This lantern came to me from an eBay seller in India a couple of years ago. For a while I puzzled over the manufacturer, only identified as C.S.P.&S. in the 8-pointed star logo. Then the light bulb came on: P is for Pochee, C.S. are initials and "&S." stands for "and Sons." An internet search for C.S. Pochee & Sons gave me a bookseller in Mumbai, India. I wrote them a letter but received no reply. Enter Erwin Schaefer who travels to Mumbai on business. He agreed to see what he could learn, and with a business colleague from Mumbai, visited the current owner of the bookseller business. This person was able to tell him that Mr. Pochee started both the lantern and bookselling businesses in 1884 and that some time later lantern production ceased. The current owner is going see what he can learn further about the company's history. As to the lantern's details: The filler cap is labeled N.M.W. in scripted letters on one side and AIDA No.214 on the other. I replaced the check valve gasket, the pump leather, and the lead gasket for the fuel line into the fount. I reused the orifice and needle although I didn’t learn the CP rating. The ceramic burner cap is marked TAJ. The check valve is marked PRADIP in the casting then apparently machined smooth. The preheater cup is a brass casting and most of the lantern is brass except the fount base, and the rectangular box in the inner burner core. Most of the nickel plating was buffed off the fount and ventilator when it arrived. The valve wheel and pointer are made from plastic and metal scraps respectively. The generator appears to have been repaired/brazed at the top and near the bottom of where the loop joins the vertical portion. The pump handle has a crudely wound wire spring to cause the pump handle to press outward against the handle stop. After pressure testing the joints with soapy water I replaced the needle, orifice (with 500cp), and gland nut packing. The lantern ran well after cleaning the orifice several times; I left the globe off to spot & deal with problems. The air gap is set for a 250 cp lantern but I couldn’t budge the nuts to adjust the gap so the lantern ran a little rich (orange flames outside the mantle).
