2 c early kel-lite

[johnwithkellite]

I have a 2 C kel-lite made in Barstow. It has the early slide style switch. I bought it around 1974 at the factory. Not too much bigger than a mini-maglite. Are there many of these around?

 

[PhotoGal]

Hello! - and welcome to CPF!

Yes, I have a Kel Lite 2C model, also. Bought it when I lived in CA. and then moved back here around '75. It has the squarish slide switch on the side, square bottom tailcap, and a few dings on the bezel from it hitting some concrete when dropped a few times. Still works just fine, too!

Regards, Jackie

 

[LowBat]

Do either of your Kel-Lites have the red circular momentary button on the slide switch? Mine had that, but someone who had an earlier model just had a black slide switch.

 

[JNewell]

I have one, and a 3-cell also. The 2-cell is actually about half the size of a 2C Maglite. It's a truly great light. Welcome!

 

[johnwithkellite]

Hello! - and welcome to CPF!

Yes, I have a Kel Lite 2C model, ............................ It has the ...... bottom tailcap, .............
Regards, Jackie

I remember the literature from the company describing the square ended flashlights as "stud" lights. I think they were marketed to truckers. The folks at the factory in Barstow also said all anodizing was done off-site due to either EPA concerns or water availability. I figured that little problem was going to cause a move.

 

[PhotoGal]

Well, looking at mine, it has just the black square slide switch, no little red momentary button. By the way LowBat, San Jose is my former home and I lived on Flanigan Drive, just off the Tully Rd. 101 exit.

The anodizing on mine is wearing a bit thin now, as there are purplish areas showing - or maybe it wasn't a very good anodizing job in the first place, what with being done off-site, etc.??? Just a thought.

Regards, Jackie

 

[LowBat]

By the way LowBat, San Jose is my former home and I lived on Flanigan Drive, just off the Tully Rd. 101 exit.

That would be close to the Chuck-E-Cheese building if I'm not mistaken. I'm up near the Hwy 85 and 87 interchange.

Larry

 

[ABTOMAT]

I have a few 2C slide-switch Kel-Lites. They used that same basic design for the C-cell lights 'till the end of the company. The 3-way switch models were fairly uncommon in C-cell sizes, and were only made after 1976 or so. Been trying to find one.

A Barstow location would mean it's not that early. They moved in 1972 after Don Keller left the company. Older ones were from Covina.

All Kel-Lites had squared ends until the rounded Stor-a-Bulb tailcaps. "Stud-Lite" was a seperate name marketed by Kel-Lite to truckers and industrial users. Identical to all other Kel-Lites other than the switch finish in some of them.

Anodizing can fade with age. I have some Mag-Lites that are turning purple, and I have a few Kel-Lites that are tending towards silver or gunmetal.