Pens of Note - OMAS 360

In 1925, Armando Simoni establishes OMAS (Officina Meccanica Armando Simoni) in Bologna, Italy guided by his principle: A pen should be a tool to spread culture.

 

In 1996, OMAS released an innovative pen, the OMAS 360. Some described the release of this pen as being OMAS's last major innovative design. Unfortunately, the company closed within a decade so there was no runway to see what else could be created. The 360 became an iconic OMAS pen and continued in production right up to the time of company closed.

Italian architect and designer, Stefano Bini, designed the pen. He choose the triangular shape to enhance the correct position of the fingers when holding the pen and writing. This was a significant departure from the traditional cylindrical shape of pens. The design supports an even weight distribution on all sides and the correct nib angle to the paper. The triangular shape, "the Reuleaux triangle", is a shape of constant width but has curved sides. The equilateral triangle with three angular sides, each at a slant of 60 degress each - thus the name 360. A Reuleaux triangle (names after Franz Reuleaux, a German mechanical engineer, is a shape formed when three circular arcs intersect. The curve is of a constant width, with the distane between any two parallel lines always the same.

OMAS was not the only company to create a pen that guides the user on how to hold the pen. The Parker 73 has a nib section with a slight triangular shape. Others like Lamy have a similar approach. What sets the OMAS 360 out front is the degree of design and function.

The OMAS 360 is a big pen, although OMAS later released smaller versions such as the Mezzo. The length of the pen capped is 150 mm (5.9"), uncapped 132 mm (5.2"), posted 180 mm (7.1").

The body and cap if the regular360 line and the 360 Mezzo are made from cotton resin. There were some specific models such as the Burkina or royal blue which were made of celluloid. And later a line made from polished Titanium.

The regulare size 360 uses a piston filling ink system holding 1.5 cc of ink. The slightly smaller 360 Mezzo uses a cartidge filling. There are variations, one of my regular 360 also has a cartiridge system with a unique holding rack for two cartidges known as the Advanced Cartridge System (ACS).

The pens can in a variety of nibs: Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, Double Broad, Oblique Medium, OMD, OBD, OBBD. The clip on the pen is gold-plated phosphorous bronze. High Tech (HT) line was later issued with a silver tone rhodium clip. The bands of the 360 are rolled 18 k gold.

Some the the model variations include:

• magnum 360, cotton resin,
• regular 360, cotton resin,
• Mezzo 360, cotton resin,
• regular 360, vintage, transparent cotton resin,
• Burgina, 360, celluloid,
• regular 360, royal blue, celluloid
• regular 360, titanium

Marco, of Novell Pen in Rome, a number of years ago posted on the fountainpennetwork.com about his understanding of why OMAS created the 360. During the 1990s OMAS was receiving some pens to be repaired because the owners said they did not write properly. After checking the pens, Miss Malaguit of OMAS realized that most of them were being used improperly as owners were holding the pen in the wrong way. She she decided to produce a pen that can be handled only in the proper way, and as a result, there would only a good performing pen. The challenge was to use a round piston in a triangular section.

In 1996 OMAS released the 360 Regular Size model, and in 2003, the company released the Mezzo, a smaller pen that was cartridge filled. The pens were made from cotton resign, and are known for the bright colours.

Magnum 360

I recently acquired the magnum 360 in blue/black cotton resin in the original line design. A wonderful pen. The "grand daddy" of the 360 line from my perspective. The 360 Magnum is a very large pen. Closed it is 6.25" inches in length. With the cap off, the pen runs a beautiful 5.5" in your hand from the nib to end. And if you write with the cap posted, this pen sits in your hand with just over 7.25". The shape of the pen, however, sits securely on the desk so there is no fear of this pen rolling off the desk onto the floor. It is not that common for me to select medium nibs. I lead to Broads or Stubs. My 360 Magnum pen is one of the largest pens in my collection and a very smooth writer. The pen is fitted with an 18 kt gold Broad nib.

I believe the 360 clip is one of of the top clip designs. So simple, so sleek, so elegant. There is a slight narrowing progressing from the top to the botton with a widening at the base. The clip offers enough holding power in a shirt pocket to sit securely in the pocket, In 2007 a new 360 Line was introduced. OMAS again used a relatively clean clip, however, I do not feel it has the same visual draw of the original clip design.

The 360 line is a one that user's either love or not. For the OMAS pens prior to 2007, the nib section is also a triangle-shape - that was the purpose of the design. This means you can only hold the pen in one way. I think it is the correct angle of the nib to the paper. Some, however, like the freedom to be able to rotate the pen to their individual liking. The pens produced after 2007 addressed this as the nib section is more rounded.

On the new 2007 line of 360's the nib section transitions from a triangle to a round shape. This is similar to the Waterman Exception line. The round shape gives move flexibility in terms of how one can hold the pen, however, I must say I really enjoy the classic shape and its works fine for my hand.

The new redesigned 360 (2007) also has an angled top to the cap so that the new "O" for OMAS, a design feature of all the new lines, can be utilized. For symmetry the cap top and the end of the pen body have similar shapes.

The Nib

OMAS pens are known for their nibs. While the OMAS nibs were made by the German nib maker BOCK, there was a dedicated machine in the factory that was only used to produce OMAS nibs. (See SCRIBO, a line released after OMAS closed, the company that acquired the OMAS nib machine at BOCK.) The gold nibs sit on an ebonite feed. Ebonite is a material that creates the best nib feeds. The material when heated is soft and flexible. The fitting of the nib to the feed has the most options. Ebonite is also a bit porous and ink remains on the feed, and I think it creates a better flow than plastic-based feeds.

Ink Filling Mechanism

The original 360s have a piston fill mechanism and when filled the pen holds a good supply of ink. When I was working, I could fill my pen in the morning and write for the better part of the day. The new 360 line (2007) went to a cartridge/converter fill system that had both a negative and positive aspect. Negative in that the pen did not hold as much ink, although it is a cleaner, easier process to use a piston mechanism to fill the pen. But, I must say it was handy when at a conference, and I did not want to carry around an ink bottle. All I needed was a few cartridges with me for an easy on the spot fill.

The Overall Look

The regular 360 is simple elegance. The new 360s, had an updated appearance. I particularly like the stylish 360 band at the base of the cap. Although I do like it, in a way I miss the classic OMAS 360 style. I made that point to the President of OMAS when I visited their factory. The response, "move on, products have to change to be current".

I accepted his comments, and then noted that in December 2010 OMAS issued the Erasmus Mundus C.L.E. (Certified Limited Edition), creating 1950 pieces. This pen is in the classic 360 design with the beautiful clip and full triangular body and nib section along with the geek band at the base of the nib section. Back to the classics!

OMAS 360 Advancec Cartridge System (ACS)

Many years ago I was able to acquire the original OMAS 360 pen, but one fitted with the Advanced Cartridge Sysem (ACS). This is a metal cage that holds two international sized ink cartridges. To access the cartridge system, turn what would be the piston knob at the end of the pen. When unscrewed, pull out a cage that holds two ink cartridges. Handy as it means you are always carrying two with the pen. Screw back in to write with the pen. I have hardly used the pen as I link filling my pens from an ink bottle, but it is nevertheless, a unique model to own.