THE REAL OMAS NIB

The manufacture of an OMAS nib began with the melting of the basic materials in the crucible: gold, copper, silver. There were many different recipes for this alloy used to create the different types of nibs. Perhaps most surprisingly, this process consists of a production cycle of 32 phases, and this number is only surpassed only by the manufacturing of the Extra Lucens two-tone arrow nib and that of the 361.

For pen afficionados, you might find the welding of the iridium tip to be particularly fascinating because it required a special and unusual step.

First a very thin square of pure gold, twice the size of the tip, was placed on a sheet of asbestos, while the iridium (an irregular flake) was then positioned with tweezers on the gold. Next, the operator melted the gold with the iridium tip at the center using a flame powered by a pedaloperated bellows and then immediately welded it onto the tip of the nib.

This “preparatory phase” was actually the tenth step of the work cycle and, although expensive, it was essential to cover and protect the essential iridium so that it would not be damaged during subsequent operations.

The skills and experience of expert craftsmen assigned to this delicate operation would ensure that the nib would slide effortlessly on the paper and with maximum speed.

Therefore, the next step would be for the craftsman to grind the gold that protected the iridium into a perfectly round ball and then transform the iridium flake into the perfect writing surface.

Incredibly, these nibs would then be tested on the worker’s neck, in a specific location which can detect any irregularities. No paper test could be more precise or accurate in pinpointing any areas of concern.

And as a final check, it is said that Mr. Simoni personally tested all the nibs. Legend or not, the stone used for the nib control always lived on his office desk, symbolizing that the nib, of all parts of the fountain pen, received the utmost attention.

Not surprisingly, the equipment and machinery used in these and other processes were all designed and built inhouse by OMAS. The result of this painstaking process was the exceptional flexibility for which Omas has become famous throughout the world.