Recently acquired this No. 334 AGM lantern with an ovoid base which has a hole in the center of the base. Hoping to learn more about it from the members here. Thank you. Dave
Welcome aboard! Your lamp dates from about 1917 and it's actually a number 5 street lamp, the hole in the bottom of the tank is so that it can be fitted to a post and the second link below shows relevant paperwork, but the library is only open to subscribers, the first link shows another thread about one of those lamps. The hood on your lantern does have 334 on it, but that is from a different AGM., lantern which is shown in the third link. AGM NO 5 Street Lamp https://classicpressurelamps.com/threads/3-1917-agm-adverts.860 AGM 334 1917
Thank Jeff. The 334 marked hood has exactly the same finish and patina with the appearance of having been together since mfg. is it possible AGM used the 334 hood with the No. 5 street light? Thanks again for the great information you provided. Dave
Hello Dave, yes, I concur that the hood appears to be original to that lamp and it's certainly possible that AGM., used up spare hoods and both the number 5 street lamp and the AGM., 334 lantern are from the same era of manufacture. Your lamp is rare especially in such fine condition and it's a great find.
Hello Dave, I have had another look at your photos and the tank has several stress cracks, so my advice is to keep that lamp for display only. Davepass
Thanks again Jeff. Yes, there are several stress cracks, which seems odd as it doesn’t show a ton of use.
Great score I suspect the vent is original to the lantern as AGM tended to use up parts ( especially for export ) The marked vents were later versions as well In saying this I have seen one of these with a vent marked model 5 Shame it’s cracked !
Very nice , never seen the street lamp version and typical agm with fount stress cracks , my 334.lantern does not have them and runs very well with a Peerless 111 mantle
Hello Dave, that lamp is over 100 years old and metal fatigue causes stress cracks not just use, but Bruce Kuda is a member of this forum who resides in America and he repairs lamps, if you click on his name link then you should be able to send a message to him and the link below shows his You Tube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@brucekuda6711/videos Davepass
Not sure what you're going to do with it but if you wanted or have the funds to dump in it to make it run Bruce would probably want to silver solder all those cracks , patch the hole in the bottom and double Caswell coat the inside of the fount , then re-nickel it . Even though they have a tip cleaner / pricker rod in the generator they're still not "insta-light" , I still preheat and light mine like any of my 327 Quicklites
Thanks D Vernon. The finish on this one is a gold anodized. Do you know if Bruce can refinish that rather than the nickle? Many thanks, Dave
Are you sure the nickel was not polished off the brass , how mine is in my pics is how it was when I picked it up , Everyone else tells me it should've been nickel plated and the longer I burn mine the darker the brass gets on the ventilator. I would think an outdoor street lamp would be nickel due to being exposed to the elements , Rob Butts that does mica chimney's did mine and has a 334 lantern like mine but is nickel . If Bruce can't brass replate you can try David Savick on FB Coleman Collectors group, he is into replating and does beautiful work , David Savick , you're not too far from me , I am central Fla West coast , just above Tampa
Just warning if you join either of the groups and post your pics you're going to attract the "vultures" trying to buy , just start your post of with NFSOT (Not For Sale Or Trade). Log into Facebook
You could try a test spot on the bottom with metal polish like Flitz or I use Semichrome and if it polishes shiney brass without much effort then it's probably not an anodized finsh
It’s definitely a gold finish which hopefully will show up in these photos. The darker areas are oxidized brass showing where the finish is absent. Appreciate your help D Vernon.
So very little info on these but definitely looks like some type of brass plated over brass Bruce Kuda , David Savick , or Dean Dorholt would know or someone in either of those 2 FBook groups , Coleman Collectors and the AGM page
