The Fountain Pen Shop
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail, Museum, Repair service |
| Founded | 1922 |
| Founder | Grandfather of Fred Krinke and business partner |
| Headquarters | Monrovia, California , United States |
| Products | Fountain pens |
The Fountain Pen Shop was a longstanding retailer, museum, and repair service specializing in fountain pens, originally situated in Downtown Los Angeles before moving to Monrovia. Founded in 1922, it held the distinction of being the United States' oldest pen store continuously operated by a single family. Its first establishment was located at the intersection of Sixth and Spring Streets, later relocating to a Downtown Los Angeles venue near Pershing Square, and ultimately settling at 2640 S. Myrtle Ave. in Monrovia.
History
The enterprise was started by the grandfather of Fred Krinke along with a business partner. In 1940, ownership transferred to Krinke's father and then to Fred Krinke himself in 1975. Born in 1928, Fred began helping with pen repairs during World War II while attending Pasadena Junior College. Following his service in the Air Force, he dedicated himself fully to the family business. Krinke was a consistent participant at the Los Angeles International Pen Show since its beginning and was instrumental in establishing the Southern California Pen Collectors Club. He passed away in 2019 at the age of 91, casting uncertainty over the fate of the nearly century-old company.