Maglite

Maglite (also spelled Mag-Lite, stylized as MAGLITE or MAG-LITE) is a brand of flashlight manufactured in the United States by Mag Instrument, Inc. located in Ontario, California, and founded by Anthony Maglica. It was introduced in 1979.[1][2] Constructed principally of anodized 6061 aluminum, they have a variable-focus beam. Maglites are produced in several colors such as black, silver, blue, red, green, purple, gold, and different finishes. Originally Maglite flashlights used krypton or xenon incandescent bulbs. Current models have LEDs, although the older models are still widely available.

Accessories include belt holsters, mounting brackets, colored and glass lenses, attachable fiber optics extensions to bend light output into a cramped space, higher-powered incandescent bulbs, and LED conversion modules. The Maglite was an improvement over the Kel-Lite, after which the Maglite was patterned.[3]

Timeline

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 5C, 6C, 7C and 7D 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 an incandescent Halogen bulb and a rechargeable NiCad or NiMH battery pack.
• 1984: Two AA cell batteries (Mini Maglite) Maglite's first personal size flashlight
• 1987: Two AAA cell batteries (Mini Maglite) A smaller version of the original Mini Maglite
• 1988: One AAA cell battery (Maglite Solitaire) Mag Instrument's key chain flashlight.
• 2006: Maglite LED Flashlight and Upgrade Module: 3-watt Luxeon III LED from Lumileds.[2]
• 2006: Mini Maglite LED 2AA.

Models

Law enforcement use

Maglite flashlights have been known to be used as a ready substitute for a baton. In 2004, the Los Angeles Police Commission moved to use smaller flashlights, with Alan Skobin, the commission vice-president, stating that "This policy makes clear flashlights are for illumination and discourages their use as an impact tool. And it ensures officer safety as well as protects the public."[5]

Police and security personnel often use full-size Maglite flashlights due to their durability, brightness, and weight, which can also make them suitable for use as improvised defensive tools.

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 a baton, in response to a highly publicized incident where an officer was accused of using excessive force against a suspect by using a Maglite.[6]

Gallery

External links

• [https://www.takeitapart.com/guide/50 Complete disassembly of a 2D Maglite flashlight with a xenon bulb.