's liquidation, Ancora owned the name, ASC owned the materials (celluloid) and the former OMAS staff who formed Scribo owned the nib making equipment.

 

Since then, Ancora has sold the rights to the OMAS name to a new company, named "Uniluxe LLC" which is  the company that makes Nahvalur and Ikakku, the principal of which is Frank Zhang, They arranged a "joint effort" with Armando Simoni Club, aka ASC, and started a new pen company called ... OMAS!  Frank Zhang is President of the company. They are making OMAS pens in Italy. I don't know where. They indicate they make the nibs in house. At present, they only sell pens with F, M and B nibs. 

 

My assumption is that the "OMAS" pens found on ebay were prototypes that Ancora made before deciding to sell the rights to the name.

 

This story reminds me of a Greek tragedy. 

 

David

[fpupulin]

Oh, David, thank you so much for your help disentangling such a complicate story! I really appreciate the effort, and I am happy to know better what it happened, as this gives me some hues on what I can expect from now on. Would this be possible, my already scarce optimism has diminished again… 

A great detective work, David!

[como]

On 3/13/2024 at 2:36 PM, Seney724 said:

Thank you @como.  Very well stated and good advice.  As always!!  🙏

 

As for the possibility of an ugly fight, that might be the best way to showcase all the unnecessary greed and bring this matter of "Omas" to its final resting place.

@Seney724 Thank you for your kind words. For those who don't know the Omas background, these newly launched pens still look really nice. Personally I will just cherish the old Omas pens I still have. 

@dms525 Thank you for the investigative work. It's good to know. I wish that Scribo could have carried on with the Omas legacy but this isn't the case.

@fpupulin I think you will never see more beautiful Omas than what you already have in your collection. Like David said, a Greek tragedy.

[mhphoto]

Their new “arco” material is infuriatingly disappointing. What an absolute embarrassment. 
 

I had read that they’d restarted celluloid production in some capacity. Let’s hope this insult to the memory of the real OMAS it’s just a sad stopgap until they celluloid production picks up. 

[Seney724]

12 minutes ago, mhphoto said:

Their new “arco” material is infuriatingly disappointing. What an absolute embarrassment. 
 

I had read that they’d restarted celluloid production in some capacity. Let’s hope this insult to the memory of the real OMAS it’s just a sad stopgap until they celluloid production picks up. 

Given the current structure and players, it's not going to happen.

Best you either get used to being disappointed or just walk away with what surely are some very fond memories of "the way it was......."

 

[dms525]

2 hours ago, mhphoto said:

Their new “arco” material is infuriatingly disappointing. What an absolute embarrassment. 
 

I had read that they’d restarted celluloid production in some capacity. Let’s hope this insult to the memory of the real OMAS it’s just a sad stopgap until they celluloid production picks up. 

 

As I understand it, no one is going to be making new celluloid (cellulose nitrate).  It's too flammable and takes too long to "cure."  There is some old celluloid from at least three Italian manufacturers* around, and pens are being made with it. They ask very high prices for pens in these beautiful, rare and irreplaceable materials.  Cellulose acetate rods are being made currently, and while many are attractive, they do not (cannot?) duplicate the vintage celluloid materials.

 

With ASC, which owns most of the remaining OMAS celluloid, now partnering with the new OMAS pen company, we have seen some newly made OMAS pens in old OMAS celluloid on the market, and I expect we will be seeing more, at least while supplies last.

 

More than one pen company has made pens of resins they label "Arco." In my opinion, calling them "disappointing" is rather kind. Some are better than awful, but calling them "Arco" invites a comparison to a vastly superior product.

 

David

 

* OMAS, Delta and Mazzucchelli 1849

[Seney724]

6 hours ago, dms525 said:

 

As I understand it, no one is going to be making new celluloid (cellulose nitrate).  It's too flammable and takes too long to "cure."  There is some old celluloid from at least three Italian manufacturers* around, and pens are being made with it. They ask very high prices for pens in these beautiful, rare and irreplaceable materials.  Cellulose acetate rods are being made currently, and while many are attractive, they do not (cannot?) duplicate the vintage celluloid materials.

 

With ASC, which owns most of the remaining OMAS celluloid, now partnering with the new OMAS pen company, we have seen some newly made OMAS pens in old OMAS celluloid on the market, and I expect we will be seeing more, at least while supplies last.

 

More than one pen company has made pens of resins they label "Arco." In my opinion, calling them "disappointing" is rather kind. Some are better than awful, but calling them "Arco" invites a comparison to a vastly superior product.

 

David

 

* OMAS, Delta and Mazzucchelli 1849

Don't kid yourself, ASC is not partnering with anybody. 

They own the "new" OMAS and are completely driving all the production, quality control and customer service decisions.  

As has been their history, from the get-go, they are simply trying to lead people to believe something other via their "creative" marketing approaches.

[ZeroDukE]

On 3/12/2024 at 8:14 PM, dms525 said:

Ancora may own rights to the OMAS name, but I'm not so sure about those pens. They are CC fillers. They use the OMAS material names, e.g., Arco Brown, but the materials are not celluloid. The nib design is from one of the OMAS LE's, not the classic feather pattern, and only in EF? The ebay listings are for a vendor in Dubai! The description of the pen says they are made in Italy. In Ancora's factory?

 

If I remember correctly, the OMAS workers who started the Scribo company own the OMAS nib-making equipment (although they loaned it the Bock or JoWo - can't recall which - to actually make the nibs.).  The "Pen Family" bought the celluloid rods, didn't they?

 

 

Anyway, in my mind, the assets of OMAS (materials, equipment, name, etc.) were so scattered that no one can really recreate or revive OMAS. I own a small number of Scribo pens, representing all 3 models. They are outstanding writers, but their only feature reminiscent of OMAS pens is their nibs. There are some more recent releases of "OMAS" branded pens which, in form, are close to OMAS Paragons and Ogivas.  Most of the Paragons use OMAS celluloids. Neither of the sites that I know sells these pens lists where they are made.

 

My diagnosis is: It's a mess.

 

Happy writing!

 

David

 

You are absolutely right.  And I find these pens closer to the latest Bologna (nib, cartridge converter) than to a Paragon.  

 

[ZeroDukE]

7 hours ago, dms525 said:

With ASC, which owns most of the remaining OMAS celluloid, now partnering with the new OMAS pen company, we have seen some newly made OMAS pens in old OMAS celluloid on the market, and I expect we will be seeing more, at least while supplies last.

 

That is what Mr Zhang said in a video interview with Tom (Goldspot).  Video on YouTube Goldspot channel.

[Ron Z]

Let's hope that whomever uses the brand does not reuse the last version of the filling system - the  clear inner barrel.  It's a fragile disaster. 

[Seney724]

1 hour ago, Ron Z said:

Let's hope that whomever uses the brand does not reuse the last version of the filling system - the  clear inner barrel.  It's a fragile disaster. 

Couldn't agree more!

But, that said, the filling systems they have been using aren't so great either.

Many are described as "piston fillers" but are, in fact, nothing but cheap captive converters.

Now, to be fair, not all are captive converters.  Some are true pistons.  But even the true pistons have had more than their fair share of issues reported.

Buyer beware.  Do your due diligence and ask questions before spending a fortune for one of the pens.

[dms525]

13 hours ago, ZeroDukE said:

 

That is what Mr Zhang said in a video interview with Tom (Goldspot).  Video on YouTube Goldspot channel.

Thanks for sharing this resource. The video has tons of new (to me) and significant information. A few bits:

 

1. It appears that Frank Zhang really is running the show. ASC isn't.

2. The pens are made in Naples. The nibs are made in house from documented specifications they have and have used. 

3. They are using a brass piston, rather than the original OMAS plastic piston.

4. I don't know if the new mechanism fits the definition of a "captive converter," but the ink chamber is integral so that ink is not in the barrel in contact with the celluloid. Sounds like a good thing to me.

5. There are plans for next Fall/Winter to establish a registration process that entitles members to a) special releases; b) nib customization; c) service (not free) of vintage OMAS pens. 

 

Frank Zhang comes across as seriously committed to quality production, excellent engineering and customer service. 

 

Happy writing!

 

David

[Seney724]

3 minutes ago, dms525 said:

 

1. It appears that Frank Zhang really is running the show. ASC isn't.

 

Do not be confused by all the smoke & mirrors.

Frank Zhang "answers" to Emmanuel "Manu" Caltagirone

https://thepenfamily.com/pages/our