I recently acquired a Queensway pen of a similar style to a Parker 45 and have found that it refuses to write other than by dipping the nib in ink. I fitted it with an international cartridge, though I am unsure if this is the correct one. I have tried all the methods to encourage it to work, but the ink refuses to flow.I am now toying with pulling the nib(if only I knew how) to see if the feed is blocked, as soaking it overnight in water has seen no improvement. Any more ideas or advice would be appreciated.

Try giving the cartridge a gentle squeeze (while you have it in the pen) until you see ink at the nib. Then try to write with it. Almost like "priming" it.

Ink doesn't seem to get to the nib, despite trying your suggestion, as well as shaking, tapping and soaking. But I thank you for your input.

Can your pen use a converter? If so, using the converter, and filling it from a bottle, might be more effective than a cartridge. When you fill from a bottle, you wet the entire ink channel from the tip of the nib all the way back to the nipple, and make it much easier for the ink to start flowing.

Hold the section (sans cartridge) over the kitchen sink, run a little water into it, then try to blow the water through. It should drip rapidly from the nib. If it does, you're still in business. If it doesn't, you have a clogged feed / section.

I don't know if there is a converter available for this pen, but I don't have one at present. The cartridge looks like it has been used over and over again, possibly having been refilled using a syringe. The cartridge contains a small ball-bearing, something I haven't seen before and am unsure of its purpose.

Having tried this, I found the water comes out via the nib, so it seems the feed may not be blocked after all...the mystery deepens.

The bead rolls around in the cartridge to break up surface tension of bubbles that may form. The Platinum Preppy that I have has a Ball bearing in, and I too wondered what the purpose was till I read a post by Dillo that stated the purpose of the bead.

What ink are you using with it this pen? Odd that water seems to flow through the pen, but ink doesn't.

Actually I have a pen that is doing the same thing, Are you sure the tines aren't squeezed too close together? the dripping water may be flowing from between the nib and the feeder/manifold, but the space between the tines is too tight for you to get any capillary action from the manifold/feeder to the tip of the nib to get proper ink flow. you can try spreading the tines with brass shims.

That is what I think is going on with my pen. but I'm a newbie to these FP's..................

Some options:

Use a rubber bulb syringe, cut to the appropriate size, to flush out the feed/nib. Simply insert the nozzle of the syringe into the section and push water through. You can also try pulling water through the nib/feed with this method. You can apply more pressure and volume than with a converter.

Use a mixture of 1 part household ammonia (non-sudsing) to 10 parts water to do the flushing. Let the nib/feed soak with the solution for an hour or so and then try flushing. If you get any ink out, you're in business.

You might try an ink cleaner such as Koh-i-Nor (sp?) This will help if ink with a non-water base has been used in the pen.

"Floss" the nib with a very thin brass shim - I believe Richard's site references this technique. I often find it necessary with vintage pens.

If you have access to an Ultra Sonic Cleaner - give it a go in that (the nib/feed/section)

If all else fails, by a Pelikan 200!

It may be that the gap between the tines is the problem. Brass shims seem a bit technical, and are proving hard to source locally. I have heard of other methods of cleaning this gap of old ink deposits. One such method involved the use of photographic negative film pushed in between the tines at the nib point. Another, was the use of a razor blade to do the same, this of course involves a certain risk..but hey I'm an adult...and am capable of exercising due care.

The razor blade is too thick for normal flossing/cleaning so do use a great deal of caution that you don't snap off the tipping material. You may also have a problem with the feed setting too far from the nib's under surface. This can be fixed but it requires careful use of heat.

Good Luck.