Is this a Kel lite 1st gen?

[jab2373]

l

 

[snakebite]

iirc first gen were from covina

 

[jab2373]

I was kinda thinking that but the second gen I thought had a metal switch with sides. This one has a plastic switch with no sides.

 

[konifans]

It is the first gen but it is the later Barstow version.
The second gen has a metal switch.

Above: two first gen. 2D, left is Covina, right is Barstow.

Above: left is a second gen, right is a first gen.

 

[konifans]

Above: left is a second gen, right is a first gen.

 

[konifans]

More information: https://kellite.com/

 

[bykfixer]

The bulb holding tailcap was an option on second gen Kel-Lites, but may have been installed on a new old stock first gen.

The one in question is a late model big head 1st generation light. And the tailcap may have been made by Tony Maglica who made some of the tailcaps whenever Kel-Lite needed him to make some due to more demand than Kel-Lite could handle. First gen were made up to 1974 even though the second gen began in '73.

The tailcap with the Kel-Lite logo is pretty rare. Good score!

Tony Maglica had a machine shop for making brass shells for the US Navy back then. He and Don Keller colaborated on a number of things including prior to Maglite. Don worked for Tony twice. They conceived the first krypton flashlight bulbs.

Welcome to CPF.

 

[jab2373]

Thanks, I found it with my fathers stuff while cleaning up the house after he passed. My mother wanted to clean out the garage,

 

[snakebite]

nice find!
looks like a 4c?