PERKO, Inc.
| PERKO, Incorporated | |
 "We Make It Right, Right Here!!" | |
| Names | F. Persky & Company
Perkins Marine Lamp Corporation Perkins Marine Lamp and Hardware Corporation
PERKO, Incorporated
|
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Brooklyn, NY
Miami, FL |
| Founder | Frederick Persky |
| Key people | Frederick Perkins
Louis Perkins Marvin Perkins
Roy Hollenbeck
Fred Perkins
|
| Founded | <1907 |
| Products | Marine signaling equipment |
PERKO, Incorporated is a Miami, FL-based manufacturer of various marine lights and other equipment, founded in 1907 by Frederick Persky.
History
PERKO originally began as F. Persky & Company in Brooklyn, NY, founded by Frederick Persky in the early 1900s, who later became known as Frederick Perkins. In 1907, Frederick's son Louis joined him in the business, and the company continued to expand their product line and manufacturing facilities. In 1916, the company was re-established as Perkins Marine Lamp Corporation and would continue to expand, renaming itself to the Perkins Marine Lamp and Hardware Corporation in 1932 to better reflect the growing line of products being offered at that time. Around this time, they would begin to distribute various small sirens intended for marine use. Louis Perkins became the president of the company after Frederick's passing in 1947. That same year, Louis's son, Marvin, joined the company. Expansion continued until demand exceeded the capabilities of their manufacturing facility, and a new one was established in Miami, FL in 1961, where the company resides today. In 1977, the company was renamed to PERKO, Incorporated, and since then has continued to expand its manufacturing capabilities, establishing itself as a major player in the marine industry.
Products
Sea-Mite Siren
The Sea-Mite Siren is a rebrand of the Federal Enterprises/Federal Sign & Signal Model O, and aside from branding, they are entirely identical. The siren makes use of a 6-port rotor and stator, with finger guards on each port to prevent injury from misuse of the siren, as it is small enough to be handheld. The siren is driven by a small 6, 12, or 24 V motor located behind the stator and is housed inside a large bullet-shaped enclosure, which rests upon a pedestal with 2 holes located on each side of its oval shaped base, allowing for the siren to be mounted to a flat surface. A bulbous grille with a V cast on to it is bolted to the front of the stator to prevent debris from entering the rotor. Earlier units were actually rebrands of the Type 160-A, a relatively similar vehicular siren with a slightly different design.
Yachtsman Siren
The Yachtsman Siren is a rebrand of the Federal Enterprises/Federal Sign & Signal Model WG, and aside from branding, they are entirely identical. The siren makes use of an 8-port rotor and stator, with finger guards on each port to prevent injury from misuse of the siren, as it is small enough to be handheld. The siren is driven by a small 6, 12, or 24 V motor located behind the stator and is housed inside a large bullet-shaped enclosure, which rests upon a rectangular mount with 4 holes located on each corner of its base, allowing for the siren to be mounted to a flat surface. A grille is bolted to the front of the stator to prevent debris from entering the rotor.
Junior Siren
The Junior Siren is the smaller counterpart of the Senior Siren, and is a rebrand of the E. A. Labs SirEAne Jr., and aside from branding, they are entirely identical. It is a small directional siren, consisting of a small 8-port rotor and 12-port stator with finger guards on each port to prevent injury from misuse of the siren, as it is small enough to be handheld. The siren is driven by a small 6 or 12 V motor located behind the stator and is housed inside a large cylindrical enclosure. A large, flared horn is bolted to the front of the stator to increase sound output. The entire assembly sits upon a small bracket mount beneath the motor housing, which is attached to a large pedestal mount, a feature which most original E. A. Labs sirens lack. As PERKO's rebrand is intended for marine use, there was an option for the siren to be primarily constructed out of brass to prevent corrosion caused by the salty air, which would otherwise destroy the siren rapidly. The siren measures around 7½" long and 5" wide.
Senior Siren
The Senior Siren is the larger counterpart of the Junior Siren, and is a rebrand of the E. A. Labs SirEAne Sr., and aside from branding, they are entirely identical. It is a small omnidirectional siren which has a relatively similar core to its smaller counterpart, utilizing an 8-port rotor and 12-port stator with finger guards on each port to prevent injury from misuse of the siren, as it is small enough to be handheld. The siren is driven by a small 110 V motor located beneath the stator and is housed inside a large cylindrical enclosure, which rests upon a pedestal with 4 holes in each corner, allowing for the siren to be mounted to a flat surface. A small, thin skirt is bolted to the top of the stator to direct the siren's sound downwards, while a large bell-shaped rain shield held up by supports located around the edge of the stator helps protect the siren from the elements. As PERKO's rebrand is intended for marine use, there was an option for the siren to be primarily constructed out of brass to prevent corrosion caused by the salty air, which would otherwise destroy the siren rapidly. The siren measures around 12⅛" tall and 6¼" wide.