Where does the kilroy switch name come from?

[kromeke]

If you look at Arc Flashlights Arc6 instructions, they refer to a kilroy switch.

If I recall correctly, the mechanical design of the Arc6 is from McGizmo and his "piston drive" system. I've seen a reference here on CPF in a discussion on one of Nitecore's offerings (the ones with the "piston drive" style switch) to the kilroy as well.

A quick google search for kilroy on candlepowerforums produces 424 hits. I don't wish to sort through all of them to find my answer so I'll ask it now.

Where does this "kilroy" term come from, with regards to a switch design? is it a McGizmo concoction?

 

[KeyGrip]

I like to think it got its name because it looks kinda like Kilroy's nose. I have no idea what the truth is.

 

[labrat]

The "Kilroy" term comes from WW II:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilroy_was_here

Also made very known in the movie "Kelly's heroes":
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065938/

The plot you can read here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065938/

When you read in the end:
"Kelly, Oddball and Big Joe gain the German's assistance by offering him and his crew a share of the loot. They divide up the gold and go their separate ways, just in time to avoid meeting the still-clueless Colt (who is mistaken by the townspeople for Charles de Gaulle). Maitland himself enters the bank to find a less-than-respectful message left for him while his men, the self-serving heroes of the hour, make their escape."

This is what he saw on the wall:

 

[Norm]

That little fella is know as foo in Australia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foo_was_here

 

[kromeke]

Yes, I'm quite familiar with the "Kilroy was here" graffiti, especially since I did a search, hoping to find the origin of the name with regards to the switch.

Kudos to KeyGrip for a sensible explanation, even though it was not obvious to me at first, it does make a little sense.

Still hoping for a definitive answer on the switch "kilroy"

 

[McGizmo]

Hi guys,

I gave the contact spring the name kilroy even though I never was certain if it was Kilroy or Killroy. As Keygrip has surmised, the name came from a resemblance to Kilroy's nose and I remember drawing Kilroy when I was a kid.

Some pleminary sketches of what the back side of the PCB needed to address looked like Kilroy to me and instead of using a generic term that could be confusing, Kilroy stuck. :shrug:

 

[KeyGrip]

Really? Sweet.

 

[kelmo]

Mr Roboto...

 

[Illum]

the name came from a resemblance to Kilroy's nose and I remember drawing Kilroy when I was a kid.

Whew...for a minute there I thought that Roy was your machining assistant

 

[KeyGrip]

Poor Roy. Living on an amazing island turning bits of aluminum and titanium into cutting edge tools. Someone's gotta do it.

 

[TITAN1833]

long live the "kilroy" switch

 

[tx101]

long live the "kilroy" switch

LOL .... looks kinda obscene

 

[Braddah_Bill]

Its good to know I'm not the only one to spend almost an hour searching google and trying endless combinations for a kilroy switch. I gave up and was left thinking the switch looks like his nose.

Bill

Yes, I'm quite familiar with the "Kilroy was here" graffiti, especially since I did a search, hoping to find the origin of the name with regards to the switch.

Kudos to KeyGrip for a sensible explanation, even though it was not obvious to me at first, it does make a little sense.

Still hoping for a definitive answer on the switch "kilroy"

 

[kromeke]

Thanks for the definitive answer from the original source of the name, McGizmo.

From here on out, we can safely call our bent wire switches a Kilroy switch, you read it on CPF first.

 

[TITAN1833]

Yep there's a man that nose!:naughty:

 

[Braddah_Bill]

Good one.......

Yep there's a man that nose!:naughty: