I am new to this forum. I just acquired an American Gas Machine model 101 lantern. I am not real familar with this lantern and would appreciate any help ie year(s) of production etc. It appears to have a brass bottom. Woodrow
Model 101 was sold for one season only in 1933-34. Looks to be in pretty good condition. Nice find. ::Neil::
Thanks, Is this a white gas lantern and can parts be obtained ie the leather on the pump is crumbling? Should the finish be left "as is" or was this originally polished? I don't want to do anything that would detract from it. I am kind of a purist. Did AGM only make it one year due to problems, lack of consumer interest, or ... ? Many thanks again,
Hello and welcome aboard! Good find! This lantern will work best on Coleman fuel and Coleman number 20 or number 21 mantles will be fine. Leather washers can be made, but there are plenty of Coleman washers available and one of them may fit. The amount of restoration which is undertaken is up to the individual, but your lantern will need a good clean and do check that the seals are okay. Once you are able to pump the lantern, then remove the hood and the glass and close the positive shut off valve, put plenty of pressure into the tank and then submerge the entire lantern in water, if there are any leaks, then you will see the air bubbles. I'm not sure why this lantern was made for such a short time. Do let us know how you get on, Jeff.
This model and it's companions 100 and 102 are only listed in AGM catalogue 39 from Jan 1934. In fact they did make the same lantern for a few years after this but with a number change so 101 becomes 3614 in 1935. I have a gap in the catalogues from 1935 to the mid 1940s but I think the lanterns probably did not change until at least 1938 and possibly to 1941. Here are the two catalogue images of models 101 and 3614. ::Neil::
