Old olympos new Olympos

I had heard some talk that some of the "new" old stock, might in fact be factory seconds that weren't up to scratch, but hadn't been destroyed?? Who knows. Wish I remembered where I saw that, but when Frank was selling them, I was doing some research to see if it was worth trying to save up for one. Poor finish wouldnt bother me, especially if the price is right, but the softness of parts and poor performance comments in the debate put me off.

As with anything else there are also probably fakes out there muddying the water.

I would love to try an Olympos from the era it was at its best. Maybe people who are buying them now have expectations that are too high, but my own research (including being advised directly not to bother by someone who's opinion comes with a lot of experience) came to the conclusion that there has been a fair bit of disappointment compared to when they were THE brush back in the day.
 
Perfect timing!!! Look what the mail man just brought me...

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It is an "old" Olympos HP-100c

It is just like my classic Iwata HP-C

Much heftier in hand than my MP-200c's.

This will be my third Olympos. I already cleaned & lubed it. About to do a test run :)
 
I would love to try an Olympos from the era it was at its best.

From my own experience, I would say that the closest I have used to my original Olympos Mp200B (mid 80's vintage) is a new Iwata Micron CM-Bv2. They are very close, with the Iwata being a bit heavier in the hand. I prefer the trigger position of the old Olympos - Overall, I would say that I find the Mp200B (again, mid 80's vintage) to be just a little easier to use, especially if painting small details for long periods of time... For some reason, I just don't get the same feeling out of the Iwata... Still, I think the Iwata is an awesome brush, though
 
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Here it is next to its Iwata counterpart for comparison.

They are so close, even the finishes are the same. The font for the word "Japan" is identical on both brushes. It's a conspiracy
 
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I found a difference. The spring in the old Olympos has a different spring than my CM-C+ V2 and the MP-200c. The Olympos Micron & Iwata Micron have the same spring. The old Olympos HP-100C spring has more coils & is much softer. Almost spongy. I tried it in my CM-C+ and I didn't take it back out! It is way better.
 
You are right, they (Olympos) are no longer being manufactured - but, the cease in manufacturing is much more recent than not. If you never had an Olympos Micron from the mid 80's, then I would suggest that you have nothing to base your statement on - comparing old to new, other than opinion. Having had a mid-80's vintage Micron, I can assure you they are not what you get when you purchase today. The SP model they are hyping as the best illustration airbrush of all time didn't exist back in the 80's, or even 90's, the L3 head system is newer tech, but you seem claim it is the same as the old stock? Maybe with time travel :).

It is fine to have your opinion, and you are welcome to it. Just as those who feel that the Olympos Micron is not what it once used to be are welcome to have their own opinion.

From this message and further you seem like developing your own theory on Olympos airbrushes production based on your opinion. There’s not much information on the web about the company to say exactly what was and where. FB page is not company’s profile. How something not existing these days could have working web page? It’s a page created buy a company selling airbrushes that are not produced any longer and as it’s stated that will not be produced in future.
Concerning SP and also C model cup shape I could say that you are mistaken.
You can see Olympos commercials right in the first Airbrush Action issues on the very first pages. The magazine exists since 1985. All the ads are from 85-86 years issues. There are also other Olympos ads in other further issues.
Here are the scans which show that shape of C-200 micron is the same today and also you can see on that very page SP-A model, which existed at the same time as Olympos microns models did.

I’ve got some microns from Olympos and they have the same body shape as they had 30 years ago, you can see it on the photos. Can’t say about the quality or the performance, as I have what I have and can not compare them to other Olympos microns (bought back in 80s’). I don’t know when actually mine were produced, maybe also in 80s’ I can’t say it.
But definitely all Olymposes I have, come with rubber needle packing. Question: when Japanese airbrushes begin to come with teflon packing? I think that Olymposes that are sold now were produced before that date, as there’s no use for all Japanese airbrushes produced at one factory to be produced differently. Now all Japanese airbrushes come with the teflon needle packing.
Modern Japanese airbrushes have better outer finish of the bodies that speaks for that Olymposes were produced when the technology of the factory in the past couldn’t give such a quality finish as these days.
I’ve got one Iwata over ten years old that has better polished body before the plating than all my Olymposes have, so it’s possible to say that Olympos production was at least before the date mine Iwata was produced. Again, there no use to produce airbrushes at one factory of different quality, moreover that Olympos company invested in factory develompent, saying this they’d rather have the best possible finish that the factory technology could give then, than something else.
I think, but it’s only mine opinoin based on above said observations, that Olympos stopped its production before Iwata started producing new High Performance Plus series. It’s possible to find that date.
Concerning internal parts they have the same quality at least from appearance. Modern Iwata has a bit better machined air nozzles from my observation, to say exactly – center hole. It’s not strange as the technology develops. But threads and shapes of the air nozzles are identical of both brands.
You can see now on Olympos sales site, they have in stock one item where C200 comes in plastic box with an extra head as it was many years ago, as you state ”old Olympos” had.

I hope this clears up some issues.


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Perfect timing!!! Look what the mail man just brought me...

Congrats!:thumbsup:
Is this the one from e-bay with the description "sprays like magic". I've seen this recently among lots for Olympos ABs there.

Here it is next to its Iwata counterpart for comparison.

They are so close, even the finishes are the same. The font for the word "Japan" is identical on both brushes. It's a conspiracy

Could you take a picture of both disassembled airbrushes and post it here?
Main bodies look identical from the photo.
 
Thanks, Vladimir - for the information. As you say, info on the internet is kind of scarce.

As I stated before, I was not 100% on any of the info, but that was my best guess on info I did have. The store I purchased my first Olympos from is listed in one of those adds :), and is long since gone. I can remember seeing it boarded up :cry: before I left South Florida in the mid 90's... Back in those days the only reference to them was the print catalog the store ordered from, and all I ever saw pictured were the A, an B cup on the Micron. This was I believe in 1987 or 88, and at that time the importer was Iwata-Medea - at least that was the information that came with the brush.

Also, as side note: The pre-set handles that are now standard on the HP-Plus series of brushes, was available as an add on option for the HP line of Iwata Brushes. They came with regular, tapered handles, except for the "c" which had a straight handle. I do remember seeing advertising for the brushes then being sold with the pre-set handles, albeit through another store that is no longer in business, Pearl Art... early 90's maybe?
 
Congrats!:thumbsup:
Is this the one from e-bay with the description "sprays like magic". I've seen this recently among lots for Olympos ABs there.



Could you take a picture of both disassembled airbrushes and post it here?
Main bodies look identical from the photo.

The eBay seller was a pawn shop. It shows signs of use but I'm happy to have it :)


Here are the parts breakdown:


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From all appearances the parts seem identical. Even the nozzles:

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Although the parts look identical, I did notice something. The auxiliary lever on the Olympos sticks up higher than on the Iwata:

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The auxiliary lever must sit in the body differently on the two brushes. This must affect the contact point where it meets the trigger, and I would imagine that it must change the leverage.

Like I mentioned in my previous post, the Olympos spring has more coils & is softer. With a soft spring & smoother trigger action I can see why people preferred the feel of the Olympos over the Iwata.
 
Thank you for the photos!:thumbsup:
It looks like these models were produced at the same time.
Are the paint nozzles interchangeable? B models' are and I wonder what is the situation with C models.
 
Thank you for the photos!:thumbsup:
It looks like these models were produced at the same time.
Are the paint nozzles interchangeable? B models' are and I wonder what is the situation with C models.

I have never removed a screw in nozzle. The only time I ever would is if I had to replace a broken one.
 
Sorry, but how can you tell that just from a picture? Same blueprints, yes, same manufacture line, maybe, but same time?

Because it's expensive to produce different models at the time when production is adjusted for certain operations. Switching and adjusting machines between operations takes time, time is money. And if smth is changed at the factory it concerns other models and brands. Olympos, Iwata, Creos, Tamiya,.. and other AB brands are (were) produced at one factory. Now all AB bodies from there have the same well done finish and the same lettering done using the same technology. And ABs produced at one time have many similar features.
Here you can see how another Japanese brand looks. Can you tell much difference with HP-C+? I can't. But I'm wrong, there's a difference in brand and model name:)

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As much as I would like to know if the nozzle threads are the same, I really don't want to risk messing anything up.
 
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