Fountain Pen Hospital and the End of an Era

The Wiederlight brothers have sold their business to The Pen Family, marking the most significant change this landmark shop has ever seen.

- BARRY GABAY

Some things change; some remain the same. Fountain Pen Hospital (FPH), founded in 1946 and located in lower Manhattan's government-financial district, has been owned by the Wiederlight family since its inception. There have been three locations all in the same neighborhood while the business has undergone various incarnations: fountain pen repair and sales, general office products, and a return to its roots 40 years ago with the revival of hand-held writing instruments. FPH is an established institution with customers throughout the world, but change must come to all things. Commerce and retailing follow a natural path, as do all aspects of evolution. And time continues forward.

Fountain Pen Hospital has been sold. Its current owners, Terry and Steve Wiederlight, grandsons of the founder and sons of its co-founder, have worked in the business all of their adult lives. In fact, they began as teenagers. Their children, the fourth generation, have worked in the store, but have chosen different careers.

As Terry said recently, "It's time to move on. We are ready for a rest. This business, this store has been my life for the past 65 years. I'm ready to relax, but Fountain Pen Hospital will remain."

Soon, FPH will join The Pen Family, owner of some of the most recognized and respected brands in the writing instruments industry. Steve will retire; Terry will remain as a senior consultant. The business will continue in its present location at 10 Warren Street, a few steps north of Wall Street. And the staff we have come to rely on through years of patronage, people whom we may never have met but whose voices we recognize when we call they are staying on, continuing their dedicated service to long-time pen people and first-time customers as they have done for decades.