Info on this Omas Extra Lucens?

[RevAaron]

This is something I found recently, and just sent it off to Richard Binder to have the filler restored. All I know is that it's an Omas Extra Lucens- that much is painfully obvious. I've taken a look at the Omas catalogs posted, but I've not been able to find anything like it in the 1965 or 1940s catalog, so I take it to mean it was made anywhere between 1936 and 1965...

 

One bit of info that might not be obvious from the photos: this is a pump/Vacuumatic filler, not a piston filler. I'm really impressed with the feel of the pen- the celluloid has a rock solid feeling that I don't find with a lot of other vintage celluloid pens.

 

I'm amazed at how transparent the barrel still is- from what I can tell, it looks completely stainless.

 

As always, any information is greatly appreciated!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Nikolaos]

That's an awesome Lucens Aaron. Very nice find and certainly very valuable. I think Roberto is one of the experts on these Omas vintage pens. I am looking forward to see what he thinks.

 

Nikolaos

[roberto v]

What you have there is the Extra Lucens, faceted version, that was made before the WWII, if I recall correctly.

 

This is the flagship of Omas production and came into 3 sizes, OS, Standard and Vest Pocket. The Os is about 13.5 cm. long closed.

 

Your pen has the tipical ambering of the barrel - mint ones have a cristal clear see through parts, but are very prone to cracks. The ambered ones are much stronger.

 

The only "fault" of your pen is that the cap lip has been shaved, which is a common remedy as the external part of it is extremely thin and subject to cracks and chips.

 

Value? Depend on the size. If OS, I'd put it in the 900/1000$ range, 600/750 for the standard.

 

Just my 2c

Edited November 10, 2008 by roberto v

[sumgaikid]

Great find! Roberto is right;you have a vintage Omas that many of us would drool over ! Would you be

willing to tell us how much(sumgai find,maybe?)and where you found it?

 

John

[RevAaron]

I think mine must be a standard- it's 11.5 cm uncapped, and 12.5 capped.

 

Believe me, I'm drooling too!

 

I don't think it was quite sumgai, but definately sumgaiish, at the very least a good deal! Purchased it for $320 about a month ago, and it took that long to come to me in the mail. Had it about a week. I found it by emailing an italian eBay seller from whom I purchased a much cheaper pen in the past.

 

Roberto: I must say, the Omas celluloid seems to amber a bit more elegantly than that of many other pens from the same era- it's still quite transparent, just colored. I can see the liens of notebook paper through it still.

 

Finding out about the value of a pen like this can be nice in some ways- but it's a curse in other ways. I use the pens I own, and I don't do collect-for-show. Not that this pen wouldn't make a great user, but it sort of scares me to clip a $600-700 pen onto my collar and use it like I would any other pen.

 

I must commend Omas for really staying true over the years, at least until they switched to 18kt nibs- this Lucens's nib feels very similar to the 14k nibs on my 1980s 557-S and 555-F; similar amount of flex and the same level/feel of feedback.

 

Aaron

[roberto v]

Aaron,

that pen is a strong one. Being the caplip the only weak point and having no more to trouble about it, you can really use is on daily bases. I think that pen in this condition are the one one really can use and enjoy!

As you have noticed, nibs of this quality are a real joy to use!

 

 

I think mine must be a standard- it's 11.5 cm uncapped, and 12.5 capped.

 

Believe me, I'm drooling too!

 

I don't think it was quite sumgai, but definately sumgaiish, at the very least a good deal! Purchased it for $320 about a month ago, and it took that long to come to me in the mail. Had it about a week. I found it by emailing an italian eBay seller from whom I purchased a much cheaper pen in the past.

 

Roberto: I must say, the Omas celluloid seems to amber a bit more elegantly than that of many other pens from the same era- it's still quite transparent, just colored. I can see the liens of notebook paper through it still.

 

Finding out about the value of a pen like this can be nice in some ways- but it's a curse in other ways. I use the pens I own, and I don't do collect-for-show. Not that this pen wouldn't make a great user, but it sort of scares me to clip a $600-700 pen onto my collar and use it like I would any other pen.

 

I must commend Omas for really staying true over the years, at least until they switched to 18kt nibs- this Lucens's nib feels very similar to the 14k nibs on my 1980s 557-S and 555-F; similar amount of flex and the same level/feel of feedback.

 

Aaron

 

[sbroglia]

Roberto is right: the pen is strong and you can use it anywhere/anytime.

very nice, elegant and charming.

find below how it will looks like when restored!!

[RevAaron]

sbroglia- now I'm the one drooling! The vintage Omas I've *really* wanted has been one with the helical/spiral transparency that yours has. Mine has the width-wise Vacumatic-esque transparent stripes- not that I'm complaining or anything...

 

Why doesn't make celluloid or plastic like that anymore? I mean, it isn't swirly-pretty like the Van Gogh's acetate, but I love the partially transparent plastics used for Vacs, Omas pens, Nozacs, etc the most.

 

Mine's been sent off to Richard Binder, though I just requested that the filler be restored and nib set (it'd riding too high, not deep enough into the section). I wonder if I should go for the whole she-bang- your fully restored one looks incredible!

 

Aaron

[roberto v]

Why doesn't make celluloid or plastic like that anymore? I mean, it isn't swirly-pretty like the Van Gogh's acetate, but I love the partially transparent plastics used for Vacs, Omas pens, Nozacs, etc the most.

 

Because they don't know how to do it at cheap price, I guess.

 

But aside the celluloid, they have lost a lot of knowledge in making pens: now are done to be looked at, not to wirte with!

[roberto v]

Well, I'll add a couple more pics:

 

This one is a mint tortoiseshell Extra Lucens:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b181/rvetrugno/omasextralucenstartarugavp2.jpg

 

And this one has one of the rarest pattern on Extra Lucens:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b181/rvetrugno/vendute/Omasextralucensoroenera.jpg

 

 

 

[sbroglia]

Right Roberto!!

and also the celluloids bars are no longer manufactured because many reasons.

here are other two versions in black

[sbroglia]

just to complete the family.....

[sbroglia]

and more...

Edited November 12, 2008 by sbroglia

[sumgaikid]

OK, both of you have to stop with the pictures--I'm dehydrated from too much drooling!

 

SOOOOOO PURTY..............

 

John

[sbroglia]

ahahahaha

[diplomat]

Right Roberto!!

and also the celluloids bars are no longer manufactured because many reasons.

here are other two versions in black

 

Wow. That's something is really difficoult to see even in specialized books, thank you to share them here (Giuseppe was right, after all!).

 

May I ask to further explain why the celluloid bars are no longer manufactured? Is it right to say that the last italian producer moved plants to china?

 

Thank you,

 

Andre

 

[roberto v]

May I ask to further explain why the celluloid bars are no longer manufactured? Is it right to say that the last italian producer moved plants to china?

 

If you consider that - aside the production of the material itself - from the row rods of celluloid to the finished pen Omas took 12 months to have a stable product, allowing all fumes to evaporate and obtain a perfect celuloid that wouldn't shrink during the years, you understand the reason why...

 

Probably the pens today would cost 10 time more, putting them out of the market.

Edited November 12, 2008 by roberto v

[RevAaron]

I don't think there's any reasons the pens would have to cost 10 times as much- it might take a year for celluloid to cure, but it isn't a year of work, it's a year of curing. Many cheap pens with good American and European-made celluloids were made in the 30s-50s- and I think it could be done again. It would require a company who had the right setup of course, but there's nothing inherently expensive about it- you can buy decent wine and cheese that's been aged that long, sitting somewhere curing, that doesn't have a 10x price curve...

 

Just a thought!

 

Aaron

[sbroglia]

the problems are mostly 2:

-the security: it's very difficult to manage celluloid since it's very flammable and the companies want to avoid problems and investment in security .

-calluloid manufacurers oblige the companies to buy large quantities very difficult to sell. Look since how many years Visconti have the coral,the blue lapis and all the ringed celluloids .... they bought that celluloid more than 12 years ago and still making pens...

[roberto v]

I don't think there's any reasons the pens would have to cost 10 times as much- it might take a year for celluloid to cure, but it isn't a year of work, it's a year of curing. Many cheap pens with good American and European-made celluloids were made in the 30s-50s- and I think it could be done again. It would require a company who had the right setup of course, but there's nothing inherently expensive about it- you can buy decent wine and cheese that's been aged that long, sitting somewhere curing, that doesn't have a 10x price curve...

 

Just a thought!

 

Aaron

 

Actually, it NEEDED one year work.... The pens were manifatured in several steps, with periods of curing between one and the other just because the celluloid needed to stabilize. I have read that each pen took about 20 steps to get ready and so it isn't like put the rods aside and wait.

You want also consider that the point is not only how long, but how you do things: a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino or a Chateau Lafitte have not the same price of a "normal" bottle of wine! You have more than 10x curve price there!