The vintage California cop light company thread

[bykfixer]

I'm pretty sure the flashlights used by bank robbers in the movie "Finding Steve MacQueen" were Kel-Lites.

A movie where among other things they showed scenes from a bank vault robbery in 1972 and the bandits were using black tube flashlights that really looked like 3rd gen Kel-Lites. Now the third gen were not out in 72 but at one point I coulda sworn the switch in the scene was the third gen type.

Whatever they were acuracy-wise it was nice to see what looked like vintange California cop lights instead of Eveready Captains or Rayovac Sportsman.

 

[RWT1405]

Not sure how I missed this thread, but I have found it very interesting!

I'm not sure why, but I'm not able to post pictures now, as I was going to show you my original L.A. Screw Smoke-Cutter (purchased new in 1982, by me) and my original StreamLight SL-20 (purchased new in 1985, by me).

I used them for years, purchasing the StreamLight SL-20 after getting tired of changing the Smoke-Cutters batts all the time, however it (Smoke-Cutter) remained useful, being kept with my bunker gear and getting used regularly for fires, etc.

Thanks for bringing back many memories!

 

[LiftdT4R]

Very cool, Imgur is the best bet for hosting pics. You can click on the BBC Code link after uploading your pics and past that here.

I'd love to see pics and any stories too! Were/are you a firefighter?

I didn't know until recently that Code 4 is code for "no further assistance required". Basically, everything is all good. Nice marketing slogan for a flashlight geared towards law enforcement professionals. I did a write up on Code 4s with some old advertisements on my blog at: http://otherflashlights.blogspot.com/2017/06/gt-price-and-la-screw-code-4-lights.html

I have the contact info for an old Code 4 dealer in TX. I was able to buy some parts off of him. Supposedly he has some NOS lights too but I was never able to quite pry them from his grip. It's where I got most of the adverts and info from too.

 

[bykfixer]

Today, January 9th 2021 is National Law Enforcement Day

So fire up those jumbo Calofornia Cop Lights this evening in celebration.

Streamlight 4D Kel-Lite and 3D Maglite in all their glory.

 

[LiftdT4R]

Nice, that's a great idea! Think I'll get any crazy looks if I use this on my walk tonight?

 

[bykfixer]

Not up close……
"Back away from the flashlight" "back……away……from the ……flashlight maggot"

I thought about carrying my big-head Dirty Harry 3D Rayovac Sportsman but there's no dent in the head like the one in the original Dirty Harry movie……so I may lego the big head from a Kel-Lite onto that Streamlight for affect. lol

 

[konifans]

Got some more Kellites....

Two x 2D First Generation

Covina

3D First Generation

 

[xxo]

Wow! Those are nice.

 

[konifans]

I think Surefire it also a California cop light company?

 

[vicv]

Look at the size of the head on that thing! What is it? I want that!
They all look nice though with the contrasting silver rings

 

[bykfixer]

You have a real nice collection konifans.

This thread started out to be about pre-SureFire simply to not become just another SureFire thread while it was being built as a legacy thread about lights during the infancy of alluminum tube lights built in California USA.

Now to have added LaserProducts early on was not off limits but nobody chose to. I call those Pre-PK products.
See, while Don Keller, Tony Maglica and others were changing the flashlight world, Dr John Matthews had a hand in fiber optic technology and laser sites for pistols. Then later on using SLR camera flash batteries and super bright light bulbs he changed the world of California Cop Light from a Louisville Slugger sized light to a 2C sized "baby" cop light to achieve a similar output.

Now that many of the short-lived, non famous companies along with the famous ones are well chronicled, perhaps it's time to re-light this thread with post-Don Keller companies like Pelican, Pentagon, more about Tekna, and by all means the company that dethroned King Maglite…SureFire during the PK days and any others folks happen to come across including honorary California Cop Light maker Lumens Factory who keeps the old incans like Streamlight, Pelican and SureFire going with a few of his own designs like the Seraph.


A Pentagon eX2 and a pair of Pelican 2320's called the M6. The Pentagon and Pelican share the same bulb module and tailcap switch be it clicky or twisty. The eX2 is a twisty. The 2320's are clicky. Yes that is a Malkoff tailcap on the black one.

 

[RWT1405]

Very cool, Imgur is the best bet for hosting pics. You can click on the BBC Code link after uploading your pics and past that here.

I'd love to see pics and any stories too! Were/are you a firefighter?

Yes, I am a Paramedic/Firefighter.

Here are a few bad pictures of my Smoke Cutter and a couple of my old StreamLights.

 

[konifans]

Look at the size of the head on that thing! What is it? I want that!
They all look nice though with the contrasting silver rings

It is a Surefire 9N turbo head with N3 lamp assembly.

Maglite also has a beautiful silver ring Magcharger, the best of incandescent Maglite. Although it is larger and heavier... I use the Magcharger more often, with 2 x 32700 6000mah Lifepo4, and a WA bulb which I believe is a 6V 30W bulb, and Fivemega G4 bi pin socket. It is easy to get a Philips 5761 (6V 35W) for it. The 32700 Lifepo4 is a perfect replacement of the stock NiMh or NiCa battery pack, lighter, more energy, longer life and same voltage.

 

[konifans]

You have a real nice collection konifans.

This thread started out to be about pre-SureFire simply to not become just another SureFire thread while it was being built as a legacy thread about lights during the infancy of alluminum tube lights built in California USA.

Now to have added LaserProducts early on was not off limits but nobody chose to. I call those Pre-PK products.
See, while Don Keller, Tony Maglica and others were changing the flashlight world, Dr John Matthews had a hand in fiber optic technology and laser sites for pistols. Then later on using SLR camera flash batteries and super bright light bulbs he changed the world of California Cop Light from a Louisville Slugger sized light to a 2C sized "baby" cop light to achieve a similar output.

Now that many of the short-lived, non famous companies along with the famous ones are well chronicled, perhaps it's time to re-light this thread with post-Don Keller companies like Pelican, Pentagon, more about Tekna, and by all means the company that dethroned King Maglite…SureFire during the PK days and any others folks happen to come across including honorary California Cop Light maker Lumens Factory who keeps the old incans like Streamlight, Pelican and SureFire going with a few of his own designs like the Seraph.


A Pentagon eX2 and a pair of Pelican 2320's called the M6. The Pentagon and Pelican share the same bulb module and tailcap switch be it clicky or twisty. The eX2 is a twisty. The 2320's are clicky. Yes that is a Malkoff tailcap on the black one.

I agree we should talk more about the older lights. I personally like the Kel-Lite and Maglite more than Surefire simply because they are older and much bigger.

 

[vicv]

It is a Surefire 9N turbo head with N3 lamp assembly.

Maglite also has a beautiful silver ring Magcharger, the best of incandescent Maglite. Although it is larger and heavier... I use the Magcharger more often, with 2 x 32700 6000mah Lifepo4, and a WA bulb which I believe is a 6V 30W bulb, and Fivemega G4 bi pin socket. It is easy to get a Philips 5761 (6V 35W) for it. The 32700 Lifepo4 is a perfect replacement of the stock NiMh or NiCa battery pack, lighter, more energy, longer life and same voltage.

View attachment 16522

Thanks. Ya I like the mag charger too although I generally don't care as much for the d cell lights. That being said some of these d cell kel lites are very nice.
That 9n does look awesome though

 

[LiftdT4R]

I haven't been in this thread for a while because I've been mostly restoring old Maglites but........................ I finally had some time to work on a Kel-Lite and it's a very special one I've been after for a while. Can anyone guess what it is?

The light had cardboard C cells stuck in it. Along with this screw driver from a prior owner who tried to use it to get them out.

Cardboard cells were last used in the 80s so they've been in there for a while. They are actually easier to free than the new steel cells but swell much faster when left in the light.

These bezels are impossible to source replacement for so I had to break the threads on the head to get it off. Luckily I was very careful and replacement heads are still available.

 

[bykfixer]

Don has reached his 84th birthday and still plays with flashlights.

Best of luck restoring that special (gen-stud?) Kel-Lite.

 

[LiftdT4R]

Don has reached his 84th birthday and still plays with flashlights.

Best of luck restoring that special (gen-stud?) Kel-Lite.

That's crazy! I talked to Don earlier this week to get parts for this light and to restock on some of my Maglite spares. I don't know what I'll do when he's gone because he's such a wealth of knowledge for these lights and basically the only supplier of Kel-Lite parts. There won't really be anyone else to keep these lights running.

Good guess! But no. More rare than a Stud-Lite!

 

[LiftdT4R]

I've been after a Kel-Lite Baton Light forever and specifically an BTL-26, the longest flashlight ever made* at 26"! They come up for sale only once every few years and they go for big $$$. Well I was able to score a non-working one. There are some fantastic deals to be had on non-working lights if you don't mind putting in some elbow grease. This one I was very nervous about because it had not 1, 2, 3, or 4 but all 5 C cells stuck in it plus the face cap was stuck to the head and the stainless steel face caps are impossible to find. These lights are so long you can basically only remove them from the head end. Ohh my gosh this light was a ton of work! It works perfect now but if I wasn't after one forever I don't know if I'd do it again. I got all of the batteries out plus a screwdriver a prior owner got stuck when he was trying to remove the cells. I drilled them out with an extended (14") drill bit and then chipped away at what remained and soaked the inside in vinegar and flushed 3 or 4 times. The batteries were cardboard Eveready C cells which were last produced in the early 80s so they were in there for a very long time. The cardboard C cells were actually easier to remove than later steel batteries.

That was the easy part.

The face cap and head were stuck together and that's what houses the bulb and reflector. The stainless steel face caps are long out of production and can't be found anywhere but the heads can be. So, I dremeled the head threads off and saved the face cap. This took me about 4 hours because I had to be careful not to damage the threads on the face cap.

Last but not least I cleaned the corrosion off of everything. I had to drill out the switch to save it because the bolt and nut were seized together. I bought the parts I needed from Don and got her all running. She's awesome!! I walk my dogs a mile each night around 11pm and there are no street lights where I live so I've used her twice for that and while she's not the brightest and she doesn't have the best beam she'll certainly take care of any possums I run across!!

I forgot to get the rubber grommet they come with for use in a duty belt but Don still has them so I'll order one the next time I get parts from him.

Anyway, it was totally worth it! I have about 12 hours of labor into it and ~$120 worth of parts. I could probably sell it for double what I have into it but I've been after one of these for a long time and I never plan to sell it. It means so much more to me because I was able to get it working and I had lots of fun doing it. I've also been after one of these lights for 10 years now.

Here's a pic with some of the other longest lights that I own. I'm not aware of any longer lights but if you know of any please let me know. I know Eveready and others have made some 7D slide switches but I think they're all shorter than a 7D Maglite.

From top to bottom they are
7D Maglite
*6C Maglite with ASP Baton
This collapses and it's aftermarket so while it's technically longer extended I don't count it as the longest light. It could be installed on a 7C for an even longer light! It is almost 30" long extended. 😮
BTL-26 Kel-Lite
My new favorite light!
7C Maglite
3D Vari-Beam for scale

I will say though that I'm not as impressed with this light as I was with the 7D Maglite. The Baton Light is actually pretty light because it's a 5C and has the spacer taking up the rest of the room. While it's longer it doesn't feel anywhere near as substantial as a 7D. I may try to run 12Cs to see how it is and install an LED PR because it's the only thing I know of that can take that voltage. It's easy to see why these didn't sell in great numbers. I could not imagine carrying this around every day or getting in and out of a car with it on my hip. Most of these lights that come up for sale are in excellent condition because they never saw much use. They're similar to the 7D Maglites. An excellent idea! But, in practice they didn't work so well.

A couple other collectors have asked me if I will also try to add a BTL-22 or BTL-18 to my collection and I'm not sure. I love Kel-Lites! I have a pretty decent collection but nowhere near the collection that some other collectors have. I've always been a Maglite collector at heart. I would much rather have an original Surefire 6 because I think the original Surefire 6, BTL-26, and 7D Maglite are the big 3 cop lights. I don't know of anyone that owns all 3 and I think they're the rarest and arguably the most influential cop lights.

Thanks for reading, hope y'all enjoyed!

 

[konifans]

Amazing! One more treasure has been saved by you again.

I though the face cap is silver anodised aluminum instead of stainless steel?

For C cell Kel-Lite I like the cute little 2C and I have 7 of them. And for D cell Kel-Lite I like the 7D so much and I have 3. The 7D feels much more substantial than my Maglite 6D - I don't have a 7D yet - because the Kel-Lite has a larger head. I also have a Tru-Grit 7D, which has a small head just like the Maglite but the body is so thick and the knurling is so sharp and I think the body feels much stronger than Kel-Lite or Maglite. The longest C cell flashlight I have is a Maglite 7C. I am also interested in the Kel-Lite BTL and if the price and condition is right I will definitely get some.