Couple questions
So I have all the rod bolts out and the top plate is held on with some kind of caulk/sealant/goop that here 90 yrs later is more or less hard as a rock. How to get off without doing further damage to cylinder? I do have the missing piece of glass and am hoping to repair in some way at least good enough.

Also, the handle. Almost looks like someone tried getting it off, gave up, and then put the dowel back in. What exactly, if anything is holding it on the shaft?

Last, currently I have one skin still on. Is this lower bracket enough to hold up the entire upper assembly with both skins off? Or is that second skin a stressed member of the assy? Don't want to find out the hard way.

That caulk looking stuff is a mixture of litharge and glycerin. Only way I've found to remove it is to carefully scrape it, little by little. Wear a mask and eye protection. The dust you will make is bad stuff, very dangerous.

I found this. Great stuff!

https://www.oldgas.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=400691

I'm a crazy or is the ligharge already removed on the bottom??

I use paint stripper on the haul then keep digging it out with little picks, patience it takes time

The handle will freeze on take the bolt out and drive it off the shaft use heat

Use a 2 x 4 to hold up the pump with the side off just cut it to take the pressure off the skin

Good luck

I woke up this morning to a new crack in the cylinder running from top edge about half way down.

At what point is it just not worth saving?

What bolt???

I must just be lucky, because this litharge as you called it, is scraping out like a saltine cracker!! Just crumbles away!!
I'm so bummed the cylinder is in the shape it's in now!