logo image American Gas Machine lanterns - early models


AGM's No. 5 street lamp appears in their 1917 catalog.

The globe cage, burner, and ventilator are the same as on their Model 334 lantern below.

The fount has a vertical steel tube that passes through the middle

so that the lamp can be mounted on a pole.

The collar is thick brass.

This 400cp lantern is in Dwayne Hanson's collection.


AGM made two versions of Model 334, circa 1913-1917 (Neil McRae):

the version on the left, in Craig Seabrook's collection,

includes a cast iron globe cage and lacks a globe rest.

It has a reproduction mica globe by Fred Kuntz.

The ventilator on this lantern is not original (Neil McRae).

The version on the right has a globe rest and the ventilator is held on by two clips.

The 8 1/4" diameter fount was also used on some lamp and stove models of the period.


AGM's Model 335 is a smaller fount version of Model 334 above.

The globe cage is bayonet mounted to the base plate

and held in place by a spring clip (just above the filler cap).

This torch lighting lantern has a tip cleaner (right image).
The fount on this lantern was re-nickel plated.

Model 445 appears in AGM Catalog 22, circa 1917

with an instantaneous burner (match lighting - right image)

that dates this lantern to 1916 when that patent was pending.

Except for the burner, air tube, and generator it is the same as Model 335 above.

The fine tubed generator includes a tip cleaner.

The mica globe was removed for the image at left.


This AGM Model 1250 lantern is superficially like the single mantle Model 335 above;

the lantern is only marked PAT APL'D FOR on the burner.

Dwayne Hanson restored this match generating lantern which is in his collection.

The generator opens into the burner chamber through a plug (right).

The rod, which originally had a tip cleaner,

can be worked by turning the wire below the globe cage (left and center).


AGM lantern models, Model 57 (left), 58 (center) and 257 (right), date to c. 1923.

The single mantled Model 57, has an early mica globe

with a brass frame and single finger latch at the bottom of the door.

Model 58 is single mantled but with a wide ventilator and retractable handle.

Model 257, in Loren Abernathy's collection, is a two mantle model

that features a reproduction mica globe made by Fred Kuntz.


AGM's Model 258 features a bail

that slides down through the shade when not in use.

This is a wide ventilator version of the two burner Model 257 above

and is in Craig Seabrook's collection.

Craig replaced the fuel valve with a Coleman to be able to reassemble this lantern.


AGM Models 267 (left) and 268 (right) are double mantle Ready Lite models

and require preheating the generator with matches.

The globes are original; the frame on the globes are brass

and fastened with large head fasteners,

which is common on AGM lanterns.

Model 268 is in Fred Kuntz's collection.


Models 277 (left) & 278 (right) only differ from Models 267 & 268 above

in having built-on pumps.

These two lanterns came with straight AGM L35 generators,

comparable to the Coleman Q77, and require preheating with a match.

The globes are AGM with brass frames and large head fasteners as above.

I have an ad from a 1926 magazine that pictures Model 278.


Models 287 (left) & 288 (right) are another pair of double mantle lanterns by AGM.

They are distinguished by a "carburetor valve" that projects into the fount.

A needle valve at the bottom of the fuel feed line controls the flow of air & fuel from the valve

through fine tubing into the base of the generator making this an "instant lite" lantern.

These lanterns have AGM brass framed mica globes with the two "crescent" finger holds; the founts are steel

The unfired 287 lantern (left) is in Dwayne Hanson's collection.


This AGM lantern has USFS embossed on the fount.

It is similar to the AGM 287 above but is match lighting

and lacks the carburetor valve and has a different burner.

It likely dates to the early 1930's when the US Forest Service

contracted for  a Quick-Lite lantern from Coleman.

This lantern is in Pat Garrahan's collection.


AGM introduced Model 337 in 1931.

A low cost model, the metal below the globe cage was cadmium plated steel.

Here the fount, which had rusted, has been buffed back to the steel.

The ventilator pushes up to preheat and light the single mantle.

The paper label on the bottom of the fount (right) is often missing off the early AGM models.

The L344 shade ring is a detachable option (left).


A two burner, instant light lantern,

Model 304 has a steel fount that was nickel plated.

It has an L38 burner, an L510 generator with a built-in tip cleaner,

and lighting directions on a tag on the valve wheel.

AGM parts catalogs refer to this as a 1933 Model.

The fount on this lantern had rusted badly

so is painted silver and cannot be run.


A single mantled lantern, Model 100 (left) and double mantled lanterns, Model 101 (center), and 102 (right)

were all manufactured by American Gas Machine (AGM), Albert Lea, Minnesota.

AGM parts catalogs refer to these as 1934-35 Models.

Craig Seabrook has restored his Model 101 including having the ventilator re-enameled.

The founts on these instant lighting models are nickel plated with built-in pumps,

and were supplied with mica globes (left), or glass (right).

All have cobalt blue porcelain ventilators.


This unmarked lantern is the same

as later Model 100 or Model 3606 AGM lanterns

but has a green porcelain ventilator.

It may have been made for Sears or Montgomery Ward.
This lantern is in Charles & Cathy Gibson's collection.


This AGM unknown model may have been made for Sears or Wards.

It is only stamped MADE IN USA on the bottom of the fount.

This two burner, instant lighting model has the same burner

as the 101-102 models above,

but a simpler instant lite valve assembly design as on Model 304.

 

Main updated Feb. 18, '12
Akron Lamp Co. lanterns updated Nov. 9, '11
Akron Lamp Co. lamps updated Oct. 13, '11
American Gas Machine lanterns - early models updated Dec. 17, '11
American Gas Machine lamps updated Jan. 22, '12
AGM lanterns - models beginning with the mid-1930's updated Mar. 15, '11
AGM, King Seeley, & Thermos stoves updated Feb. 18, '12
AGM, King Seeley, & Thermos lanterns - later models updated May 9, '11
Coleman Canada lamps updated Apr. 12, '11
Coleman Canada lanterns pre- 1945 updated Jan. 17, '12
Coleman US lamps before mid-1920's updated Sept. 24, '11
Coleman Canada lanterns 1946 - 1970 updated Feb. 14, '12
Coleman US lamps after mid 1920's updated Mar. 30, '11
Coleman Canada lanterns 1971 - 1993 updated Feb. 10, '12
Coleman hollow wire lighting updated Mar. 14, '11
Coleman US lanterns pre-1931 updated Feb. 10, '12
Coleman irons updated Mar. 26, '11
Coleman US lanterns 1931 - 1945 updated Feb. 8, '12
Coleman Canada stoves updated Nov. 29, '11
Coleman US lanterns 1946 - 1960 updated Apr. 2, '11
Coleman US stoves until early-1930's updated Nov. 9, '11
 Coleman US lanterns 1961 - 1980 updated Nov. 9, '11
Coleman US stoves mid-1930's - early-1950's updated Feb. 18, '12
 Coleman US lanterns 1981 - 2000 updated Aug. 8, '11
Coleman US stoves mid 1950's - present updated Nov. 29, '11
Coleman US lanterns 2001 - present updated Mar. 30, '11
Custom lamps, lights, heaters, and stoves updated Aug. 4, '11
Custom lanterns updated Dec. 14, '11
Heater etc. manufacturers A - K updated Feb. 10, '12
Ehrich & Graetz/AIDA & Petromax lanterns updated Apr. 25, '11
Heater etc. manufacturers L - Z updated Aug. 24, '10
Germany lantern manufacturers updated May 3, '11
Hollow wire lighting updated Jan 29, '12
International lantern manufacturers A - G updated Nov. 16, '11
International lamp manufacturers A - D updated Mar. 31, '11
 International lantern manufacturers H - P updated Feb. 15, '12
International lamp manufacturers E - O updated Jan. 27, '12
 International lantern manufacturers Q - S updated Dec. 15, '11
International lamp manufacturers P - Z updated Feb. 18, '12
 International lantern manufacturers T - Z updated Sept. 30, '11
Irons updated Sept. 23, '11
Propane lantern, stove, & heater manufacturers A - B updated Sept. 2, '10
Links updated Nov. 16, '11
Propane lantern, stove, & heater manufacturers C updated Feb. 16, '12
 Stove manufacturers A - H updated May 25, '11
Propane lantern, stove, & heater manufacturers D - M updated Sept. 2, '10
Stove manufacturers I - P updated Feb. 18, '12
Propane lantern, stove, & heater manufacturers N - Z updated Nov. 5, '11
Stove manufacturers Q - Z updated Feb. 6, '12
Pump manufacturers A - D updated Mar. 29, '11
Sweden lamp manufacturers updated Apr. 30, '11
Pump manufacturers E - Z updated Apr. 2, '11
Sweden stove manufacturers updated Feb. 2, '12
Sweden lantern manufacturers updated Nov. 9, '11
Tilley household lamps pre-1945 updated Nov. 13, '10
Tilley lanterns updated Jul. 14, '08
Tilley household lamps post-1945 updated June 6, '08
UK lantern manufacturers updated Jan 27, '12
Tilley industrial lamps & lanterns updated Apr. 12, '10
US lantern manufacturers A - I updated Apr. 2, '11
US lamp manufacturers A - F updated May 26, '11
US lantern manufacturers J - M updated Feb. 14, '12
US lamp manufacturers G - L updated Feb. 6, '12
US lantern manufacturers N - O updated Jan. 4, '12
US lamp manufacturers M - O updated Dec. 12, '11
US lantern manufacturers P - Z updated Dec. 1, '11
US lamp manufacturers P - Z updated Jan. 18, '12
Wrench & other lamp tool manufacturers A - F updated Aug. 8, '11
Wrench & other lamp tool manufacturers G - Z updated Feb. 2, '12

 

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© 2000-2012 Terry Marsh
 tgmarsh@noctrl.edu