Where did the term “Maglite®” come from?

1. magnetic?
2. magnificent?
3. Maglica?

If you guessed number 3, you are right.

Maglite Flashlights were invented in 1979 by Anthony Maglica in California, USA. Here is a brief timeline of Anthony and Maglite®.

Mr. Maglica was born in NYC during the depression, but raised in Croatia, his mother’s country of origin.

1955 Machine Shop. In 1950 Anthony returned to the United States to find his American dream. He started a small machine shop. He made precision parts for the government and industry.

1979 Police Flashlights. The first Maglite® was made. It soon became famous among policemen across the country. It was known for its dependability and durability.

Mini Maglite® in 1984. The smaller version of the original flashlight was released just 5 years later. It uses two AA batteries, and is still extremely popular today.

AAA Mini Maglite® in 1987. A still smaller version, using two AAA batteries came out 3 years later.

Solitaire® single AAA in 1988. The only one year later, the purse-sized Solitaire® was introduced. It holds only one AAA battery.

1996 Cadillac of Flashlights. The Wall Street Journal referred to Maglites® as the Cadillac of Flashlight, an appropriate designation.

Several Hundred Employees. Today Maglite® is going strong, and has 700,000 square feet of manufacturing, storage, and offices.

2018. They are still Designed and Manufactured in the USA, with no intention of ever changing that.