Maglite: Wikis

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Maglite flashlight

Maglite (also spelled Mag-Lite) is a brand of flashlight manufactured by Mag Instrument, Inc. located in Ontario, California, and founded by Anthony Maglica. It was introduced in 1979. Constructed principally of anodized 6061 aluminum, they have a variable-focus beam. Maglites are produced in several colors such as black, silver, blue, and red and different finishes. The flashlights have either krypton or xenon incandescent bulbs or LEDs.

Accessories include belt holsters, light clamps, colored and glass lenses, attachable fiber optics extensions, higher-powered incandescent bulbs, and LED conversion modules.

The Maglite was an improvement over the Kel-Lite, after which the Maglite was patterned.

1 Sizes
2 Law enforcement use
3 Collectability
4 References
5 See also
6 External links

Sizes

A list of the sizes of Mag Instrument flashlights, and the years they were released:

1979: D and C battery models are put on the market; targeted to the public safety and industrial sectors (the 7D, 5C, 6C & 7C models are out of production)
1982: MagCharger: a larger more expensive model popular with public safety and emergency-services personnel. This light is much brighter than typical Maglites, and uses a rechargeable NiCad battery pack.
1984: 2 AA cell batteries (Mini Maglite) Maglite's first personal size flashlight
1987: 2 AAA cell batteries (Mini Maglite) A smaller version of the Mini Maglite, to be used in industrial, scientific and medical applications
1988: 1 AAA cell battery (Maglite Solitaire) Mag Instrument's key chain flashlight.
2006: C and D cell batteries (Maglite LED)
2006: 2 AA cell batteries (Mini Maglite LED)
2006: 3 AA cell batteries (Mini Maglite LED)

Law enforcement use

Many police officers carry Maglites, as they are durable, focusable, and generally produce better output than inexpensive mass market flashlights. However in recent years police departments have been adopting more expensive, higher performance "tactical" flashlights from companies such as SureFire and Streamlight.

Maglite flashlights have been known to be used as mêlée weapons. On March 30, 2007, the Los Angeles Police Department announced that they would be switching to a smaller, lighter LED flashlight that cannot be used as batons, in response to a highly publicized incident where an officer was accused of using excessive force against a suspect by using a Maglite.^[1]

Collectability

Maglites have also drawn a number of private collectors and often releases models with special paint schemes. There are also some models that are mass produced, but not readily available. The pink AA is only available at some Walmart locations, no other retail outlets, aside from collector outlets.

References

^ New LAPD Flashlight Avoids Use As Weapon, KNBC-TV News, Mar. 30, 2007 ( link doesn't work as of Sept. 16, 2009 )

External links

Most Maglites have a spare bulb in the tailcap. LED lamps have a long life, and don't usually need to be replaced. LED Maglites have a spare incandescent bulb.