Parts for Vintage All American Canners
Upgrade Your Older Petcock-Style Canner to the Modern Vent Pipe & Regulator Weight System
Own a vintage All American 921½, 915½, or petcock-style canner? A few genuine OEM parts and you'll have a basically-new canner — safer, simpler, and ready for another generation of canning. This page covers the retrofit from the older No. 65 Control Valve (petcock) system to the modern No. 69 Vent Pipe and No. 68 Pressure Regulator Weight system, with a step-by-step guide and all the parts you need in one place.
All parts on this page are in stock and ship same day on orders placed before 4 PM Eastern. Click here for the complete All American replacement parts page.
The Old System vs. The Modern System
About Model Name Changes: The "½" was dropped from model designations in the 1990s — so a "921½" is now simply a "921," and virtually all parts are 100% the same. Don't let the old name confuse you. If you have a 921½, order 921 parts.
Older All American canners came with a petcock / No. 65 Control Valve — a lever-operated device where you had to open the lever to release pressure and hold it horizontal to maintain pressure. You relied on the gauge and your stove's heat to regulate pressure. This works, but it's less reliable than the modern system.
The modern system uses a Vent Pipe (No. 69) and Pressure Regulator Weight (No. 68). The weight sits on the vent pipe and jiggles when the canner reaches pressure — 1 to 4 jiggles per minute means you're there. Simple, reliable, and the official method per the No. 74 Instruction Manual.
Old System vs. Modern System — At a Glance
| Old System: Petcock / No. 65 Control Valve | Modern System: Vent Pipe + Regulator Weight |
|---|---|
| Relies on gauge + heat management to regulate pressure | ✓ Weight jiggles visibly and audibly at pressure — no guesswork |
| Old-style screw-in overpressure plug has no modern replacement | ✓ Uses rubber 2040 overpressure plug — replaceable yearly |
| No. 65 Control Valve: no longer manufactured | ✓ All parts currently in stock and available |
| Lever must be manually operated correctly to maintain pressure | ✓ Set and forget — weight is self-regulating |
| ✗ Cannot use No. 74 Instruction Manual correctly | After upgrade, the No. 74 manual is fully correct for your unit |
The old-style screw-in overpressure plug does not have a modern replacement. The rubber 2040 plug is manufactured for a machined (not threaded) opening and will not fit the old threaded hole. If the old plug ever blows (~28 PSI), the No. 65 Control Valve — with its spring-loaded lever that auto-releases around 24 PSI — can serve as your safety valve until you upgrade. If you no longer have a functional No. 65, the manufacturer's only other recommendation is ordering a new lid with the machined overpressure plug opening.
What You Need for the Retrofit
All parts are in stock and ship same day on orders placed before 4 PM Eastern.
All American Pressure Canner 69 Vent Pipe
Screws directly into the same threaded hole the No. 65 Control Valve unscrews from. Thread pattern is fully compatible. Optional: wrap threads with plumber's tape to prevent minor cosmetic bubbling — this does not affect pressure performance. Fits models: 910, 915, 921, 925, 930 & 941.
All American Pressure Canner 68 Pressure Regulator Weight
Fits right on top of the No. 69 Vent Pipe. After installation, the weight is your pressure authority — 1 to 4 jiggles per minute at 15 PSI means you're at 15 PSI, full stop. The steam gauge becomes supplemental. Fits models: 910, 915, 921, 925, 930 & 941.
All American Pressure Canner 72 Geared Steam Gauge
While the gauge becomes secondary after upgrading (the weight takes over), replacing an old gauge is still worthwhile. Even new gauges are ±1–2 PSI — but peace of mind matters, especially when moving from the old system. Fits all models.
All American Pressure Canner 2040 Overpressure Plug
The modern rubber plug fits the machined (smooth) opening — it will not fit the old threaded hole. You will need a new lid or cover to use the 2040 plug. If you still have a working No. 65 valve as a backup, that's your overpressure option until the lid is replaced. See replacement covers here.
Need plug packs with free shipping? Order here.
Instruction & Recipe Book No. 74
After the upgrade, the No. 74 manual is fully applicable to your canner. It's the authoritative guide for the metal-to-metal seal, recipes, and canning times. Old petcock-style canners didn't align well with No. 74 — but after your upgrade they match perfectly. Ships same day.
Step-by-Step: The Upgrade
This takes about 15 minutes and requires no special tools beyond WD-40 or PB Blaster for a stubborn valve.
Remove the No. 65 Control Valve (Petcock)
Unscrew the old petcock / No. 65 Control Valve from the lid. If it's stuck from years of use, spray with WD-40 or PB Blaster and let it soak for a few minutes. Turn counter-clockwise to remove. Keep the old valve in a safe place — it can serve as a backup pressure safety device until your lid is updated.
Tool: WD-40 or PB Blaster recommended for stuck valvesInstall the No. 69 Vent Pipe
Screw the new No. 69 Vent Pipe into the same threaded hole. Some canners benefit from a wrap of plumber's tape (Teflon tape) on the threads to prevent minor steam bubbling around the fitting — this is optional. Bubbling at the threads does not impact pressure performance, but it can be disconcerting.
Part No. OpcAA69 — Vent PipePlace the No. 68 Regulator Weight on the Vent Pipe
The No. 68 Pressure Regulator Weight sits on top of the vent pipe. Align the hole on the weight corresponding to your desired pressure directly over the vent opening (5, 10, or 15 PSI). For pressure canning, you'll use 10 or 15 PSI depending on your altitude.
Part No. OpcAA68 — Regulator WeightLearn the New System: Trust the Weight, Not the Gauge
This is the most important mindset shift. With the new system: when the regulator weight jiggles or rocks 1 to 4 times per minute, you are at pressure. That's true regardless of what the steam gauge reads. Start counting your canning time from the first jiggle. Violent, constant rocking means your heat is too high — turn it down.
See No. 74 Manual for complete canning instructionsRead the No. 74 Instruction Manual
After this upgrade, the OAABOOK Instruction & Recipe Book is fully applicable to your unit. It covers the metal-to-metal seal care, the vent pipe, the regulator weight, and tested recipes. We recommend the physical copy — mark it up, keep it in the kitchen.
Part No. OAABOOK — Instruction & Recipe Book No. 74Learn More Upgrading a Vintage All American Canner in the Video Below:
Common Issues After Upgrading
Questions we get from customers after the petcock-to-weight conversion.
Most commonly this is a heat issue. If your heat source is too high, air escapes too quickly and it can be hard to detect proper venting. Turn heat down to medium when you hear air beginning to escape. You can also hold a piece of paper towel about an inch from the vent pipe — if condensation hits it, you're venting properly. Once you place the weight, let pressure build gradually at medium heat.
Trust the weight. Gauges — even brand new ones — are typically ±1–2 PSI off. Older gauges can be 5–10 PSI off. When the 15 PSI hole of the weight is over the vent pipe and the weight is jiggling steadily 1–4 times per minute, you are at 15 PSI, full stop. That's how the system is designed to work.
This is cosmetic and doesn't affect pressure. If it bothers you, unscrew the vent pipe, wrap the threads with plumber's tape (Teflon tape), and reinstall. Problem solved.
How to Date Your Older Canner
Knowing your canner's age helps confirm part compatibility and understand its history.
Modern Date Codes (on the bottom)
Look for a number stamped on the bottom of the canner. The first two digits indicate the year — "95" means 1995. Small tick marks (like a clock) indicate the month — 5 ticks means May. So a canner stamped "95" with 5 ticks was made in May 1995.
Old-School Letter Codes
Very old canners use letter + year codes: "A46" means January 1946 (A = January). "B54" means February 1954 (B = February). The letter corresponds to the month's position in the alphabet, and the number is the year.
Inside Cover Date
You can sometimes find the manufacturing date stamped on the inside of the cover. Check both the inside cover and the outside bottom if you're having trouble locating it.
Model Name History
Model 7 became Model 915 in 1978. Model 921½ dropped its "½" in the 1990s. These are the same canners — just renamed. All current 915 and 921 parts fit the old designations perfectly.
Need Help Choosing the Right Parts?
Our team has years of experience with All American Pressure Canners and we're here to help.
Call 1-800-251-8824
Mon–Fri, 9:30am–5pm ET · Red Hill General Store, Hillsville, VA
Frequently Asked Questions
All of our products are first quality and factory new. If you are not satisfied with any AllAmericanCanner.Com product you may return it within 30 days for replacement or refund. AllAmericanCanner.com is independently owned and operated by Red Hill General Store, Inc. We are not affiliated with Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry other than being an authorized retailer of their products. All American Pressure Canners are intended and manufactured for home use. They are not intended for commercial applications.