STOP..............
.... The Empress fountain pen is an exception! Yes it takes the standard cartridge with regards to the aperture to fit the cartridge but most standard cartridges will not fit through the bore into the barrell of the pen. They will go in with a bit of persuasion but when they run out and the cusomer unscres the nib holder to extract the old cartridge, it will leave the cartridge stuck in the pen! - This is why Timberbits only sell the rollerball version, of the Spring Blossom, the same pen as the Axminster Empress.
There are around 19 manufacturers of the standard cartridge available in the UK and the body dimensions of the cartridges vary. The cartridges from Smiths and Staples wont fit these pens they are too fat, Diamine cartridges, amongst others, will fit. The reason Axminster are specific about the cartridges being for Empress Pens is because they know of this problem but havent come clean with the issue, which is a disingenuous of them to say the least - poor practice Axminster, and yes you know all about this because I amongst others have told you so and you did virtually nothing!!
