AGM model 278

From the earlier pictures, your lantern does not appear to have the usual fuel-air pickup tube inside the fount as common for many gasoline quick or instant-lighting lanterns. Those are meant to meter both the fuel and air from the fount during initial light-up without requiring preheat.
So what are you using for fuel? Gasoline or kerosene?
You did not mention any preheat being done before opening the valve. The fuel needs to vaporize first before it can draw in the correct amount of combustion air as it enters the mixer assembly.
You'd be getting just liquid fuel all the way to the burner and mantle if you open the valve without preheat, regardless of whether you're using gasoline or kerosene.

 

still can't get it lit. I did not have the blue top on it. nor did I have the mica cylinder in place. I'm not getting gas vapor. just liquid gas seeping out the top. then the gas catches fire. but not the mantles. pictures to follow

 

Did you preheat the generator tube before opening the valve?
You would centainly not get any of the gas vaporized if you don't preheat.
Since your lantern does not have the fuel-air pickup tube, you need to preheat.

 

maybe I didn't preheat it properly. I held several matches to the top of the generator cylinder and around the mantle before I lit the lamp. Is this the fuel air pick up tube?

 

some more pictues

 

The fuel pickup tube is just a straight pickup, not the fuel-air pickups for instant lighting.
Make sure the gas tip or jet orifice is tight, not leaking or worn too much, or there'll be too much getting through.
Assuming that the generator tube is clean, you'd need a little more preheat with just matches. Yes, they're match lighting lanterns but a small propane/butane torch will be more efficient as the preheat means.
Liquid fuel getting through only means they're not vaporized much or there's excessive amount getting through the jet to the burners.
If you are only preheating with match flame, do not use kerosene as the fuel. Only Coleman fuel, light naphtha or similarly volatile fuels.
If you're using the correct fuel, the initial flare-up would still settle down shortly into a normal blue flame within the mantle, once its hot enough.

 

Thanks. yes I'm using white gas/ coleman fuel. I will try the small butane torch as a pre heat. thanks!

 

Two matches held at the base of the generator will be much more effective than "several to the top". Hold them so that there's one at each side of the generator. The matches in this image are 2 1/4 inches (55mm) long, by the time your finger and thumb start getting warm, the generator should be hot enough but open the valve slowly.