The Fred Krinke story
By Dyas A. Lawson
and John King Tarpinian
| The Fred Krinke story By Dyas A. Lawson
The third-generation owner of America's oldest continuously operating pen store, The Fountain Pen Shop in Monrovia, Krinke's involvement with the world of writing instruments actually began way back before he was born, when his grandfather John Froelich immigrated to the U.S. as a young man at the turn of the century. While in New York, Froelich worked for the Mabie Todd Company, which made Mabie Todd, Swan pens, and others. Krinke says his grandfather became the foreman of the gold-nib department, overseeing the exacting and painstaking work of grinding and creating the unparalleled smooth-writing nibs of those years. Krinke's father, Fred Sr., grew up in New York and started his career there, working as a tugboat operator for the New York Central Railroad Marine Division. This kept him occupied until one winter, when he fell overboard into icy waters and decided maybe he could find a profession slightly less hazardous. He moved from that into silk dyeing, which doubtless seemed a great deal better for his health.
Along with yet another Fred, this one Fred Heinzmann, who had been Mabie Todd's general manager and had decided to join the Froelich/Krinke expedition to California, Froelich opened the store in 1922 as the Angelus Pen Hospital (it was later changed to The Fountain Pen Shop). Their leaving elicited a response from Mabie Todd that would likely be unheard of today: The company sent the pair off--two of its top managers--with its blessings, and even provided them with parts and equipment to take to California.
In Los Angeles, Fred's father stayed in silk dyeing, but later on he came into the business with his father-in-law. By 1940, Froelich and Heinzmann retired, and Fred Sr. and Heinzmann's son formed another partnership, took over the business and incorporated the firm. By then, Fred was old enough to be dabbling in the pen business himself. He recalls working a day or two a week in the store, after school. "One thing that really stands out in my memory as a kid was when I pulled open a drawer and there was a Dunn Dreadnought demonstrator. It must have been 15 inches long -- well, that may have been a kid's imagination, but it was too big to write with. It didn't have a nib and there was a chip out of the cap." No telling what that might be worth today! He also recalls one of the first pens his parents gave him--a Doric fountain pen and pencil set. He was attending Pasadena Junior College in 1945 and began helping out evenings at the store, taking the streetcar in to the store location in downtown Los Angeles, at the corner of Sixth and Spring Streets. He'd work a few hours, eat dinner, and then go home by the same streetcar. Judging by the expression on his face when he discusses it, he quite enjoyed that mode of transportation. Then the government said it needed Fred's assistance and no one else would do. "I was majoring in girls, that's what got me drafted!" he says with a chuckle. That was in 1946. He was sent to Korea and spent some time in that country before it was torn up by the conflict. After his return, he decided to devote his efforts to the fountain-pen shop. The Krinke family moved with the times, balancing changes adeptly to have stayed in business and even prospered during times when writing tools changed so dramatically. They expanded into other forms of writing tools, including the ballpoints that were beginning to emerge. In 1953 or '54, they decided to move more fully into the wholesaling aspect of the business. That succeeded so well that at one point, Fred says, six outside sales people were selling new products, including such staples as Parker Jotters and the ever-trusty Esterbrooks. At times, Fred recalls, staying in business was challenging, but the firm overcame obstacles as they appeared. The company still performed repairs, maintaining the reputation for quality work established by John Froelich so many years earlier.
Fred's wife Margaret and niece Judi Williams help him run the store and have been with him at various Los Angeles pen shows. Friend and customer John King Tarpinian also spends time manning Krinke's table so Fred can visit with people, catch up on what's happening, and thoroughly enjoy his time at the show. However, Fred says no family members are interested in taking over the store when he's ready to retire, so this may be the end of the road for this family-owned business. Over the years, Fred has promoted the hobby in various ways; when Cliff Lawrence began organizing the disparate bunch of pen collectors into something called the Pen Fanciers of America, Fred formed the West Coast division called Pen Fanciers West. Later, Bob Teft became involved and promoted more heavily; the hobby grew into a vibrant community, eventually becoming the Pen Collectors of America. Interestingly, Krinke doesn't define himself as a collector. "I have some pens, but none that are really special," he says. If you were to walk into Fred's shop, you'd see some of that "non-collection" in his display cabinets: a Waterman pen owned by Thaddeus Lowe (appointed by Abraham Lincoln as chief of army aeronautics in 1861, and a founding father of Pasadena and the Rose Parade), or an example of every Parker Senior Duofold -- all mint -- lined up in a row. "I'm partial to Parkers," he continues, "but I have Sheaffers, Wahl-Eversharps, some Conklins; and of course I have Swans. I don't even have much with sentimental value. People are still the important thing to me; pens are a way to connect."
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If ever a fellow existed in whose veins runs purest ink, Fred Krinke would have to be a strong contender.
While Fred Sr. courted Fred's mother, Mabie Todd was still a big name in the Froelichs' New York household. Fred says that his parents would often get together as a "date" and assemble levers and boxes for Swan pens--a way to spend time together and still make some money. Froelich decided in 1922 that he wanted to move to California; the new couple were married that year and the whole family packed up, Froelichs and Krinkes together, climbed on a train, and went to California, the then-new promised land. Fred was born the following January.
Krinke believes they employed those resources to break into the California market for Mabie Todd. "I think they introduced Mabie Todd to this area," he says. They certainly brought along superior craftsmanship and quality, he adds, and soon were performing repairs and work for selected stationery stores around the area.
Now, Fred says, The Fountain Pen Shop largely sells retail to the public and offers repair services. One thing Fred attributes the company's success to over the years is a loyal customer base, established and nurtured by personal service, integrity of operations, and providing a good value for a dollar. Throughout his career, he has most enjoyed the people he's worked with and dealt with. Getting to know them, sharing their lives, and chatting and visiting is a chief pleasure for him. "That's why I still come to shows," he says, smiling.
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