My Omas Clown Car - 3 Arlecchinos

[whichwatch]

When I heard Manu’s plans for his new Armando Simoni Arlecchino 2017, I reserved one on the spot. I picked it up at the recent LA Show, and thought I’d take a few quick pictures to show some differences from the two Omas Arlecchinos I already have.

 

Here is my Omas Clown Car. Left to Right, the Omas Arlecchino from 2002, the far less often seen Paragon model made for the Omas Society Club, and Manu’s new Armando Simoni Arlecchino 2017. Manu’s pen is just a tad shorter than the original Omas.

 

The original Omas pen was a Limited Edition of 750. I do not know how many of the Paragon model were made, as the pens are not numbered. Manu’s new Arlecchino 2017, which has apparently consumed all remaining arlecchino rod stock, is a Limited Edition of 100.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BDA97AC25-723A-4158-9E70-C2901538F6CD%7D/origpict/A1.JPG

 

 

Below you can see the differences in clips and cap bands. The clip on the new AS pen closely resembles the original, other than the logo. The Club Paragon bears the standard roller clip used on Paragons of the time.

 

The 2002 Arlecchino did not have a cap band, although there is a groove in the lower end of the cap. The Club Paragon has the historic triple cap band that was also used in later “Vintage Collection” pieces. The Arlecchino 2017 has a single wide cap band bearing a ring of X’s and the nomenclature “Arlecchino 2-2017”.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B5762149B-2A3C-4DEB-B0F7-7D0A3831BD39%7D/origpict/A2.JPG

 

The piston knob end of the original is unadorned. The Club Paragon model has a rounded or “domed” single gold band, and the 2017 piece has a flat single gold band.

 

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BD7AA294A-60E1-4167-B4F9-23F288BA7A3B%7D/origpict/A3.JPG

 

The two older pieces have 18K gold nibs. The new piece features a 14K “Magic Flex” nib that features very attractive treatment similar to what Manu and Syd Saperstein had done on their Wahl Eversharp Oversize Decobands.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B8F8B9CFA-694C-4B93-A67B-910533C21F7D%7D/origpict/A4.JPG

 

Perhaps the most dramatic difference in the new pen is that Manu has apparently successfully addressed the longstanding issue of stiff and sticky pistons in Omas pens. The blind end cap unscrews to reveal the knob for operating a German piston. The piston operates nice and smoothly. Not quite a Pelikan, but certainly a world better than the original Omas pistons. One minor nit I would pick is that I wish the piston knob were knurled rather than smooth, which would make it easier to grip and turn. However, the piston knob as is does turn easily and I had no trouble operating it.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B92B4F273-D676-4B79-9B82-F84733DA8861%7D/origpict/A5.JPG

 

 

I haven’t written extensively with the pen yet, but my initial experience has been pleasurable. The pen out of the box writes very smoothly, with less feedback than the Omas pens I have used, and there have been many. It writes what I would call a Medium line and does exhibit some flex capability, though certainly not vintage type flex. I was able to get reasonable amounts of line variation with increasing pressure without any hint of railroading. The pen was an absolute pleasure to write with! I believe if you click on the writing sample below it will enlarge quite a bit.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B29F1D11A-20BC-471C-8A5F-72D43131D208%7D/origpict/Image.jpg

 

 

I hope you enjoyed the pictures and my brief photo essay. Thanks for reading!

[sharonspens]

Thank you for sharing this little comparison/retrospective. How nice to see three pens of the same material but handled ever so differently.

 

Enjoy your writing experience!

 

Sharon in Indiana

[mongrelnomad]

Interesting. Your pictures show the pen as far more balanced a design than the initial photos. The details are still not as delicate or successful as the Omases, but it is an attractive pen nonetheless.

 

Is the "German piston" a captive converter? Is the barrel lined?

 

Anyway, enjoy in good health!

[Tinjapan]

Is this not a new Omas pen? Omas is not stamped on the nib?

[whichwatch]

Is this not a new Omas pen? Omas is not stamped on the nib?

 

 

Yes, the pen on the right is a new pen, manufactured in 2017 under the name Armando Simoni using old Omas rod stock. It was produced by Manu (Emmanuel Caltagirone) who purchased the Omas inventory after they ceased production.

[youstruckgold]

Thank you so much for this review. In your photos the celluloid of the new pen seems not to have the same warmth as the other two. Is that just the photo?

[whichwatch]

Thank you so much for this review. In your photos the celluloid of the new pen seems not to have the same warmth as the other two. Is that just the photo?

 

 

Unfortunately, it is not just the photo. The colors on the new Arlecchino, especially the orange, are not as vibrant. I am not sure why this is, as Manu says the pens were made from old Omas rod stock. I plan to ask him when I see him at the Chicago Pen Show in two weeks.

[juandv9307]

do you guys think 466 usd for the armando simoni arlecchino version is a good price?

[ralfstc]

The new one really does look like a different colour(s). I wonder if the celluloid darkens as it ages? If not, I find it slightly unusual that these are all from the same stock.

[markh]

 

 

 

The two older pieces have 18K gold nibs. The new piece features a 14K “Magic Flex” nib that features very attractive treatment similar to what Manu and Syd Saperstein had done on their Wahl Eversharp Oversize Decobands.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B8F8B9CFA-694C-4B93-A67B-910533C21F7D%7D/origpict/A4.JPG

 

 

 

It might just be an artifact of how the picture came out - my original Arlecchino has a gold nib, no plating. The nib in the picture appears plated with white metal.

 

 

 

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