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[[Image:Logo-Omas.svg|center|300px|Omas Logo]]
 
[[Image:Logo-Omas.svg|center|300px|Omas Logo]]
  
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[[OMAS]] was founded in 1925 and is one of the historic Italian fountain brands. Since then, albeit with mixed success, and with several changes of ownership occurred after the death of its founder, it has always remained active in the fountain pen market. Ownership passed to the French [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LVMH Luis Vuitton] company in 2000, and then in October 2007 they sold it to the Chinese company [http://www.xinyuhengdeli.com/ Xinyu Hengdeli], in March 2016 it ceased activities.
  
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[[OMAS]] was founded in 1925 and is one of the historic Italian fountain brands. Since then, albeit with mixed success, and with several changes of ownership occurred after the death of its founder, it has always remained active in the fountain pen market. Ownership passed in 2000 to the French [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LVMH Luis Vuitton] company, that sold it in October 2007 to the Chinese [http://www.xinyuhengdeli.com/ Xinyu Hengdeli] company.
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In its activities [[OMAS]] has been characterized by a remarkable capacity for technical innovation and product quality, resulting probably from these point of view better than any other Italian company. It cannot be said, however, that it has particularly excelled for innovation in design, because all its most famous models, also if they often are better quality than the originals, always show in a clear manner a high rate of imitation of the stylistic features of other brands models. Despite this, the quality of the [[OMAS]] production, the ability to create imitations that are better than the originals, and in particular the refinement of its celluloid models makes this brand one of the most sought after by collectors. {{Infobox_Brand|Omas}}{{BrandData|Founder=Armando Simoni|Place=Bologna|Date=1925|Country=IT|Fullname=Officine Meccaniche Armando Simoni}}
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In its activities [[OMAS]] has been characterized by a remarkable capacity for technical innovation and product quality, resulting probably from these point of view better than any other Italian company. It cannot be said, however, that it has particularly excelled for innovation in design, because all its most famous models, also if they often are better quality than the originals, always show in a clear manner a high rate of imitation of the stylistic features of other brands models. Despite this, the quality of the [[OMAS]] production, the ability to create imitations that are better than the originals, and in particular the refinement of its celluloid models makes this brand one of the most sought after by collectors. {{Infobox_Brand|Omas}}
 
 
==History==  
 
==History==  
  
 
[[Image:1936-Omas-Lucens-2.jpg|upright|right|thumb|100px|A [[Lucens]] advertisement]]
 
[[Image:1936-Omas-Lucens-2.jpg|upright|right|thumb|100px|A [[Lucens]] advertisement]]
  
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[[OMAS]] was founded in 1925 in Bologna by ''Armando Simoni''. In 1919 Simoni, just married, opened a shop in Via S. Vitale where hi produced film reels and mechanisms for [[safety]] pens.<ref>in 1922 there is a registration for the ''Officine Meccaniche di Precisione Simoni Armando''.</ref> Briefly the workshop began to produce pieces and parts for fountain pens of the leading companies. Having obtained considerable success customer demand grew, Simoni started expanding the company, and also began to produce whole pens. These early years models are hard rubber [[lever filler]] or [[safety]] pens, made as a clear imitation of the [[Waterman]] models.
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[[OMAS]] was founded in 1925 in Bologna by ''Armando Simoni'', but it was from [[1919]] that Simoni, just married, had opened a workshop in Via S. Vitale where he produced film reels and mechanisms for [[safety]] pens.<ref>in [[1922]] there is a registration for the ''Officine Meccaniche di Precisione Simoni Armando''.</ref> Briefly the workshop began to produce pieces and parts for fountain pens of the leading companies. Having obtained considerable success, customer demand grew, and Simoni started expanding the company and also began to produce whole pens. These early years models are hard rubber [[lever filler]] or [[safety]] pens, made as a clear imitation of the [[Waterman]] models.
  
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[[Image:Omas-PennaDelDottore-Capped.jpg|thumb|left|Una  [[penna del dottore]] ]]
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[[Image:Omas-PennaDelDottore-Capped.jpg|thumb|left|A "[[penna del dottore]]"]]
  
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Fu però solo nel 1925 che, completata la realizzazione di una propria fabbrica in Via degli Orbi, vennero create le ''Officine Meccaniche Armando Simoni'' la cui sigla, [[OMAS]], diventerà il marchio con cui saranno commercializzate le stilografiche. Il primo modello di rilievo prodotto dalla [[OMAS]] fu la ''[[Penna del dottore]]'', brevettato nel 1927 si trattava di un modello in [[ebanite]] con [[caricamento a levetta]] che in uno scompartimento posto all'interno del fusto della penna conteneva, oltre al sacchetto ed al meccanismo di caricamento, un termometro per la misura della febbre, tenuto separato dal resto tramite un divisorio metallico. Dello stesso anno è anche il brevetto per lo snodo metallico usato per la realizzazione degli stilofori, di cui [[OMAS]] fu uno dei principali produttori italiani.
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But it was only in [[1925]], after having completed the construction of its own factory in Via degli Orbi, that ''Officine Meccaniche Armando Simoni'' were create, whose acronym, [[OMAS]], will become the brand used for the marketed fountain pens. The first relevant model produced by [[OMAS]] was the "[[penna del dottore]]", patented in [[1927]], was an hard rubber [[lever filler]] model with a compartment located inside the barrel of the pen that contained in addition to the sac and the lever mechanism, a thermometer for measuring the fever, kept separate from the rest by a metal partition. The same year Simoni patented the metal joint used for the construction of the [[OMAS]] desk pens, for which the company becomes one of the leading Italian manufacturers.
  
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La produzione iniziale della [[OMAS]] è caratterizzata da vari [[Modelli iniziali OMAS|modelli]] in stile [[Flat top]] con caricamento a [[pulsante di fondo]], imitazioni evidenti della [[Duofold]], alcuni di questi però sono contraddistinti da soluzioni tecniche molto originali, come per la seconda versione della ''[[penna del dottore]]'' in cui di nuovo il termometro veniva ospitato dal corpo della penna, o la ''[[penna del calligrafo]]'', che era dotata di una peculiare sezione svitabile, che consentiva di cambiare pennino con facilità, ad uso appunto dei calligrafi.
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The initial [[OMAS]] production of is characterized by various [[Flat top]] [[button filler]] models, clear imitations of the [[Duofold]]. However some of these models were characterized by original technical solutions, as for the second version of the "[[penna del dottore]]" in which again the thermometer was hosted by the body of the pen, or as for the "[[penna del calligrafo]]", which was equipped with a special section that could be easily unscrewed, allowing an easy the change of the nib type, which was directed towards the use by calligraphers.
  
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E' di questo stesso periodo la presenza in Italia di alcune [[Parker]] (nei modelli [[Duofold]] e [[Thrift Time]]) marcate ''Geo. S. Parker - fabbricato in Italia'' la cui produzione viene attribuita alla [[OMAS]]. Su queste penne esiste un ampio dibattito se si tratti di una vera produzione su commissione della [[Parker]] fatta per aggirare le restrizioni poste dalle politiche autarchiche del regime fascista, se si tratti di una produzione semiufficiale commissionata dall'agente [[Parker]] per l'Italia, Edoardo Russo Webber, che si trovava ad affrontare difficoltà di approvvigionamento, o se si tratti davvero di una produzione clandestina (ed illegale). Non essendovi documenti, ne altre risultanze se non quelle dei successivi rapporti di Webber con Simoni per la produzione delle penne marcate [[Saratoga]], non è possibile arrivare a nessuna conclusione certa.
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[[Image:Omas-FlatTop-Serie-Capped.jpg|thumb|Series of early ''[[flat top]]'' [[Duofold]] style models]]
  
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La [[OMAS]] fu una delle prime aziende italiane a passare alla [[celluloide]], fra la fine degli anni '20 e gli inizi degli anni '30, producendo le sue penne oltre che nei colori classici verde giada o blu lapislazzulo pure in interessanti variazione cromatiche marmorizzate. Fra la produzione in celluloide spicca il caso si alcune penne, simili per cappuccio e fermaglio alle precedenti imitazioni della [[Duofold]], ma dotate di estremità affusolate, nate probabilmente all'inizio degli anno '30 con l'affermarsi dello stile ''[[streamlined]]''. Di questa produzione sono noti solo un paio di esemplari. Più o meno a questo periodo si può far risalire l'inizio della produzione di penne marchiate [[Minerva]], l'unica vera sottomarca<ref>benché siano note molte produzioni effettuate dalla [[Omas]] per conto di altre aziende, spesso direttamente derivate dai modelli [[Minerva]], come la produzione per la [[Ercolessi]], la [[Saratoga]] o la [[Scotland]] e forse la stessa [[Nettuno Superba]], o la produzione di modelli particolari, come si suppone per la [[Itala]] e si dice, quasi sicuramente sbagliando, della [[Zerollo]], le uniche penne commercializzate direttamente dall'azienda e presenti ufficialmente nei suoi cataloghi sono le [[Minerva]].</ref> della [[Omas]], dedicata alla produzione di seconda fascia ma non di meno di qualità eccellente.
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In this same time period there is a presence in Italy of some [[Parker]] models ([[Duofold]] and [[Thrift Time]]) marked ''"Geo. S. Parker - made in Italy"'' whose production is attributed to [[OMAS]]. There is a debate about these pens, whether if this can be considered a real production commissioned by the [[Parker]], to circumvent the restrictions imposed by the autarkic policies of the fascist regime, or if it is a semi-official production commissioned by the [[Parker]] agent for Italy, Edoardo Russo Webber, who was facing a supply shortage, or if it is indeed a clandestine (and illegal) production. As there are no documents, nor other findings than those of later interactions from Webber and Simoni for the production of the [[Saratoga]] pens, it's impossible to come to any definite conclusion.
  
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[[Immagine:Omas-Extra-Arco.jpg|right|thumb|Una [[Omas Extra]] in cellulloide [[arco]] ]]
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[[OMAS]] between the first Italian companies to switch to [[celluloid]] in the late '20s or early '30s, producing its fountain pens as well as in the classic colors like green jade or lapis lazuli and also interesting variation of marbled colors. Between the production of this time there are some celluloid pens, with cap and clip similar to that used in the previous [[Duofold]] imitations, but having instead tapered ends. These were probably born in the early '30s, following the establishment of the ''[[streamlined]]'' style, and only a couple of samples are known. More or less in this period can be traced back the production beginning of the [[Minerva]] branded pens, the only real [[OMAS]] sub-brand,<ref>there are many pens that are known as made by [[OMAS]] on behalf of other companies, often directly derived from [[Minerva]] models; between them there are productions for the [[Ercolessi]], the [[Saratoga]] or [[Scotland]] brands, and perhaps also the [[Nettuno Superba]], there are also attributions to [[OMAS]] for the production of some particular models, as the [[Itala]] and, almost certainly wrong, the [[Zerollo]], but the only pens marketed directly by the company and appearing in its catalogs are the [[Minerva]] ones.</ref> dedicated to the production of second-tier but not less than excellent quality.
  
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Il vero punto di svolta nella produzione della [[OMAS]] avvenne infatti nel 1932, quando venne introdotto quello che resterà per vari decenni uno dei modelli di punta dell'azienda, la [[Omas Extra]], realizzata in celluloide sfaccettata, con [[caricamento a levetta]] e dotata di una vera molto ampia sul cappuccio, decorata con un motivo a forma di greca. Prodotta in quattro diverse dimensioni e lanciata con lo slogan ''creazione di artista e di scienziato'', venne accompagnata da una campagna pubblicitaria molto estesa.
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[[File:Omas-Extra-Band-ArcoGrey-OS-Capped.jpg|right|thumb|An [[Omas Extra]] in [[arco]] celluloid]]
  
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Benché la [[Omas Extra]] sia molto simile alla [[Doric]], introdotta pochi mesi prima, la questione se si tratti di una imitazione di quest'ultima è comunque controversa, dato che il tempo intercorso è piuttosto breve. Gli estimatori della [[Omas]] sostengono che, dato il breve tempo intercorso fra l'uscita delle due penne, non sarebbe stato possibile creare gli impianti produttivi se la [[Omas Extra]] fosse stata una imitazione della [[Doric]], ma non esistono informazioni di supporto a tale affermazione mentre ci sono ampie conferme sulla tendenza dell'azienda a imitare i modelli americani. Indipendentemente dal fatto che possa essere considerata una imitazione o meno, la [[Extra]], per qualità di materiali e di lavorazione, si può senza dubbio ritenere assolutamente al pari, se non spesso superiore, rispetto ai modelli cui può essersi ispirata. La penna inoltre riscosse un successo enorme e rimase in produzione fino al 1946, sia pure con variazioni stilistiche minori, come la creazione di una versione liscia e il passaggio ad una decorazione a tre anelli al posto della vera grecata.
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The real turning point in the [[OMAS]] production happened in [[1932]], when it introduced what is was for several decades one of the top models of the company, the [[Omas Extra]], made of faceted celluloid, a  [[lever filler]] model with a very large cap band, decorated with a greek pattern. The pen was produced in four different sizes and launched with the slogan ''the creation of an artist and a scientist'', and it was accompanied by a very extensive advertising campaign.  
  
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[[Image:Lucens-VestPocket-Extended.jpg|left|thumb|Una coppia di [[Lucens]] ]]
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Although the [[Omas Extra]] is very similar to [[Doric]], introduced a few months earlier, the question whether it is an imitation is still controversial, since the elapsed time is rather short. The [[OMAS]] fans argue that, given the short time between the release of the two pens, it would not have been possible to create production facilities if the [[Omas Extra]] had been a  [[Doric]] imitation, but there is no information to support this statement while there are ample confirmation for the [[OMAS]] tendency to imitate American models. Regardless of whether it can be considered an imitation or not the [[Omas Extra]] for its quality of materials and workmanship, can be considered of equivalent, if not higher, quality than the model to which it may be have inspired. The pen also had a huge success and remained in production until [[1946]], albeit with minor stylistic changes, such as creating a smooth version and the transition to a decorative three-ring instead of the greek band.
  
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Nel 1936 venne brevettato ed introdotto un nuovo modello, la [[Lucens]] dotato di un originale, per l'Italia, sistema di caricamento, denominato ''[[stantuffo tuffante]]''. In realtà il meccanismo è sostanzialmente identico a quello usato dalla [[Dunn]], precedente di ben 15 anni, anche se non è possibile stabilire se si tratti di una copia o di una realizzazione indipendente. La [[Lucens]] costituisce comunque una delle più belle penne stilografiche mai realizzate, in particolare per la bellezza della celluloide utilizzata, dotata di sezioni trasparenti per la visualizzazione dell'inchiostro.
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[[File:Omas-Lucens-Rings-MarbledTansp-VestPocket-Extended.jpg|left|thumb|A small [[Lucens]] couple]]
  
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Realizzata inizialmente in versione liscia, alla [[Lucens]] si unì subito anche la [[Extra Lucens]], dotata di un corpo sfaccettato come la [[Omas Extra|Extra]], ma con caricamento a ''[[stantuffo tuffante]]''. Nel 1938 la precedente clip a rotellina (molto simile a quella della [[Doric]] della [[Eversharp]]) venne sostituita da una clip a forma di freccia, chiara imitazione di quella introdotta dalla [[Parker]] con la [[Vacumatic]], imitazione ancor più evidente dalla presenza di un disegno di freccia sostanzialmente identico inciso sul pennino. Inoltre la decorazione a vera grecata venne sostituita da tre sottili vere sul cappuccio. Nonostante le imitazioni la [[Extra Lucens]] resta una penna senza ombra di dubbio superiore in tutti gli aspetti (tecnico, estetico e di qualità realizzativa) a qualunque [[Vacumatic]] e probabilmente il più bel modello prodotto dalla [[OMAS]].  
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In [[1936]] a new model, the [[Lucens]], was patented and launched, using, at least for Italy production, a new type of filling system called ''"[[stantuffo tuffante]]"''. In fact the mechanism is almost the same of the one used by [[Dunn]] 15 years before; but it is not possible to determine whether it is a copy or an independent realization. Nevertheless the [[Lucens]] constitutes one of the most beautiful fountain pens ever realized, in particular for the beauty of celluloids, equipped with transparent sections for viewing ink.
  
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[[Image:ExtraLucens-VestPocket-BlackVeined-Set-Box.jpg|thumb|Una [[Extra Lucens]] ]]
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Made initially onlu in the in smooth round  version, the [[Lucens]] was joined immediately by [[Extra Lucens]], havingfaceted body like the [[Omas Extra|Extra]], but still using the ''"[[stantuffo tuffante]]"'' filling system. In [[1938]] the wheel clip (very similar to the [[Doric]] one) was replaced by an arrow shaped clip, a clear imitation of the one introduced by the [[Parker]] with the [[Vacumatic]]. The imitation even more evident by the presence of a  arrow engraving of the nib, almost identical to the [[Vacumatic]] one. Also the greek band cap decoration was replaced by three thin rings. Despite the imitations [[Extra Lucens]] is a pen without a doubt superior in all aspects (technical, aesthetic and manufacturing quality) to any [[Vacumatic]] and probably is the best model ever produced by [[OMAS]].
  
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Col progredire della guerra iniziarono a scarseggiare le materie prime ed in particolare l'oro per i pennini, come la gran parte delle aziende europee la [[OMAS]] dovette ricorrere ad una lega di acciaio, ribattezzata ''[[Permanio]]'', della quale si proclamava la superiorità anche rispetto all'oro. In realtà proprio questa lega risultò essere una delle più suscettibili alla corrosione, tanto che oggi i pennini in ''[[Permanio]]'' sono rarissimi ed hanno un valore ben più alto dei loro analoghi in oro.
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[[File:Omas-ExtraLucens-BlackVeined-VestPocket-Set-Box.jpg|thumb|An [[Extra Lucens]]]]
  
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Nel dopoguerra la produzione riprese con nuove penne di forma ogivale, ed il passaggio al [[caricamento a stantuffo]]. Nel 1946 la linea [[Omas Extra|Extra]] venne completamente ristilizzata, venne mantenuta la clip a rotellina ma vennero usate tre verette sul cappuccio, inoltre venne adottato il [[caricamento a stantuffo]] e venne introdotta una sezione trasparente per la visualizzazione del livello di inchiostro. Vennero mantenute tre misure, piccola, media e grande, identificate rispettivamente coi numeri [[Omas 55x|555]], [[Omas 55x|556]] e [[Omas 55x|557]].  
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With the World War II progress raw materials began to become scarce and to replace gold for nibs, as the majority of European companies, [[OMAS]] had to resort to use some steel alloy. The company named it ''[[Permanio]]'', and declared the it would be better even than gold. In fact just this kind alloy proved, amongs many other used for nibs, to be one of the most susceptible to corrosion, so that today ''[[Permanio]]'' nibs are rare and have a much higher value of their analogues in gold.  
  
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[[Image:1959-Omas-361.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Pubblicità di una [[Omas 361|361]] ]]
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After the war production resumed with new ogival pens and the transition to [[piston filler]]. In [[1946]] the [[Omas Extra|Extra]] line was completely restyled, the wheel clip was maintained but  were used three rings on the cap. Also the [[piston filler]] was adopted and  a transparent section for viewing ink level was introduced. Three sizes were maintained: small, medium and large, identified respectively with the numbers [[Omas 55x|555]], [[Omas 55x|556]] and [[Omas 55x|557]].
  
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Nel 1948 venne realizzata quella che è forse la più significativa invenzione nel mondo della stilografica italiana, il modello [[Omas 361|361]]. Nata in risposta al successo della [[Parker 51]], l'originalità della penna sta nella posizione centrale del pennino, montato sull'asse della penna, intorno al quale è posto un controcappuccio aperto su un lato. A seconda della posizione di di uso della penna, ed in particolare del lato aperto, il pennino può essere quasi completamente coperto, ottenendo una scrittura rigida, o lasciato scoperto, consentendo una scrittura flessibile. Un sistema di gradazione del tratto molto funzionale, tanto che si narra che la stessa [[Parker]] tentò più volte di acquisire il brevetto ({{Cite patent|US|2565667}}) dalla [[OMAS]].
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[[Image:1959-Omas-361.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Advertising for an [[Omas 361|361]] ]]
  
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[[Image:Omas-Grigie-Capped.jpg|thumb|Un gruppo di diverse penne di colore grigio]]
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In [[1948]] it was made what is perhaps the most significant invention in the Italian fountain pen production, the [[Omas 361|361]] model. Born as a response for the success of [[Parker 51]], the originality of the pen is in the central position of the nib, mounted on the axis of the pen, around which is placed an hood open by one side. Depending on the side of use of the pen, when the nib is almost completely covered it will give a rigid
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writing, and when it is left uncovered, it will allow a flexible writing. It was very functional grading system, so that it is told that the [[Parker]] tried several times to acquire the patent ({{Cite patent|US|2565667}}) from [[OMAS]].
  
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L'introduzione della [[Omas 361|361]] portò ad una serie di novità anche sul piano stilistico oltre che su quello tecnico, per la sua produzione vennero infatti adottate delle nuove linee di forma ogivale, inoltre si passò ad una singola veretta sul cappuccio ed al meccanismo di [[caricamento a stantuffo]] che venne utilizzato per tutta la produzione eccettuata la [[Extra Lucens]] che rimase con lo ''[[stantuffo tuffante]]'', la clip a freccia ed i tre anellini sul cappuccio, restando in produzione, sia pure senza pennino bicolore, nel solo colore nero e nelle dimensioni grande e media per tutti gli anni '50.
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[[File:Omas-Models-GraySerie-Capped.jpg|thumb|A group of different gray [[Omas]] pens]]
  
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Sono inoltre da segnalare, introdotti all'incirca nel 1950 e mantenuti in produzione per brevissimo tempo, i modelli [[Omas 35x|351]] e [[Omas 35x|352]], penne rarissime ed introvabili, di forma faccettata, ma con [[caricamento a stantuffo]], il cui corpo era realizzato incollando alternativamente sezioni di celluloide trasparente e colorata, così da ottenere uno straordinario risultato di serbatoio trasparente a sezioni alternate.  
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The introduction of [[Omas 361|361]] led to a series of novelty even on the stylistic side other than in the technical one. For its production were used the new ogival shapes, and also cap decoration passed to a single band, and the [[piston filler]] was adopted, which was used for all the production except the [[Extra Lucens]] who stayed with the ''"[[stantuffo tuffante]]"'', the arrow clip and the three rings on the cap, remaining in production, without double color nibs, in all black and in medium and large sizes for all the '50s.  
  
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Nello stesso periodo le forme ogivali della [[Omas 361|361]] vennero adottate anche per gli altri modelli: venne realizzata la [[Lucens|Lucens Ogiva]] e nuove versioni ogivali della vecchia [[Omas Extra|Extra]] (denominate [[Omas 55x|555/S]], [[Omas 55x|556/S]] e [[Omas 55x|557/S]]) costruite in celluloide con finestra trasparente rossa o gialla, e presenti anche nelle varianti con cappuccio metallico. Le forme sfaccettate vennero comunque mantenute, sia per la [[Omas 361|361]] che per la nuova serie delle ''Extra'' con i modelli denominati [[Omas 55x|555/F]], [[Omas 55x|556/F]] e [[Omas 55x|557/F]].  
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It should also mentioned two models introduced about [[1950]] and remained in production for a short time, the [[Omas 35x|351]] and [[Omas 35x|352]]. These pens are very rare and hard to find, they have faceted shape and [[piston filler]] and they barrel was made by gluing alternating sections of transparent and colored celluloid, so as to achieve an outstanding result of a transparent tank in alternating sections.  
  
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Negli anni successivi la produzione della [[OMAS]] proseguì, con la realizzazione di penne stilografiche in celluloide con [[caricamento a stantuffo]]. L'azienda produsse nuovi modelli coma la [[Omas VS|VS]] e la [[OMAS CS|CS]]. Con la morte di Armando Simoni nel 1958 però non vennero prodotte significative innovazioni, anche se negli ultimi decenni sono stati introdotti diversi modelli, cercando di inseguire la fascia alta del mercato e degli oggetti di lusso, riportando anche in produzione alcuni modelli in celluloide simili a quelli degli anni '30. L'azienda è ancora oggi presente sul mercato, pur essendo passata di mano dagli eredi di Simoni per essere prima ceduta prima alla [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LVMH Luis Vuitton] e poi alla cinese [http://www.xinyuhengdeli.com/ Xinyu Hengdeli].
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In the same period of the [[Omas 361|361]] ogival shaped were adopted for other models and led to the [[Lucens|Lucens Ogiva]] and new ogival versions of the old [[Omas Extra|Extra]] model (called [[Omas 55x|555/S]], [[Omas 55x|556/S]] and [[Omas 55x|557/S]]), These were celluloid made with a  red or yellow transparent window, and there were also variants with metal cap. The faceted forms were also kept, for both the [[Omas 361|361]] and the new '' Extra'' series with models denominated  [[Omas 55x|555/F]], [[Omas 55x|556/F]] and [[Omas 55x|557/F]].  
  
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{{CronoMarche}}
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In the following years [[OMAS]] production continued with the construction of [[piston filler]] celluloid pens. The company produced new models like the [[Omas VS|VS]] and the [[OMAS CS|CS]]. With the death of Armando Simoni in [[1958]] no more significant innovations were produced, although in the following decades the company introduced many [[Produzione Omas dagli anni '60|different models]], trying to chase first the economy tier and the the high end of the market. The company changed hands from the Simoni heirs and was sold first to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LVMH Luis Vuitton] and then to the Chinese [http://www.xinyuhengdeli.com/ Xinyu Hengdeli] remaining active until March 2016, when it ceased activities.
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| 1925 || Nascita della [[OMAS]]
 
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| 1927 || Viene brevettata la ''Penna del dottore''
 
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| 1932 || Introdotto il modello [[Omas Extra|Extra]]
 
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| 1934 || Introdotto il modello [[Minerva Classica]]
 
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| 1936 || Introdotti i modelli [[Lucens]] ed  [[Lucens|Extra Lucens]] con caricamento a [[stantuffo tuffante]]
 
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| 1936 || Sostituita la vera con tre anelli sul cappuccio sulla [[Omas Extra|Extra]] tonda
 
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| 1938 || Introdotta la clip a freccia sul modello [[Extra Lucens]]
 
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| 1940 || Introdotti i pennini in ''[[Permanio]]''
 
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| 1940 || Sostituita la vera con tre anelli sul cappuccio sulla [[Extra]] faccettata
 
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| 1946 || Ristilizzato il modello [[Omas Extra|Extra]], sostituito dalla [[Omas 55x|nuova versione]] a [[caricamento a stantuffo|stantuffo]]
 
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| 1948 || Introdotto il modello [[Omas 361|361]], ristilizzati i modelli [[Omas 55x|Extra]]
 
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|-
 
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| 1950 || Introdotti i modelli [[Omas 35x|351]] e [[Omas 35x|352]]
 
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|-
 
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|}
 
  
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{{LegendaModelli}}
+
{{BrandChrono|Omas}}
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|-
 
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| [[Omas Extra|Extra]] || 1932 || XX, ?
 
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|-
 
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| [[Lucens]] || 1936 || XX, ?
 
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|-
 
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| [[Omas 361|361]] || 1948 || XX, ?
 
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|-
 
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|}
 
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==Note==
 
  
 +
== External references ==
 +
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071012005104/http://www.omas.net/defaultMenuSingolo2.asp?tree=3&usr=-1&codlingua=1&grc=4&grl=13] History section from the dead official website
 +
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20010124080700/http://www.omas.net:80/pagina6.htm] Presentation of some old collections with some history info
 +
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060323180316/http://www.pennamagazine.com/articolo.php?id=226] Article on [[Duofold]] like models (no data on the affirmed [[Parker]]-[[Omas]] relatio)
 +
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160708102016/http://rickconner.net/penoply/misc.19.html] Article with some historic info
 +
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160527142137/http://www.rickconner.net:80/penspotters/omas.html] Article with some historic info
 +
== Notes ==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  
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==Riferimenti esterni==
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{{CategorizeBrand|Italia}}
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* http://www.omas.net/ Sito ufficiale dell'azienda, irrilevante per le informazioni storiche
 
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* http://www.rickconner.net/penoply/misc.19.html Articolo con qualche informazione storica
 
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* http://www.rickconner.net/penspotters/omas.html  Articolo con qualche informazione storica
 
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* http://www.pennamagazine.com/load_detail.aspx?id=5&nt=stilo Interessante articolo sui modelli tipo [[Duofold]]
 
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* http://www.pennamagazine.com/load_detail.aspx?id=4&nt=stilo Altro articolo sui modelli tipo [[Duofold]]
 
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[[Category:Marche]]
 
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[[Category:Brands]]
 
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[[Category:Italia]]
 

Versione attuale delle 01:23, 7 nov 2020

Omas Logo

OMAS was founded in 1925 and is one of the historic Italian fountain brands. Since then, albeit with mixed success, and with several changes of ownership occurred after the death of its founder, it has always remained active in the fountain pen market. Ownership passed to the French Luis Vuitton company in 2000, and then in October 2007 they sold it to the Chinese company Xinyu Hengdeli, in March 2016 it ceased activities.

In its activities OMAS has been characterized by a remarkable capacity for technical innovation and product quality, resulting probably from these point of view better than any other Italian company. It cannot be said, however, that it has particularly excelled for innovation in design, because all its most famous models, also if they often are better quality than the originals, always show in a clear manner a high rate of imitation of the stylistic features of other brands models. Despite this, the quality of the OMAS production, the ability to create imitations that are better than the originals, and in particular the refinement of its celluloid models makes this brand one of the most sought after by collectors.

Omas
Brand pages
Brand advertising
Brand photos
Instructions sheet
Other documents
Patents

History

A Lucens advertisement

OMAS was founded in 1925 in Bologna by Armando Simoni, but it was from 1919 that Simoni, just married, had opened a workshop in Via S. Vitale where he produced film reels and mechanisms for safety pens.[1] Briefly the workshop began to produce pieces and parts for fountain pens of the leading companies. Having obtained considerable success, customer demand grew, and Simoni started expanding the company and also began to produce whole pens. These early years models are hard rubber lever filler or safety pens, made as a clear imitation of the Waterman models.

A "penna del dottore"

But it was only in 1925, after having completed the construction of its own factory in Via degli Orbi, that Officine Meccaniche Armando Simoni were create, whose acronym, OMAS, will become the brand used for the marketed fountain pens. The first relevant model produced by OMAS was the "penna del dottore", patented in 1927, was an hard rubber lever filler model with a compartment located inside the barrel of the pen that contained in addition to the sac and the lever mechanism, a thermometer for measuring the fever, kept separate from the rest by a metal partition. The same year Simoni patented the metal joint used for the construction of the OMAS desk pens, for which the company becomes one of the leading Italian manufacturers.

The initial OMAS production of is characterized by various Flat top button filler models, clear imitations of the Duofold. However some of these models were characterized by original technical solutions, as for the second version of the "penna del dottore" in which again the thermometer was hosted by the body of the pen, or as for the "penna del calligrafo", which was equipped with a special section that could be easily unscrewed, allowing an easy the change of the nib type, which was directed towards the use by calligraphers.

Series of early flat top Duofold style models

In this same time period there is a presence in Italy of some Parker models (Duofold and Thrift Time) marked "Geo. S. Parker - made in Italy" whose production is attributed to OMAS. There is a debate about these pens, whether if this can be considered a real production commissioned by the Parker, to circumvent the restrictions imposed by the autarkic policies of the fascist regime, or if it is a semi-official production commissioned by the Parker agent for Italy, Edoardo Russo Webber, who was facing a supply shortage, or if it is indeed a clandestine (and illegal) production. As there are no documents, nor other findings than those of later interactions from Webber and Simoni for the production of the Saratoga pens, it's impossible to come to any definite conclusion.

OMAS between the first Italian companies to switch to celluloid in the late '20s or early '30s, producing its fountain pens as well as in the classic colors like green jade or lapis lazuli and also interesting variation of marbled colors. Between the production of this time there are some celluloid pens, with cap and clip similar to that used in the previous Duofold imitations, but having instead tapered ends. These were probably born in the early '30s, following the establishment of the streamlined style, and only a couple of samples are known. More or less in this period can be traced back the production beginning of the Minerva branded pens, the only real OMAS sub-brand,[2] dedicated to the production of second-tier but not less than excellent quality.

An Omas Extra in arco celluloid

The real turning point in the OMAS production happened in 1932, when it introduced what is was for several decades one of the top models of the company, the Omas Extra, made of faceted celluloid, a lever filler model with a very large cap band, decorated with a greek pattern. The pen was produced in four different sizes and launched with the slogan the creation of an artist and a scientist, and it was accompanied by a very extensive advertising campaign.

Although the Omas Extra is very similar to Doric, introduced a few months earlier, the question whether it is an imitation is still controversial, since the elapsed time is rather short. The OMAS fans argue that, given the short time between the release of the two pens, it would not have been possible to create production facilities if the Omas Extra had been a Doric imitation, but there is no information to support this statement while there are ample confirmation for the OMAS tendency to imitate American models. Regardless of whether it can be considered an imitation or not the Omas Extra for its quality of materials and workmanship, can be considered of equivalent, if not higher, quality than the model to which it may be have inspired. The pen also had a huge success and remained in production until 1946, albeit with minor stylistic changes, such as creating a smooth version and the transition to a decorative three-ring instead of the greek band.

A small Lucens couple

In 1936 a new model, the Lucens, was patented and launched, using, at least for Italy production, a new type of filling system called "stantuffo tuffante". In fact the mechanism is almost the same of the one used by Dunn 15 years before; but it is not possible to determine whether it is a copy or an independent realization. Nevertheless the Lucens constitutes one of the most beautiful fountain pens ever realized, in particular for the beauty of celluloids, equipped with transparent sections for viewing ink.

Made initially onlu in the in smooth round version, the Lucens was joined immediately by Extra Lucens, havingfaceted body like the Extra, but still using the "stantuffo tuffante" filling system. In 1938 the wheel clip (very similar to the Doric one) was replaced by an arrow shaped clip, a clear imitation of the one introduced by the Parker with the Vacumatic. The imitation even more evident by the presence of a arrow engraving of the nib, almost identical to the Vacumatic one. Also the greek band cap decoration was replaced by three thin rings. Despite the imitations Extra Lucens is a pen without a doubt superior in all aspects (technical, aesthetic and manufacturing quality) to any Vacumatic and probably is the best model ever produced by OMAS.

An Extra Lucens

With the World War II progress raw materials began to become scarce and to replace gold for nibs, as the majority of European companies, OMAS had to resort to use some steel alloy. The company named it Permanio, and declared the it would be better even than gold. In fact just this kind alloy proved, amongs many other used for nibs, to be one of the most susceptible to corrosion, so that today Permanio nibs are rare and have a much higher value of their analogues in gold.

After the war production resumed with new ogival pens and the transition to piston filler. In 1946 the Extra line was completely restyled, the wheel clip was maintained but were used three rings on the cap. Also the piston filler was adopted and a transparent section for viewing ink level was introduced. Three sizes were maintained: small, medium and large, identified respectively with the numbers 555, 556 and 557.

Advertising for an 361

In 1948 it was made what is perhaps the most significant invention in the Italian fountain pen production, the 361 model. Born as a response for the success of Parker 51, the originality of the pen is in the central position of the nib, mounted on the axis of the pen, around which is placed an hood open by one side. Depending on the side of use of the pen, when the nib is almost completely covered it will give a rigid writing, and when it is left uncovered, it will allow a flexible writing. It was very functional grading system, so that it is told that the Parker tried several times to acquire the patent (nº US-2565667) from OMAS.

A group of different gray Omas pens

The introduction of 361 led to a series of novelty even on the stylistic side other than in the technical one. For its production were used the new ogival shapes, and also cap decoration passed to a single band, and the piston filler was adopted, which was used for all the production except the Extra Lucens who stayed with the "stantuffo tuffante", the arrow clip and the three rings on the cap, remaining in production, without double color nibs, in all black and in medium and large sizes for all the '50s.

It should also mentioned two models introduced about 1950 and remained in production for a short time, the 351 and 352. These pens are very rare and hard to find, they have faceted shape and piston filler and they barrel was made by gluing alternating sections of transparent and colored celluloid, so as to achieve an outstanding result of a transparent tank in alternating sections.

In the same period of the 361 ogival shaped were adopted for other models and led to the Lucens Ogiva and new ogival versions of the old Extra model (called 555/S, 556/S and 557/S), These were celluloid made with a red or yellow transparent window, and there were also variants with metal cap. The faceted forms were also kept, for both the 361 and the new Extra series with models denominated 555/F, 556/F and 557/F.

In the following years OMAS production continued with the construction of piston filler celluloid pens. The company produced new models like the VS and the CS. With the death of Armando Simoni in 1958 no more significant innovations were produced, although in the following decades the company introduced many different models, trying to chase first the economy tier and the the high end of the market. The company changed hands from the Simoni heirs and was sold first to Luis Vuitton and then to the Chinese Xinyu Hengdeli remaining active until March 2016, when it ceased activities.

Chronology

Year Event
1919 Armando Simoni registers a business for "Lavorazione di articoli di penne in ebanite"
1922 Armando Simoni registers Officine Meccaniche di Precisione Simoni Armando
1925 the company is founded by Armando Simoni in Bologna as Officine Meccaniche Armando Simoni
1927 the company patents the Penna del dottore
1930 the company patents the Penna del calligrafo
1930 the company patents the second version of Penna del dottore
1931 the company introduces the Minerva Ellittica (guess date, refers to beginning of the '30s)
1932 the company introduces the Omas Extra
1933 the company introduces the Extra round smooth version (guess date[3])
1934 the company introduces the Minerva Classica
1936 the company replace the band with three rings on the round Omas Extra cap[4]
1936 the company introduces the Lucens
1936 the company introduces the Extra Lucens
1936 the company introduces the stantuffo tuffante filling system
1938 the company introduces an arrow clip on the Extra Lucens model
1940 the company replace the band with three rings on the faceted Omas Extra cap[5]
1941 the company introduces Permanio nibs
1946 the company renew the Extra model introducing the new piston filler models[6]
1946 the company retires the traditional lever filler Extra[7]
1948 the company introduces the Omas 361
1948 the company retires the Omas Extra Pistone in favour of the new Omas 55x
1948 the company introduces the Omas 55x by restyling the Omas Extra Pistone with new versions: ogival (55x/S) and faceted (55x/F)
1950 the company introduces the Omas 35x
1951 the company introduces the Minerva 60 (guess date, stands for the beginning of '50s)
1954 the company start producing the 361 in plastic
1961 the company introduces the Omas VS (lower limit from an advertisement of this year)
1964 the company introduces the Omas CS (lower limit from an advertisement of this year)

External references

  • [1] History section from the dead official website
  • [2] Presentation of some old collections with some history info
  • [3] Article on Duofold like models (no data on the affirmed Parker-Omas relatio)
  • [4] Article with some historic info
  • [5] Article with some historic info

Notes

  1. ↑ in 1922 there is a registration for the Officine Meccaniche di Precisione Simoni Armando.
  2. ↑ there are many pens that are known as made by OMAS on behalf of other companies, often directly derived from Minerva models; between them there are productions for the Ercolessi, the Saratoga or Scotland brands, and perhaps also the Nettuno Superba, there are also attributions to OMAS for the production of some particular models, as the Itala and, almost certainly wrong, the Zerollo, but the only pens marketed directly by the company and appearing in its catalogs are the Minerva ones.
  3. ↑ the exact year is not known, it's only known that it is later than the faceted version.
  4. ↑ as indicated by Letizia Jacopini in her book "The history of the fountain pen in Italy".
  5. ↑ as indicated by Letizia Jacopini in her book "The history of the fountain pen in Italy".
  6. ↑ for this date we referes to what stated by Emilio Dolcini in his book on the company.
  7. ↑ for this date we referes to what stated by Emilio Dolcini in his book on the company.
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