Sunflame / AGM

I received the photos below from Gerhard de Villiers. There is no example of this model in the Gallery yet. Seeing that it has no fuel valve it should be a paraffin/kerosene model, in which case the spirit cup is missing. According to Gerhard, the vent is plain steel and the generator contains an asbestos tube.

 

I have never seen this before and it isn't in any catalogue I have either. In general appearance it shouts AGM and is perhaps closest to AGM 3905 but with several differences which make it unique. I don’t know of any AGM-Sunflame without a valve or with that control/generator/burner and vent. So it seems to be a Sunflame equivalent to a Coleman 241 and an as yet unknown model. It would be interesting to see the generator/pricker and the fitter to the eccentric. ::Neil::

 

Thanks, Neil! I'll pass it on. I must admit I was getting worried hearing only crickets since last night.

 

@Mackburner, here are some more detail photos from Gerhard:

 

Phil. Thanks for the images. Typical AGM/Sunflame type eccetric and pricker. This is certainly a previously unknown lantern to me and as such not listed in the PLC but it will be in Issue 80 when I manage to complete it. ::Neil::

 

A lucky find.

 

Thanks, Neil. I think it might be worth seeing whether anyone over at CCF can perhaps shed additional light.

 

Thank you for posting. So I finally know I have a sunflame.

 

It is certainly the same lantern but the pump is different. Could that have been fitted with a replacement pump tube? ::Neil::

 

Yes, Neil. Andrew told me that a previous owner had fitted the Primus style pump and pump tube.

 

Cute wee lamp!

 

Gerhard just told me his son actually found the lamp in New Zealand. Perhaps that may help to establish the model number.
@Mackburner

 

I can't find any mention of Sunflame in NZ. There are a very few adverts in Aus late 1947

These ads are all the same but "Bargains" and "as is" suggests surplus or old shop soiled stock rather than new.

There were two notices in 1944 from the Government which mention parts for Sunflame and that perhaps means some Sunflame lanterns were in use by the military during WW2. So the bargains in 1947 could well have been government surplus.


This may mean those Sunflame lanterns were specials manufactured to Government specification for WW2 and as such may never have had a model number.

Neil.

 

I have a few Sun Flame globes, which were from new old stock in Australia.

My Col-Max 333 had a Sun Flame globe, and it came via a WWII US serviceman, so I reckon Neil is right in saying that Sunflame were probably military supply.

Cheers

Tony

 

Very interesting information, Neil and Tony. The globe on Gerhards's lamp is marked only "HEAT RESISTING" same as on some other Sunflame lanterns.

 

@phaedrus42

Is there a small, often obscure, stamp on the other side of the globe, that identifies the maker?


Tony

 

Nothing visible, Tony.