Most gas pressure appliances manufactured before 1925 did not have internal pumps to pressurize the founts. Some models through the 1930’s lacked internal pumps as a cost saving measure. Different sizes of pumps were provided by the manufacturers to complement the size of the fount being pressurized.
Pumps made by the Akron Lamp Co., Akron, Ohio, are characterized by a round, ribbed, wooden knob. These nickel plated pumps have the common nipple tip (not threaded), 7/8″ in diameter, and with the end cap held in the barrel by 2 screws We don’t know the item number of the 9″ long pump on the bottom. The 7 1/2″ long lantern/lamp pump in the middle is item 352. The 69-E pump on the top, sold with irons, is 6″ long. These pumps are in Fil Graff’s collection.
AGM catalogs from 1917 and 1923 illustrate pumps that have the same style black wood handle as on this pump. The brass barrel is 13/16″ in diameter x 9 1/2″ long. The barrel has a threaded brass cap at the top end.
Pumps that we believe were made by American Gas Machine Co., Albert Lea, Minnesota. The upper pump has a brass barrel that is 10″ x 1.25″ and was once nickel plated. The pump in the middle has a brass barrel that is 8″ x 13/16″, while the bottom pump has a brass barrel and is 9.5″ x 13/16″. These three models have threaded top caps and ball shaped nipples. An Akron Lamp Co. catalog from circa 1920 includes an image of a pump as the middle one above. These pumps are in Neil McRae’s collection.
This pump is very similar in construction to the middle one in the previous image (above). The brass barrel is 9 1/2″ x 13/16″ and has a 3/16″ threaded nipple. This pump is in Shirley Willard’s collection; image by Neil McRae.
Another pump similar to the one above except with a different handle, the pump barrel is 6″ x 13/16″ diameter and has a threaded nipple that unscrews from the pump body. The pump is in Ed Dennis’ collection.
Hook handled pumps possibly made by the American Gas Machine Co. The top pump has a nickel plated brass barrel, 6″ x, 7/8″, with a heavier, screw-on cap. The middle pump has a brass barrel, 6″ x 13/16″, with a screw-on cap and a rubber tubing connector with a screw-on nipple. The bottom pump has a brass barrel, 6″ x 7/8″, with a screw on cap. These pumps are in Loren Abernathy’s collection.
This is the disassembled pump from the AGM 277 lantern that you can see on this page. This safer design includes a small diameter tube, below”A”, that releases the pumped in air above the fuel in the fount preventing fuel from entering the pump well under pressure. The ball bearing, to the right of “B”, is held by air pressure against the opening from the pump well and serves as a check valve to prevent air from leaking out of the fount. The pump handle threads into the pump cap (upper left). The pointed end at “C” seals the opening when the pump handle is screwed into the cap.
This pump with the threaded attachment at the end of a short rubber tubing fits on the air screw of an AGM No. 3 stove. Mike Morgan got the stove and pump together. The barrel of the pump is 13/16″ in diameter and 6″ long.
This pump came with Brien Page’s Kampkook Model 6 stove. The dimensions are as on the above AGM pumps. A threaded nipple to attach to the stove is at the end of the short rubber tubing.
This pump appears to be No. P21 which appeared in the American Gas Machine Co. Catalog 19, circa 1912. It has a nickel plated brass barrel 7″ x 7/8″. The rubber connector ends in a threaded nipple. This pump is in Loren Abernathy’s collection.
Another American Gas Machine Co. large appliance pump. It has a 3/8″ threaded nipple on a brass barrel that is 12″ x 1.25″. The end cap is threaded to the barrel.
This large appliance pump may also be from AGM but has several differences from the preceding including a nipple that would be more appropriate for a hose. The nickel plated barrel is 10″ x 1 3/16″ diameter. This pump is in Jeff Johnson’s collection.
This AGM suction pump is the same as the preceding in size but has two leather washers (left) that are mounted in opposite directions so the pump pulls liquid up as well as expelling liquid. There is a fine mesh screen inside the nipple, making it very useful for emptying founts. This pump is in Shirley Willard’s collection.
AGM also made an Auto Syphon to transfer gasoline from a vehicle gas tank to a lantern or stove fount. The rubber tubing on this Auto Syphon has hardened with age. This accessory is in Brien Page’s collection.
This foot pump could have been used to pressurize tanks in hollow wire lighting systems. The hose which attached at the base is missing. The upper cylinder end cap is the same as found on American Gas Machine Co. pumps. The cylinder is nickel plated brass that is 12″ x 1 7/32″. This pump is in Loren Abernathy’s collection.
These three Coleman pumps are distinguished by the knob shape. They are brass barreled; the upper pump is nickel plated. The end caps are held by screws on the upper and lower pumps while metal indents fix the end cap on the middle pump. These pumps are 5″ x 7/8″. The pump at the bottom came with a Model 8A iron and is #410-585.
From the preceding you can tell that the upper pump is Akron and the lower pump is Coleman. The barrels are 5″ x 7/8″ but are made of aluminum, perhaps at a time when there was a shortage of brass & nickel. The pumps are in Neil McRae’s collection.
Coleman made these pumps, part no. 101-522 (top), which has a 9″ x 7/8″ nickel plated brass cylinder and Q33 (bottom) which is the same but only 8″ long and brass for pressurizing lanterns and lamps, although they could be used for other appliances as well. The top pump is in Neil McRae’s collection and the bottom pump is in Jeff Johnson’s collection.
This pump has the same style wooden black painted handle and cap as the Coleman pumps above and the barrel of the pump is also 9″ x 7/8″. However, the barrel is made of aluminum, not brass or nickel plated brass. I don’t know if Coleman made pumps with aluminum barrels.
Bob & Shirley Willard got this pump with their Coleman Model R reading lamp. The pump has a 9″ x 13/16″ nickel plated brass barrel and a 3/16″ threaded nipple to attach to the lamp’s needle valve (lower figure). Image by Neil McRae.
Coleman made this Filling Siphon so the lantern/stove owner could put fuel from his vehicle’s gas tank into the pressure appliance. The directions on the box tell the user to push the plunger (hollow rod on the right) into the pump and, while holding the siphon below the level of the gas tank, to keep your finger over the plunger hole and pull out the plunger as fast as it will go which will cause fuel to flow. This pump, in Hank Schroeder’s collection, is all original although the rubber tubing has deteriorated.
I believe that Coleman made this pump, which would be their # 451-522. It was once nickel plated but that has been removed. Note the wood end cap is significantly larger than the barrel diameter. The barrel is 10″ x 1.25″ and the end cap is held with screws.
This image is a comparison of the Coleman pump tip (left) from the pump above with the Leacock Coleman pump tip (right) from the pump below. The Coleman tip is shaped similar to a grease fitting on a vehicle while the Leacock tip is hemispherical.
Leacock Coleman in Pennsylvania supplies this pump, #451-5221, with their Model 107 table lamp. It is made from the original design by Coleman. The brass barrel is 10″ x 1.25″. The end cap is held with screws. Note the air hole in the upper end of the barrel.
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The Terrence Marsh Lantern Gallery 