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Thread: Conway Stewart 330 Ink flow problem - Wrong feed?

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    Senior Member Yazeh's Avatar
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    Default Conway Stewart 330 Ink flow problem - Wrong feed?

    My first vintage pen was a Conway Stewart 330 with an oblique nib. It's my best vintage pen yet.
    It write beautifully. However, since I've been using a dry iron gall ink it writes for one half a page and then it stops. I need to prime the feed or hold it nib side down in my pocket,
    and then I'm good for another page and a half.
    Ironically when writing with the pen you wouldn't know it's a dry ink.

    When taking photos I noticed there's a distance between the feed and the section (3rd an 4th photos)

    In my early days, I had an OCD habit of removing the feeds and nibs of my vintage pens when changing the ink.
    I was later told that's the worst thing I can do.

    Question: is it possible that I may have put by mistake a Waterman W2 feed instead of the original Conway or is it right feed and it's an ink problem?

    Thanks in advance....
    Conway.jpg
    Conway1.jpg
    CM210216-085848003.jpg
    Conway Stewart.jpg

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    Senior Member eachan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Conway Stewart 330 Ink flow problem - Wrong feed?

    I don't think you have swapped feeds. I don't have either of the pens you mention but looking at other Conway Stewart and Waterman pens of the same periods, I think that's a Conway Stewart feed that you show. There is a similarity, of course, but the shape seems CS to me.

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    Yazeh (March 2nd, 2021)

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    Senior Member mizgeorge's Avatar
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    Default Re: Conway Stewart 330 Ink flow problem - Wrong feed?

    I've just looked at my W2 and W5. The W2 is a completely different shape, and my W5 is finned. Your feed looks like my CS pens of the same era (I can't find my 330, which I think is at the bottom of my 'needs attention' box) but I found a couple of others.

    But, the feed and nib don't look like they're perfectly aligned. Without seeing a picture from the back, it's hard to judge the height, but 3 and 4 would suggest it's a bit off centre, and I wouldn't expect to be seeing quite so much nib above the feed - though again, it's hard to tell without seeing it straight on.

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    Yazeh (March 3rd, 2021)

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    Senior Member Yazeh's Avatar
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    Default Re: Conway Stewart 330 Ink flow problem - Wrong feed?

    Thanks eachan and mizgeorge for your comments. I tried taking some photos of the feed, see if it helps, otherwise I'll try taking photos tomorrow morning.
    CM210302-212806005.jpg

    CM210302-212654003.jpg

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    Default Re: Conway Stewart 330 Ink flow problem - Wrong feed?

    Feed's set too deep, methinks.
    In the words of Paul Simon, you can call me Al.

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    Yazeh (March 3rd, 2021)

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    Default Re: Conway Stewart 330 Ink flow problem - Wrong feed?

    Quote Originally Posted by grainweevil View Post
    Feed's set too deep, methinks.
    Yes, I agree.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Senior Member mizgeorge's Avatar
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    Default Re: Conway Stewart 330 Ink flow problem - Wrong feed?

    Quote Originally Posted by Chrissy View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by grainweevil View Post
    Feed's set too deep, methinks.
    Yes, I agree.
    As do I

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    Yazeh (March 3rd, 2021)

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    Default Re: Conway Stewart 330 Ink flow problem - Wrong feed?

    Thank you ladies. Much appreciated.
    The nib is quite small, hence my pushing it all the way in. I'll pull the feed out and rearrange it and see how it works.

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    Senior Member mizgeorge's Avatar
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    Default Re: Conway Stewart 330 Ink flow problem - Wrong feed?

    Quote Originally Posted by Yazeh View Post
    Thank you ladies. Much appreciated.
    The nib is quite small, hence my pushing it all the way in. I'll pull the feed out and rearrange it and see how it works.
    It's not just that it's too deep - it's the depth in relation to the nib - I think there's just a bit too much 'bare' metal there. You need to set the feed to the nib as accurately as you can and then push them in together, keeping just enough clearance.

    This is the same pen (though obviously a narrower nib)

    cs330-set.jpg

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    Yazeh (March 3rd, 2021)

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    Default Re: Conway Stewart 330 Ink flow problem - Wrong feed?

    Thanks a lot mizgeorge. THat's so helpful. I got it. And corrected it. Thanks

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    Senior Member mizgeorge's Avatar
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    Default Re: Conway Stewart 330 Ink flow problem - Wrong feed?

    You're so welcome - I find smaller nibs can be very sensitive to where they're placed on the feed. I hope it does the trick for you!

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    Default Re: Conway Stewart 330 Ink flow problem - Wrong feed?


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    Senior Member Yazeh's Avatar
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    Default Re: Conway Stewart 330 Ink flow problem - Wrong feed?

    It seems I need to make it even shorter

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    Senior Member Yazeh's Avatar
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    Default Re: Conway Stewart 330 Ink flow problem - Wrong feed?

    Did another adjust see if it's better?/

    CM210303-152324005.jpg

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    Senior Member mizgeorge's Avatar
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    Default Re: Conway Stewart 330 Ink flow problem - Wrong feed?

    LOL, I think you might have gone a bit too far with that last version. I never think the feed should overlap the nib at the sides, just more or less line up. So your penultimate picture looks about right - certainly within a mm or so.

    It's one of the reasons not to remove vintage nibs and feeds unless you really need to. I blame the whole Noodlers/TWSBI thing about tinkering endlessly. Fine for modern, semi-disposable pens, but not these old ladies.

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    Yazeh (March 3rd, 2021)

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    Default Re: Conway Stewart 330 Ink flow problem - Wrong feed?

    Ok. Thanks.. Back to the original...
    Before, I was too lazy to clean the pen. It's always easier when you pull the feed and nib...I got bored pulling up and down the level filler.
    Now days, I do it a several times until there's seemingly no ink. Then I feel the pen with water, nib side up. And empty it one in a while until it's clear.
    I feel vintage ladies are low maintenance when they're matched for life with one ink, they like fidelity

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    Senior Member mizgeorge's Avatar
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    Default Re: Conway Stewart 330 Ink flow problem - Wrong feed?

    Quote Originally Posted by Yazeh View Post
    Ok. Thanks.. Back to the original...
    Before, I was too lazy to clean the pen. It's always easier when you pull the feed and nib...I got bored pulling up and down the level filler.
    Now days, I do it a several times until there's seemingly no ink. Then I feel the pen with water, nib side up. And empty it one in a while until it's clear.
    I feel vintage ladies are low maintenance when they're matched for life with one ink, they like fidelity
    I think applies to many of the semi-vintage amongst us as well

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    Senior Member Yazeh's Avatar
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    Default Re: Conway Stewart 330 Ink flow problem - Wrong feed?

    Quote Originally Posted by mizgeorge View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Yazeh View Post
    Ok. Thanks.. Back to the original...
    Before, I was too lazy to clean the pen. It's always easier when you pull the feed and nib...I got bored pulling up and down the level filler.
    Now days, I do it a several times until there's seemingly no ink. Then I feel the pen with water, nib side up. And empty it one in a while until it's clear.
    I feel vintage ladies are low maintenance when they're matched for life with one ink, they like fidelity
    I think applies to many of the semi-vintage amongst us as well
    Hear, hear. When one settles down with significant other and inks.... there's a sense of peace, which is priceless

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