Kel-Lite C-Cell
Not many people would be familiar with Kel-Lite, as it was primarily sold domestically in the US. Kel-Lite is considered the ancestor of the modern flashlight, as it was introduced to the market in 1968, a full 10 years before Maglite.
Prior to Kel-Lite, flashlights were made of tin and would easily dent or break when dropped. Kel-Lite was made of aluminum and was extremely durable. No matter how you dropped it, aside from the bulb, it was virtually indestructible. Kel-Lite's primary target market was law enforcement.
After Kel-Lite, all high-end flashlights started using aluminum construction, a trend that continues to this day. In fact, the founder of Maglite was simply one of Kel-Lite's suppliers, helping with components like the tailcap.
Kel-Lite focused on making C and D cell flashlights. They used a traditional push-pull switch mechanism, which resulted in a shorter body design. The aluminum body was incredibly sturdy. The original models had plastic buttons, but they were still very durable. The C-series models were very compact and refined, ranging from 2C to 7C. Compared to the later Maglite models, Kel-Lite had relatively low production numbers, so they are quite rare even in the secondhand market today.
In fact, one of my Kel-Lite 2C flashlights was sold to me in 2017 by the inventor himself, Don Keller. Even 50 years after creating Kel-Lite, he still provides parts and repair services for the brand.
