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 version 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 the 334 model above.
The globe cage is bayonet mounted to the base plate
and held in place by a spring clip (just above the filler cap).
The fount on this lantern was re-nickel plated for me by Cheyenne Cobb.


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 reporcelained.
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 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.


American Gas Machine lanterns - early models
Main
AGM lanterns - models beginning with the mid-1930's
American Gas Machine lamps
AGM, King Seeley, & Thermos lanterns - later models
Coleman lamps before mid-1920's
Coleman lanterns pre-1931
Coleman lamps after mid 1920's
Coleman lanterns 1931 - 1945
Coleman hollow wire lighting
Coleman lanterns 1946 - 1960
Coleman stoves pre-1945
 Coleman lanterns 1961 - 1980
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 Coleman lanterns 1981 - present
Custom lighting
Heater etc. manufacturers A - K
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Links
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Swedish lamps
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US lantern manufacturers A - G
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© 2000 Terry Marsh
Last updated January 4, 2008
 tgmarsh@noctrl.edu