The K3A is the most economically-priced of all the promotional Maglights. Sometimes they are on sale for only $7.94. That fits into most budgets for appreciation gifts. It does come with an alkaline battery and a carry strap. There’s no need to wrap this one up as a present. It already comes with a permanent hard plastic hinged gift box.
The other popular one has an LED bulb and 2 AA batteries. It puts out an extreme amount of light for its size. LED flashlights are often requested by business owners who want to give a high quality gift to their employees.
The first flashlight was invented in 1899 by David Misell. It contained 3 D cells
Engraved Flashlights For the Future
and an incandescent light bulb. In 120 years, we have come a long way. LED’s have replaced the bulb. Electronic circuits now provide different light levels and a strobe effect and power conservation. Recharging has become a valuable option. And now the COB (chip on board) bulbs are super bright.
The history of promotional flashlights involves different types of imprinting. Pad printing changed into laser engraving. Today engraved flashlights with your corporate logo are ubiquitous.
What can we hope for in the future? Here are some of my ideas. Do you have more? Please let me know in the comment section.
Your logo lights up when the flashlight is turned on.
Part of your logo imprint changes when you turn on the torch. This could be done with the help of liquid crystals or special circuitry.
Add this to the imprint: “If found, please return to….”
The barrel changes color depending on the temperature. LCD technology could do this.
A keylight that firmly holds your house key so it lights up the key hole as you insert your key. The original keylights would point in the opposite direction of what you wanted.
A flashlight that has a built-in battery tester. Wouldn’t it be nice to see how close you are to having to replace batteries?
A built-in beeper that allows your cell phone to find it. This would be great, as long as you know where your phone is.
This weekend will be one of celebration, regardless of the restrictions we currently face in regards to COVID-19. Saturday is the 4th of July, a day where Americans unite by means of parades, picnics, and fireworks displays.
How will you improvise this year?
-space your picnic blankets apart by 6’
-have a faux-fireworks display with your American flag Maglite Flashlight
When business owners think about giving a Maglite engraved with their logo to their employees, here are their top questions:
Giving a Maglite Engraved With Your Logo
Can I get a Maglite in my corporate color? The K3A comes in 8 different colors. Probably one of them will correspond with your corporate color. Many other models come in colors other than the basic black, blue, gray and red.
Does it have a lifetime warranty? Maglite used to offer a lifetime warranty, but that stopped about 2019. Now it appears that they handle warranty questions one at a time on their website, using a form. They don’t have a written warranty posted on their website as of today.
Does the imprint wear off? The laser engraved imprint is permanent. Your company logo will last forever. The laser burns through the colored outer layer, and into the aluminum barrel.
What does laser engraving cost? The price of engraving is included in the price of the Maglite. There is a setup charge.
How is the flashlight packaged? Each Maglite engraved with your logo comes in a hard plastic hinged presentation box, with a velvet covered cradle. So your customer or employee will be thrilled to see their favorite flashlight in a unique gift box.
Today, on Memorial Day, a Maglite Flashlight with the American flag motif is a perfect way to memorialize our members of the military who have died in service.
QUIZ TIME!
Do you know the difference between all 3 military holidays?
A: Veterans Day
B: Memorial Day
C: Armed Forces Day
Answers:
A: celebrating our living veterans
B: commemorating members who have died in service
C: celebrating current active members in the military
Seventy years ago, in 1950, Armed Forces Day became a national holiday here in the United States. It is a day to recognize all active duty military, near and far.
Fact Check:
Q: What are the 5 branches of the U.S. military?
A: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, & Air Force
Q: How can you celebrate this special holiday during the pandemic?
A: Display your flag at home; wear red, white & blue; send engraved flashlights (in appropriate American flag or camouflage designs) to your favorite members of the military.
M2A American Flag Mini Maglite FlashlightM2A Digital Camouflage Mini Maglite Flashlight
In just a few short weeks, the 46th annual National EMS Week will be upon us. During the week of May 17-23, communities nationwide will be finding new ways to show their love and support for their local EMS workers.
Even though we can’t celebrate with a large awards ceremony or rambunctious picnic this year, there are still ways to show that your community appreciates the dedication and bravery of its EMS workers.
Your company can show its thanks and appreciation by sending engraved Maglite Flashlights to local EMS workers:
M3A Maglite Flashlight- Small, water & shock resistant
Anthony Maglica, the heart and soul of Maglite flashlights
Anthony Maglica is probably the best example of an American success story. He was born in NYC during the great depression (1930). His mother was Croatian, and decided to take him to her home country of Croatia and raise him there. At the time, no one would have expected him to become the most successful businessman in the USA. In 1950, he got married, became a father, and moved his family to the United States, and out of the Communist control of Croatia. Neither Anthony or his wife could speak English, making it rough to survive here.
The rest of this “rags to riches” story continues with his opening in 1955 of a small machine shop in Los Angeles, named “Mag Instrument”. He made machine parts for the military and started to make a few dollars.
Fast forward to 1979, which is the first year that Anthony made the amazing flashlight, called the “Mag-lite”. It was a big hit with the policemen, because it was aluminum, rugged, and dependable. That basic design hasn’t changed much to this day. But he developed other Maglite Flashlights in the next several years, in the 1980’s.
Early 1980’s- The first Maglite® Rechargeable Flashlight System (TM)
1984- Mini Maglite® using AA batteries
1987- Mini Maglite® using AAA batteries
1988- Solitaire using only one AAA battery
The rocky part of the history involves lawsuits. A major one was filed by his former live-in girlfriend, Claire, of over 20 years, in 1994. The jury awarded her $84 million, which was a big chunk of the value of the company. That was a rough time for both of them.
Other lawsuits have been filed, and won, over the years, by Maglite Flashlights over copyright infringement. Maglite® does have a full-time legal department on site, to take care of these matters.
After this rocky history, Maglite® has become a standard for all flashlights. It has been called “the Cadillac of flashlights” by the Wall Street Journal in 1996. Indeed it is.
