AGM, The American Gas Machine Company was founded by Hans Hanson, in Minnesota as early as 1896.
By the 1930s AGM marketed a wide range of Stoves, lamps & lanterns.
Around 1940, it seemed to become bankrupt and its manufacturing works were taken over by
Queen Stove Works, which later became part of King-Seeley-Thermos.
These information was quoted from Alan Moore's web site with his permission. Thanks Alan.
This is an early AGM lantern, Model 57. It looks like Model 257, a double mantle lantern, but this Model 57 is a single mantle. It has a large brass tank with steel bottom and fitted with winged filler cap. Its frame and ventilator were also made of brass. Although I'm not sure exactly about its dating, it was presumably from 1920s.
Another early lantern from AGM, American Ready-Lite Model 267. It is a double mantle gasoline lantern and has a large brass tank with steel bottom, steel frame and dark blue enameled ventilator. Interestingly the frame of its mica globe was made of brass. Presumably from late 1920s to 1930s.
American Ready-Lite Model 268 from AGM. It is a wide ventilator version of Model 267. The differences are just ventilator and bail.
Here is an American Ready-Lite Model 278 made by AGM.
This double mantled gasoline lantern has a reproduction mica globe,
nickel plated brass fount and large dark blue enameled ventilator.
Its pump unit, built on tank style, is a very unique one.
Another AGM lantern, American Ready-Lite Model 277 and is quoted from Jan van Smeerdijk's collection with his permission. Thanks Jan.
This is an American Ready-Lite Model 288, made by AGM.
Although It has no Model number on it, Neil McRae identified it. Thanks Neil.
It has dark blue painted "steel" fount with an unique fuel valve assembly ( carburetor control valve ) and large porcelain
enamel ventilator. Burner assembly was also made of "steel". Glass globe is a replacement.
Here is an American Ready Lite Model 287 made by AGM.
It has dark blue steel fount and an unique carburetor control
valve which is mounted in the fount.
The differences between Model 288 & 287 are the size of
ventilator and bail.
This is an AGM USFS version and is quoted from Terry Marsh's collection with his permission. The comment below is from Terry.
The fount had been repainted red over the original burgundy.
The filler cap and pump handle had also ben painted red but were not originally painted on this model.
There were several stress cracks in the fount.
I cleaned the lantern including buffing off the overcoat of red paint and the crud from the fount and removing the paint from the fuel cap and pump handle, replaced steel pump parts that had rusted, and sealed the fount with automotive gas tank sealer.
The lantern held pressure and ran nicely afterwards.
Thanks Terry.
This is also an early AGM lantern, American Ready-Lite Model 337, and is quoted from Dave Reinhartsen's collection
with his permission. Thanks Dave.
The left is an AGM Model 100 and the right is a Model 3608.
Both are single mantled gasoline lantern and have nickel pleated
brass fount and dark blue porcelain enamel ventilator.
The fuel filler cap is combined with the pump and a large filler
hole is very convenient.
The Model 100 was made in 1934 & 1935 and the Model 3608 was made
in 1936 presumably as an successor of Model 100.
They are almost the same lantern except the model number
written on the labels which were riveted to their base rests.
Please see the next image.
Here is a scan of the two pages showing these
lanterns from the 1937 AGM catalogue Number 40.
Thanks Neil McRae for this image.
This is an AGM Model 101 and is quoted from Terry Marsh's collection with his permission.
It is an instant lighting model with two burners and the ball nut washer (Aluminum and asbestos)
is stamped : PAT'D MAY 18, 1925.
Thanks Terry.
Model 3606 made by AGM.
It has exactly the same fittings with Model 3608 except its large fount.
This is an AGM Model 3618 and is quoted from Terry Marsh's collection with his permission.
The original mica globe had been replaced with a Coleman globe for a 220/228 but someone cut it to a shorter
length so it would fit in the lantern.
Thanks Terry.
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