Scribo is rapidly becoming my favorite pen maker. For those who aren’t aware, when Omas closed its doors (and then was resurrected as a shoddy zombie by the vultures at The Pen Family), several of the original Omas folks along with the nib machines were reborn as Scribo, a delightful boutique pen company in the heart of Bologna. You can tell a ton of care is put into these pens, with great quality control, exceptional nibs, and wonderful customer service. When I saw this La Dotta, with its piston fill and deliciously wet and luscious flex nib, that they sent to Yamanaka Onsen (a town near and dear to my heart) to be painted by master urushi artist Shimizu-san, my will failed me and an email was sent. Big ups to Stefano at Stilograph Corsani in Italy for being a primo penabler.
Let’s remember that Omas was badly corrupted long before The Pen Family, when it was sold to become part of the luxury brand LVMH, with terrible redesigns and shoddy quality. Purchased in 2000, destroyed by 2015.
The pen is lovely!
Yes, good point! The golden years of Omas are getting further and further behind us. But dang did they make some great pens!
For a long time! One positive is that Omas’ near death did spawn several new pen makers with new quality designs, such as Scribo.
One thing I really miss from the OMAS times that these newer pen companies such as Scribo don't seem to have are the smaller pen sizes, like the 555 or Dama. But looking around on the wider internet I'm sure I must be in the minority as larger pen sizes are the norm and even Pelikan's m200/400 are now considered small. 🥲 At least there are still lots of vintage pens in the sizes I prefer.
If you think the Pelikan 200/400 is small, you should check out the 300. No longer available, but it's TINY!
I remember those, I always thought they looked adorable. Would love to get one too if the right opportunity presents itself.
It's so strange to me, though, that what were once standard sizes (m200/400) are now considered small. 😅 I've seen so many comments here on reddit etc that the m200/400 size is too small to hold/write comfortably with, yet back in the day many must have used them as daily writing instruments.
I think it's just fashion. Big pens are popular right now, and they're what people are getting used to, so anything "normal sized" feels too small in comparison.
I personally have big hands so King of Pen / M1000 is "normal" size to me. I kind of wish I could get along with smaller pens as I've owned, but ended up selling, some really fantastic pens (especially vintage) due to them being too small for me.
I have a couple of Dama I’m getting ready to sell, a bronze arco and the titanium T2. Aurora made a tiny Optima, don’t know if they still do but I’ve got one. All very neat pens and perfectly usable.
Good to know about the little Optima. 👀 And good luck with your sale! I’ve looked at the reddit pen swap a few times but the majority of posts seem to be US only — understandable, but of little relevance to me.
I forgot about the adorable Delta! Fat little sucker with a full size nib that is huge on this pen. And the modern Pelikan 100s fit into this category but are a little bigger.
https://preview.redd.it/2qq8osxdgg6g1.jpeg?width=3784&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f1ff692e22da4bebcfab8ea49be6d3a895a74ad4
Wow, that must be a chubby pen! Shorter than the Dama but so much thicker. 😂 Is the rightmost the Pelikan 101(n)? It looks big in comparison, until I remember how small the Damas actually are. 😂 They’re all beautiful pens you have there.
I couldn’t afford the full sized versions back then and the Arco in particular fulfilled a grail goal.
Delta has a 1.1 stub and the 101N (thanks, I’d have to dig up the box to know) shows how big the Delta’s nib looks in comparison
Ah, I have a brown arco ringtop for a similar reason. Though if I recall correctly the store only had that one brown arco (it had been sitting there for years before I saw it) though numerous other beautiful celluloids, so I didn’t have much choice if I wanted arco. 😂 I do like the small size so it worked out well in the end.
The 400 is my daily writer and has been for many, many years. I just had this conversation with the Pelikan distributor at a pen show. 800? 1000? I’m taking notes not signing a treaty!
🤣 I find the 400 size fits my hand perfectly too (I use it unposted). Haven’t tried the 800 or 1000, in addition to the size the extra weight from the brass piston is also a little intimidating.
This is one reason I adore this group: the background scoop on the brands. Without you all I would be lost in a fog. 🤍
They look beautiful, and I'm sure they write very very well, but the price is just too much for me. I understand WHY it's so high and (small company, great materials, made in a country with high wages relative to much of the world, a lot of handmaking in the process) and don't hold it against them, but I just can't pull the trigger and get one myself.
Totally get that.
I’m sorry but your headline is hilarious. I would reverse those two countries for my ideal. But it looks like a great pen.
gorgeous
One of my favorite pens of the past year, truly something special.
Absolutely stunning
Goldspot in the US carries them.
I’d like to see more photos of this.
https://preview.redd.it/00wn4nacaa6g1.jpeg?width=3730&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0d1023fcb1f06a9af0b7f0cda2fc80888ef17776
https://preview.redd.it/udfq9898aa6g1.jpeg?width=5464&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5ad00ae0b2481fe4fdf16315727fab1d8a0e8a11
I love Scribo! I’m planning on ordering one soon. Your pen is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing it with us.
They make an amazing pen!
Beautiful!
I held this pen at the Malaysia Pen Show and was told it was just before it would be released. It was my favourite of the show. The urushi laquer is exquisite. And personally inscribed by the lacquer artist too from Yamanaka onsen. Congratulations!
I've been admiring this brand for a while. The price, however.
Yes the prices are quite steep, especially for the resin pens.
Thanks for sharing! I just ordered a Scribo a couple of days ago, so it’s great to see yours and hear the backstory.
Wow - what a gorgeous pen!
Gorgeous!!
That sounds amazing a perfect blend of Italian design and Japanese minimalism, must write beautifully!
I would prefer the inverse
this lol, italian pens and longevity are inverse relation sadly
Beautiful u
🤤 I’ve been eyeing Scribo for a while - glad to hear they’re as cool as I think they are! How would you rate the nib in terms of stiffness/bounciness?
It’s an EF flex, would say it feels like a vintage semi-flex nib - not mushy soft like the Pilot Custom Urushi, but rather has that wonderful snap back to it. Firm enough to write normally with.
What a beauty! This model is definitely on my wishlist.
It sure does get better than this!
https://www.scritturabolognese.com/en/negozio/fountain-pens/la-dotta-en/bamboo-numbered-edition-2/
Nooo do not mention that pen!! I had to pass on it 😩
is it a true piston filler or a captured converter?
I believe it’s a true piston
Beautiful pen but not a fan of Scribe nibs .
Replace Italian with German and that's pretty much my wife.
I like the Piuma. But paying so much money for a resin pen...
At that price Id rather pay a little more for a Homosapiens.