Vintage Antique Perkins / Perko Keyhole Oil Marine Lantern

Vintage Antique Perkins / Perko keyhole Oil Marine lantern. The story starts with Frederick Persky, who later became known as Frederick Perkins. He was a Russian immigrant who was schooled in Germany as a machinist and tool-and-die maker. Frederick came to the United States in the early 1890's and soon became employed as a machinist for E. Bliss & Company in Brooklyn, New York. In the early 1900's, he and a partner began operating a business, F.

In 1907, Frederick's son Louis joined him in the business, and together they enlarged both the product line and the manufacturing facilities. By 1912, they had seventeen employees and made a wide range of marine lanterns and products. The business continued operating until 1913 when Frederick became president of National Marine Lamp Company, based out of Forestville, Connecticut. Frederick and Louis left that company in 1916 and moved back to Brooklyn, New York, where they started Perkins Marine Lamp Corporation.

Five generations later, PERKO® is still a privately owned, family operated corporation.

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