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.
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Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av PEN WORLD.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Remembering Ward Dunham (October 11, 1941 - August 24, 2024)
On August 24, 2024, calligrapher Ward Dunham passed away.
The Black Pen Society and the D.C. Pen Show: Poobah in a Flower Pot
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Stationery Fest: This Is Not a Pen Show
Daisy and Neil Ni's twist on the traditional pen show is about community, not commerce.
"It Has Style:" A History of the Aurora Hastil (1969-1970)
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GW Pens Scores a Critical Hit
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Roterfaden's "Pocket Companion' "
The Taschenbegleiter hand-made planner system from German artisan cooperative Roterfaden features a modular organizational system that grows with the user's ambitions.
S.T. Dupont Takes the Iron Throne
The French atelier continues its forays into popular culture with a new, officially licensed Game of Thrones collection.
More Mail, More Dip-Less
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David Oscarson: A Reflection
The artisan pen maker celebrates 25 years of luxury writing instruments with a new collection that harkens to his Art Nouveau roots.
The Parkette Hopalong Cassidy Ballpoint Pen
The Jotter was advertised as Parker's first ballpoint pen, but a novelty item that played on the Hopalong Cassidy culture craze predated it.
