Service Kits and Service Centers

Summary: Maglite used to operate a large dealer and service network that has recently ceased operations. These dealers and service centers were primarily based out of small hardware, sporting goods, and law enforcement supply stores. They were well trained in service and sales techniques.

Starting with Maglite's founding in 1979 and up until 2015 Mag Instrument supported third party service centers in almost every state. This was the norm when aluminum flashlights first appeared in the early 70s. A 2D Maglite has been consistently priced at around $26. This is equal to almost almost $100 in 2017 dollars so in the early 80s most users considered these lights a sizable investment that they wanted to keep in good running order.

Maglites have always had a lifetime warranty and very rarely are they prone to failure. Mag Instrument has never covered battery leakage though and that is where most faults occur. The switch mechanism occasionally wears and fails or the seals fail and moisture is introduced to the mechanism which results in a high resistance where the bulb will fail to light. I have a post about repairing and diagnosing switches because they can be easily fixed rather than replaced with a little know how. Lenses, switch seals, reflectors and o-rings could also be tuned up on a routine service visit.

During Mag's early days Don Keller mostly went on the road to setup these service centers. Originally Maglite took some of their larger dealers, mainly hardware, sporting goods, and police equipment stores, at about one per state with the exception of Alaska and Hawaii, and trained designated employees on how to service Maglites. The service center was also able to purchase service kits as shown below. (The Maglite is for display only. It's a 1984 3D light I'm working on restoring for another Maglite fan.) Warranty repairs were reimbursed by Maglite at an appropriate rate and normal wear and tear like o-rings and lenses were billed out as per the price list below plus whatever markup the dealer desired. 20% as noted in this case.

This service kit came from a closed Maglite service center. The paperwork with it has the pre-1984 Maglite logo which means it was from one of the earliest service centers setup by Maglite. This particular service kit came from a closed gun dealer / gun smith in Missouri. Most of the items listed on the supply sheet are present as shown below but it has no lenses which gives some insight as to which parts wear first. It does have extra of almost every other item including switches, which is mainly what I was after. These switches are the older style aluminum retaining ring ones. I've discussed the drawbacks of these switches in my post on restorations but I still like to use them for restorations to keep the light period correct. Also shown below is a scan of the small service manual that was included with these kits intended as a reference for the training that was provided.

Included in this kit is also the older style Maglite spanner tool. This tool is far superior to the current plastic one. Most retaining rings come out fairly easily and can even be removed with needle nose pliers as a makeshift spanner but some of the more stubborn ones cause the dowels in the plastic tool to yield the plastic they are housed in and fall out. As far as I know these older aluminum style spanner wrenches are long out of production. the original part # was MSLC-52 but Mag Instrument no longer uses this numbering scheme. The part number for the new spanner wrench is 112-000-001 and is still available for order. Shown below is the new spanner tool vs. the old machined aluminum one.

The tools are pretty neat in that it has a C cell wrench on one end and a D cell wrench on the other. The picture on the left above shows the D cell end and the picture on the right shows the C cell end.

I also have another, newer style, service kit from a now defunct distributor in California. This service kit is from 1995 as noted in the literature that came with it. It comes with parts for both the letter serial (panther), and non-letter serial lights and the maintenance manual notes the differences as well. It is mostly complete and the Maglite part number can even be seen on the side of the box. The manual has instructions in several different languages but I only scanned the English version.

In 2015, during the last year of operation, Maglite had 60 service centers across the US. At the time of posting the service center locator feature could still be found on Mag Instrument's website, as shown below, although no service centers are listed. It's a shame these closed because now all lights must be sent back to Mag Instrument with the postage paid by the owner at least for the delivery to Maglite. This makes most repairs cost prohibitive as a new light can be purchased for around the same cost as shipping.

It is a shame that Maglite closed their service centers. Although, I'm sure they were a losing proposition. Failures are pretty uncommon and at the end of the day with rising competition from cheap, plentiful, imported LED lights there's no way Maglite could operate these service centers and sell a reasonably priced light. Unfortunately it's a bygone era and for the majority of people  flashlights are now a disposable commodity.

As always I'm looking to buy Vari-Beams and Vintage/Rare Mags. Please let me know if you have any, top dollar paid.

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Here's something a little different. I have a small stash of vintage Maglite ads on my computer. In this post I'll put up any old Maglite ads that I have or find.

This ad used to come as an insert in some of the very first lights. Maglite uses their pre 1985 logo here.

This is one of Maglite's first ads from 1979. It is an insert sent to dealers and early retailers with a description of the light and its uses. It displays a very distinct 1979 light and doesn't make mention of C cells as they weren't in production yet. It also doesn't display Maglite's logo because it hadn't been finalized.

This ad was sent to dealers in 1980 in anticipation of the January 1981 release of the Mag Charger. This is the earliest Mag Charger ad as well as one of the earliest Maglite ads.

This ad is from 1984 and is one of the very first for Mini Maglites.

This ad is from 1987 but shows earlier lights with the TM bezel. Including the first gen Mini Maglite.

Here's a throwback ad from Maglite's Twitter feed a while back. In it Maglite is using their Horizon style logo which ran from 1985 to 1991. You can see the lights still have TM next to Maglite on the bezel. This TM mark ran until 1986 or so before it was changed to the R with the circle.

This is another ad that uses the 1985-1991 Horizon Logo. Maglites are indeed a sportsman's friend.

This is an ad for an interesting Maglite related law enforcement product. It's the P.A.S. the Passive Alcohol Sensor. It's an early breathalyzer that was made using a Maglite body. I don't own one of these but I do know an ex-distributor and I would like to in the future. It's a nice piece of law enforcement and Maglite history. For those with a really keen eye you'll also see the Qual-Tech end cap and charger and early conversion for Maglites and Kel-Lites before the Streamlight SL-20 and Mag Charger hit the market. Not quite a light but still a Maglite.

This ad is from the late 1980s but has been used in many Maglite marketing campaigns over the years.

This is a current Maglite ad and uses their 1992 to Present Panther logo. This one usually runs in magazines and online around Halloween.

This is a very nice, early 2 page ad. It stresses that if Maglites are good enough for first responders they're good enough for most other uses too!

This ad is from the same time frame, around 1990 and is simple yet effective.

This ad is geared towards firefighters.

This ad is from Mag's very early days and uses their original logo. It advertises both their standard D cell light and the rechargeable Mag Charger.

If you spot any cool ads please drop me a line. I'd love to see them and I'll add more here in the future. Enjoy!!

As always I'm looking to buy Vari-Beams and Vintage/Rare Mags. Please let me know if you have any, top dollar paid.

1990 and 1991 Transitional Maglites

Summary: In 1990 Maglite started to modernize their lights. This marked the end of the vintage Maglite era and the lights started to look more like the ones produced today.

Since 1979 Mag Instrument has been dedicated to finding ways to cut costs through manufacturing efficiencies instead of raising prices on their lights. Throughout the 1980s Maglites remained largely unchanged except for minor cosmetic differences. That changed in 1990. By 1992 the light's design was completely overhauled into the flashlight that's currently available today. In this post I'll discuss the 1990 and 1991 model lights. Most collectors refer to these as "transitional" models. Before I start it should be noted at all parts interchange between the 1991 and prior models even though the aesthetics changed slightly. This is not the case with 1992 and later lights where most parts will not interchange. Shown below is a 1991 Red Transitional 5D and a 1983 Black Vintage 5D. I'll discuss the differences shortly.

One of the changes that started in early 1990 was that the light's grip size was reduced. The grip size was reduced due to the fact that the grip near the end of the flashlight went largely unused as most users held the light near the switch or in the middle for a better balance point. The decision to reduce the grip saved on production time and tooling costs. Grip sizes were reduced according to the table below and the grip length was standardized to it's currently available length. Also shown below is a picture comparing two 3Ds. The top one is a vintage light that is an example of the 1989 and prior models and the bottom one is a 1990 that is a good example of 1990 and 1991 transitional lights. This picture show the overall reduced grip length. This change makes it very easy to spot the older lights on everyone's favorite auction site or in photos. Along with the bezel style it is a very useful tool in determining the age of a Maglite without knowing the serial number.

The bezel also changed. Like the Mini Maglites I covered earlier the bezel on the original models was stamped and the stamping was then filled in with white paint. Over time the white paint would sometimes wear away and the bezel stamping sometimes produced quality control issues. The laser etching, like the grip size change, reduced production time and although it was a large capital investment at the time the overall production cost was again reduced. Shown below is a picture of the difference between a stamped bezel on the pre 1990 models and a laser etched bezel of a 1990 light. The light on the left in both pictures is a laser etched bezel and the light on the right in both pictures is a stamped bezel. It's much easier to tell these apart in person because the laser etched bezels are smooth whereas the stamped bezels are indented and there is a groove for each letter.

In addition the switch style was also changed. Up until 1989 the switches used an aluminum retaining ring that screwed into the inside diameter of the light and held the switch in place. Starting in 1990 Mag Instrument changed this to a plastic retaining ring and it is now the only style available when ordering replacement switches for older style lights. I've detailed the benefits of this change in my post on removing stuck retaining rings. I do have a large collection of NOS (new old stock) metal retaining ring switches that I use for restorations so I can use the correct switch for the light being restored though. Shown below is a picture from that thread showing the difference between the switches. The older style switch is on the left and the newer style switch is on the right.

These "transitional" lights kept the same barrel size and non-letter serials as the pre 1990 lights. In 1992 the Maglite was completely re-designed into the model that's available today. Details on those changes can be found here. Most collectors regard the 1991 models as the last year of vintage Maglites and some even regard 1989 as the last year. I have several "transitional" Maglites but they are not as collectible as earlier lights. In fact most folks confuse these with the 1992+ "Panther" Maglites because they look so similar. I enjoy these lights because they still have the larger barrel even though they may be some of the least collectible Maglites.

Colors were very limited on these lights. This was mainly due to the fact that Mag Instrument was starting to modernize their facility and starting to build new tooling and assembly lines for the switch over to the redesigned lights in 1992. I've only seen these in black, red, blue, and silver. Serial numbers are going to be around the values listed in the table below as I have examples of each D cell transitional model and they were only produced for 2 years.

It is interesting to note that these serial numbers are also the production numbers of each model D cell up until 1991. So, in around a decade 4,000,000 3D Cells were produced. This is a good example of how popular, or unpopular, certain models are. I've always been curious as to why Maglite produces a 5D seeing how close in length they are to a 6D and 4D and how unpopular they are. I posted a D Cell Quick Dating Guide that shows round about serial numbers for each model and the above table can also be used to guesstimate the age of your light. Production numbers were low in 1979 and 1980 but were pretty constant throughout the rest of the 80s. Of course, Maglite can tell you the exact date your light was manufactured if you send them an info request on their web site. It's also interesting to note that in the 90s some model Maglites sold in these numbers in a single year. For example 3Ds would easily sell 2,000,000 a year or more in the late 90s. This puts into perspective how rare the 1991 and prior lights really are.

As always I'm looking to buy Vari-Beams and Vintage/Rare Mags. Please let me know if you have any, top dollar paid.

2001 3D 9/11 Search and Rescue Lights

Summary: These lights were produced as a donation to the 9/11 rescue effort by Maglite. They were handed out to first responders at ground zero and are extremely rare today because most were lost in the cleanup effort. They are one of 5 lights Maglite has produced as giveaways for historical events.

I noticed I've been posting a lot of old Maglite history but no lights lately. I'm about half way through my collection so here's a really interesting one with a bit of American history. These are the newer style, Panther light which I normally don't collect but these are so rare and have such a large place in American history I could not pass them up.

September 11th was one of the darkest days for America. It is right up there with Pearl Harbor and the Kennedy assassination. Those that were alive on those days will always remember exactly where they were when they heard the news. I am originally from New Jersey, just 20 miles west of New York City, so 9/11 hit close to home for me. I knew several buddies that were impacted first hand and I also knew some heroic folks who were involved in the search and rescue effort. I think it will remain for some time one of the worst days on record but also stand to a testament of the American spirit.

In true American fashion Mag Instrument donated 3,000 Maglites to the 9/11 search and rescue effort. These were all 3D models and were donated in a variety of colors but as far as I know were all 3Ds. The two below are finished in purple and standard black although the standard black light shown below has no knurling. These no knurling model were produced very sparingly in the early 2000s and are tough to come by today. Mag Instrument has made several giveaway/donation lights and this was the only D cell one that I know of. These were passed out to emergency responders in the days after the 9/11 attacks and as the wording implies were not for sale. I haven't seen many of these so I don't imagine that many were saved during the 9/11 cleanup.

The other official donation and giveaway lights were the George HW Bush 1989 inaugural Mini Maglites, George W Bush 2001 and 2005 Mini Maglites and the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics Mini Maglites. Maglite lists several other donation lights on their website but to the best of my knowledge I don't believe these had any special inscriptions or were any different than the normal production lights.

I was looking for one of these for a while but wasn't sure really what all to look for. Mag Instrument makes mention to them on their site but doesn't show much info. I could see they had a laser etching by the tail cap but until I got this light I wasn't sure if they were all printed that way or if it was just the one on the website. The image from Mag's website is below and shows one finished in a prototype, never released, rose gold finish. I've heard of some of these being distributed for donation as well.

If anyone else has one of these please contact me as there is something on this light that I think is different from other standard 3Ds but I just want to confirm. These are all going to be around a ~29,000,000 serial which puts them right in the 2001 production range. They are not going to be sequential because I believe they are all different finishes.

As always I'm looking to buy Vari-Beams and Vintage/Rare Mags. Please let me know if you have any, top dollar paid.

Stuck Batteries

This is part of a series of posts I've written about common Maglite repairs. I've also covered the following topics:

Removing Battery Corrosion and Straightening Bent Lights
Stuck End Caps
Stuck Retaining Rings
Switch Removal and Stuck Switches
Switch Disassembly and Repair

Disclaimer: I'll start out by saying that these repairs are tedious and challenging. It is very rewarding to make an old Maglite light again though. If you have a special light and don't feel up to the challenge I do restorations and custom work on most vintage flashlights. My contact info is at the right side of the page.

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One of the most common problems that plagues vintage flashlights is stuck or frozen batteries. This is caused by alkaline batteries being left inside a flashlight long after their expiration date. Most flashlights see only occasional use and as such the alkaline cell corrodes through it's outer shell before the energy is depleted. Usually the user will turn on the light one day to find that it doesn't light and one or more cells is stuck in the light.

Have no fear, there is a solution! I've always been able to remove stuck batteries on every light I've worked on. It is just a matter of persistence and patience. Some may find that it is easier to purchase a new light. This is likely true for most ordinary users. However, some vintage lights are literally one of a kind and to me at least they are worth returning to running order.

Shown below is a 1st generation 5C cell Kel-Lite from the early 70s. While this isn't a Maglite the process works the same for a Maglite although a Maglite switch is located inside the barrel vs. on the exterior of this Kel-Lite. I have some info on Kel-Lites on my new blog.  On a Maglite the switch must be removed from the front (reflector side) of the barrel. This can be accomplished by unscrewing the retaining ring on an older style, non-letter serial or by removing the snap ring on the newer, panther style lights. More info is available in my post here about removing switches if they are stuck.

For the first step I'll clean out any loose alkaline that is inside the light with some warm water and a tooth brush. Next, just as I detailed in my post about removing corrosion, vinegar does a heck of a job at neutralizing the alkaline base and freeing the cells from the light. I use a 1 liter soda bottle with the top cut off to make up a bath for the light as shown below.

The trick here is letting the light soak and frequently changing the vinegar. What I usually do is let the light soak for a week, try to remove the batteries as per the instructions below and then soak the light again. It does help to change the vinegar bath every few days and remove any alkaline that has fallen out. Gently tapping the light while it is soaking every day or so helps the vinegar to work it's way in between the cells and barrel. Shown below is what my vinegar bath looked like after a couple days with alkaline floating it it.

Now it's time to try to remove the batteries. If this step doesn't work without a ton of effort try soaking the light longer. For serious offenders lemon juice may be alternated with vinegar to try to free up the cells easier. Different types of chemistry on the cells respond to either vinegar or lemon juice better but I don't quite know why.

First thing's first. You'll need some sort of dowel or punch to put force on the batteries. I used a 1/2" copper pipe but I've also used brass punches, wooden dowels and small steel rods. I prefer something softer so I know how much force I'm exerting. Also, you'll want to set the light on a piece of wood so it is not damaged. Shown below is how this should look.

Next, take a hammer, I like to use a rubber mallet, and pound the offending cells into exile from the barrel. If they don't budge or so much force is exerted that the light is in danger of being damaged try soaking it longer. Again, you want to make sure the light is on a sturdy but wooden surface during hammering otherwise the barrel end will mushroom ruining the threads and rendering the light useless, Obviously you'll want to hold or secure the light during hammering. Shown below is the aftermath of the removal and the hammer I use.

And the offending cells. Note these expired in 2009, 8 years prior to this post. Cells usually have a shelf life of 10 years so these were likely installed in the light in 1999.

Here is a shot of the inside diameter of the light. You'll need to continue to my post about post about removing corrosion to finish up the light and get it back into 100% working shape again. I'll post some pics of this finished light on my new blog soon. Best of luck!

If you're interested in seeing the rest of this restoration as well as the finished light. Please cruise on over to my other blog or the direct link to this post is:  http://otherflashlights.blogspot.com/search/label/Kel-Lite%20Repair

As always I'm looking to buy Vari-Beams and Vintage/Rare Mags. Please let me know if you have any, top dollar paid.

New Non-Maglite Blog

I just wanted to take a post and announce my new blog. I have been growing my non-Maglite collection of aluminum professional flashlights from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. I've also gotten some really great info to post that might help out other collectors. I made my first post today and below is an interesting Kel-Lite for a lead in.

Please check it out and check back frequently for more updates:

http://otherflashlights.blogspot.com/

As always I'm looking to buy Vari-Beams and Vintage/Rare Mags. Please let me know if you have any, top dollar paid.

2001 President Bush Inaugural AA Mini Maglites

Summary: These are one of five Maglite "giveaway" lights and were produced for the 2001 Inauguration of George W Bush. There were 40,000 given away to those in attendance. They have special laser etching commemorating the event and lack the normal knurling on the barrel.

In a previous post I detailed the 1989 George HW Bush Inaugural AAA Mini Maglite that I have. I also made reference to 2001 and 2005 AA Mini Maglites being produced for the inauguration of George W. Bush. I was finally able to pick up a 2001 George W. Bush inaugural AA Mini Maglite. These lights have an almost identical logo on the head of the light with the presidential seal and inauguration date. This light however has additional screen printing on the body of the light and lacks the typical knurled grip of the Mini Maglite. This was done so that the screen printing would be more easily readable on the smaller light. I've also heard they were done in red as a nod to the official color of the republican party when declaring election results.

Like the AAA light before it 40,000 of these were also produced for the inauguration and distributed to attendees. This one came in a period correct standard Mini Maglite display box without any special literature so I'm not sure if that was the correct package for this or if like the AAA inaugural Mini Maglites it had a special package and insert.

These were only produced for George HW Bush and George W Bush as discussed earlier because Tony Maglica is a republican supporter. The 2005 version looks similar except it is anodized blue. No light was produced for President Trump's inauguration in 2017 and it's doubtful any future ones will be produced. Tony was a big drive in producing and distributing these and since he is much older now I doubt he will produce them for future presidents. Anyway, enjoy the pics, I've also shown it with my 1989 Inaugural Mini Maglite so you can see the similarities.

As always I'm looking to buy Vari-Beams and Vintage/Rare Mags. Please let me know if you have any, top dollar paid.

Relevant Patents and Trademarks

So, some of the boring stuff. In coming up with the dates and timelines on product introductions and changes I've researched out the publicly available patents and trademarks that Mag Instrument has applied for. In this section I will keep a log broken down first by Patent and Trademark and then alphabetically on all of the relevant info.

Patents

Mag Charger
Filed As:Variable Beam Flashlight and Recharging Unit
6/1981 Filing Date
6/1983 Approval Date
US4388673 Patent Number
https://www.google.com/patents/US4388673

Maglite
Filed As: Flashlight
12/1978 Filing Date
8/1981 Approval Date
US4286311 Patent Number
https://www.google.com/patents/US4286311

Maglite (1992+ Panther Lights)
Filed As: Flashlight
2/1992 Filing Date
8/1981 Approval Date
US4286311 Patent Number
https://www.google.com/patents/US4286311

Mini Maglite
Filed As: Miniature Flashlight
9/1984 Filing Date
3/1986 Approval Date
US4577263 Patent Number
https://www.google.com/patents/US4577263


Trademarks

Mag-Lite
2/1979 First Use Anywhere
5/1981 Trademark Approved
73238973 Serial
1154816 Registration
https://trademarks.justia.com/732/38/mag-73238973.html

Maglite (Horizon Style Logo)
5/1984 First Use Anywhere
2/1989 Trademark Approved
9/2009 Trademark Cancelled
73669456 Serial
1524374 Registartion
https://trademarks.justia.com/736/69/maglite-73669456.html

Mag-Lite (Trademark for Circumferential Inscription)
2/1979 First Use Anywhere
12/1993 Trademark Approved
73746785 Serial
1808998 Registartion
https://trademarks.justia.com/737/46/mag-73746785.html

Marquis
5/1988 First Use Anywhere
3/1989 Trademark Approved
9/1995 Trademark Cancelled
73746864 Serial
1528126 Registartion
https://trademarks.justia.com/737/46/m-a-r-q-u-i-s-73746864.html

Mini Maglite
1/1984 First Use Anywhere
4/1986 Trademark Approved
73555456 Serial
1389804 Registration
https://trademarks.justia.com/735/55/mini-73555456.html

Panther Head Logo
1/1992 First Use Anywhere
10/1995 Trademark Approved
74220038 Serial
1928819 Registartion
https://trademarks.justia.com/742/20/n-74220038.html

Solitaire
7/1988 First Use Anywhere
3/1989 Trademark Approved
73746861 Serial
1528125 Registration
https://trademarks.justia.com/737/46/solitaire-73746861.html

Vari-Beam
8/1980 First Use Anywhere
7/1983 Trademark Approved
4/2004 Trademark Cancelled
73372320 Serial
1245186 Registration
https://trademarks.justia.com/733/72/vari-beam-73372320.html

As always I'm looking to buy Vari-Beams and Vintage/Rare Mags. Please let me know if you have any, top dollar paid.

Jeep Wrangler Maglite Mounting

Aside from collecting Maglites I also use them. I've been offroading since before I could legally drive and I've always enjoyed it. Long before I collected Maglites my dad and I used them both in our construction business and while having fun outdoors. I've always carried a trusty Maglite in any offroader I've owned for those late night trail repairs and to use while pulling out buddies who were stuck in the mud.

I've been through a few trucks and in 2013 I was looking for one again. The choices for a new offroader are very few right now and I was never a fan of Jeeps. However, my last offroader was a Toyota and the aftermarket support is slim to none. I spent more time in the shop having parts made than I did offroading. So I picked up a brand new 2 door Wrangler. I like the shorter wheelbase much better for offroading than the 4 door and it's a dedicated offroader so I'm not worried about being practical. There is one drawback that I'll cover later when mounting Maglites though.

So, here's what you need to get started. These are available on Amazon and most hardware stores for $7 or so. The package includes 2 D cell clips and 4 Phillips head screws.

I mounted mine on the side of the front seat cover. The finished product is shown in the pic below. From what I've heard the 2011 and older Wranglers have different interior panels and I don't think they look exactly the same.

To start out there is one T30 torx bolt at the front of the side seat cover. After removing it, there is one clip, circled in yellow below, that needs to pop out and then the rear end has a small sleeve, circled in red, that needs to slide off. Be careful when popping out the clip so that the sleeve doesn't tear off.

Next I clip the Maglite into the clips and trace the edges of the clips in pencil. This is to ensure that the clips will line up correctly when the screws are installed. If you skip this step the light may not clip in correctly because the clips are not aligned.

Lastly, I'll place the clips around the pencil traced edge and using a screwdriver I'll screw the screws into the plastic. I don't like to use a screw gun because they will sometimes over torque the screw and strip out the plastic. The plastic is not that thick in these areas so it will strip out pretty easily. The screws provided are plenty strong and with a little effort will thread into the plastic. I've also thought about drilling the holes and using a bolt and nut but I haven't had any strength issues so far.

Shown below is how the back looks after the screws are installed. This provides a good rough guide as to placement so that the screws and clips don't interfere with the remounting of the cover to the seat.

To wrap everything back up slide the sleeve over the rear end of the cover first. Then pop the clip back into place and lastly insert the T30 torx bolt back in the front and tighten it. If you did everything correctly you should be ready to roll!

If you have a 2 door Jeep this mod works best with 2 or 3 cell lights. If you move the seat forward to let passengers in and out of the back of the Jeep a longer light gets in the way and creates a tripping hazard. Even a 3 cell is a little tight.

The lights are interesting too. I have an identical one on the passenger side as well and the instructions are the same for installing one there. They are Maglites but have been cerakoted orange. As you can see this has covered up the laser etching on the bezel. I also run a Malkoff drop-in, KAI Domain aluminum orange peel reflector, upgraded lens, and NiMH batteries. This setup is identical to the one I detailed in my earlier post about the best upgrades for vintage lights and links to most of these upgrades can be found in the Parts and Upgrades section on the right hand toolbar. This is a new, 1992+, Panther head logo Maglite. The orange cerakote is a much more durable finish than the stock anodizing and makes them very easy to find in the dark or if dropped in the mud or sand. They also look pretty neat too when I'm cruising around with the doors off.

Anyway, I know this is a bit different from my usual posts but I thought it might be an interesting topic for those who have Jeeps and are also interested in Maglites.

As always I'm looking to buy Vari-Beams and Vintage/Rare Mags. Please let me know if you have any, top dollar paid.