Charlie was an employee of Waterman in Montreal prior to WWII. The first location of the business was on Peel Street in Montreal, hence the name. The business sold fine writing instruments, accessories and stationery and Charlie did repairs while Yvette looked after the customers. Over the years Charlie and Yvette’s two sons Robert and John grew up and became active in the business on a full time
basis. In 1987 John Culmer and his wife Dolores relocated to London, Ontario and opened Peel Pen Shop (London) Inc. Robert and his parents remained in Montreal and operated the Peel Pen shop which is now located on Union Street. Charlie passed away in 1994, and Yvette remained active in the business happily serving customers who over the years, had included such luminaries as Cardinal Leger, Dr. Wilder Penfield and Michael Pitfield, former Clerk of the Privy Council of Canada. John and Dolores continue the Culmer family tradition of selling and servicing fine writing instruments and accessories and repairing and restoring fountain pens of many makes and models including: Sheaffer, Parker and Waterman. During its time, the Peel Pen Shop had been the only remaining full time, independent repair and restoration facility in Canada. John Culmer has been repairing and restoring fountain pens for over thirty years, having learned the skill from his father Charlie. John’s skill is such that his services are recommended by Parker and Waterman and The Battersea Pen Shop in Great Britain for its North American customers. Today, although the Peel Pen Shop (London) retail store location has now closed, John still repairs and sells antique pens from his home - happily servicing customers throughout North America and around the world.
