For the first time, My Life As a Verb has a guest blog entry. Thank you, Karlo. <3
![Omas 557-F Omas 557-F](http://www.leighreyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/omas557f-full-600x450.jpg)
Leigh has an Omas 556/S that needs no help from Marol to look slick. It exudes cool like Gianni Agnelli in a bespoke Caraceni. The 50s Italian Fine moves better than Jagger, laying down hairline curves with ease and dishing out flourish when the crowd wants satisfaction.
So Leigh was more than a little interested when I told her that the 556 had a bigger brother from the same era: the 557.
Soon enough, a package arrives from the land of Vespas, San Pellegrino and talking hands. Â Ensconced in bubble wrap was a black faceted Omas in the size of the vintage Paragons, its pedigree stamped on one barrel flat.
![Omas 557-F, barrel stamp Omas 557-F, barrel stamp](http://www.leighreyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/omas557-fcup-600x450.jpg)
The character marks hinted at the age of the pen but none of its scars were beyond skin deep. The two-toned nib carried the classic arrow engraving and the cut of its shoulders suggested some softness. So with the greatest hopes, the pen was inked.
And failed.
![Omas 557-F, nib Omas 557-F, nib](http://www.leighreyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/omas557f-nib-600x450.jpg)
Cross strokes were faint and downstrokes required biro-like pressure. No decent pen, let alone an Omas, required a heavy hand to write. So I asked if I could take a crack at this pen.
The culprit was an unevenly cut slit. Like a lot of vintage nibs, this one was probably cut by hand. On a Wednesday.
![Omas 557-F, nib side view Omas 557-F, nib side view](http://www.leighreyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/omas557f-nibside-600x456.jpg)
Several dips in an ultrasonic cleaner, some tine alignment work plus a few passes with ultrafine abrasives brought the pen back to life.
The nib still has a few quirks as sprezzatura demands. But like an angled fedora or an offset pocket square, it works just fine.
![Writing sample Writing sample](http://www.leighreyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/omas557f-writingsample-600x798.jpg)
Back to Leigh:
This Omas 557-F is a Paragon from the 80s, based on the faceted clip and the number on the barrel. Ah, Italy in the 80s.
![From Vogue Italia September 1984 From Vogue Italia September 1984](http://www.leighreyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/tumblr_m6pinh8zf31qfd40no1_1280.jpg)