Post by almagata on Nov 25, 2014 20:17:46 GMT
On page 173 of Hunting a Psychopath, Shelby describes an unusual flashlight that was found in cloth bag found hidden in a hedge. The bag included a ski mask, pair of gloves and the flashlight. The flashlight as described by Shelby was a "silver colored flashlight used one "D" cell battery. The lens was one to two inches in diameter and gave off a bright beam." Shelby also indicated that there were no identifying marks on the flashlight to indicate who it was manufactured by but he indicates that it was definitely not a navigator's flashlight.
I checked with a flashlight expert about the flashlight described and this is what he said.
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The only single D cell flashlight I know of that was an actual flashlight, and not a toy, was made by Kel-Lite in the 1960s so that date would fit. Only a few were made and they are impossible to find today. I have one but I don't know of any other 1 cell Kel-Lites owned by any other collectors. I believe I have the largest collection of vintage flashlights.
The Kel-Lite was made by Don Keller while he was a Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff. He made his prototype flashlight from aluminum tubing thick enough to drive a car over it without damaging it. They were hardy flashlights. Elvis Presley, during his act, would throw a Kel-Lite on the floor and pick it up and turn it on to prove it was still working.
A special battery was made for the one cell flashlight. It was a two cell battery, made the size of a one cell battery. That gave it more power but the battery didn't last as long. That's why you don't find other one D cell flashlights. One battery cell would make a rather feeble light. On my one cell Kel-Lite the outer size of the lens cap is 2 inches. That is the standard size lens cap for all the different Kel-Lite lengths. The length of the one cell Kel-Lite is 5 3/8 inches. Not quite small enough to hide in your hand unless you were a basketball player. The name "Kel-Lite" is stamped on the case between the switch and the endcap.
That name stamp could be the deciding factor of identifying the killer's flashlight. If the one cell light was a Kel-Lite I would think it would have been easily identified by just about any Detective in 1977.
Kel-Lites were sold by Police and Sheriff stores that sold uniforms and other law enforcement items and also sold by gun stores that catered to law enforcement personnel. The suspect could have picked up a Kel-Lite in many gun shops.
Because of their size I think they were originally made to carry as a back up light, just as the 2 inch Smith and Wesson was made to carry as a backup weapon.
Kel-Lites were sold all over the US and Canada to police and Highway Patrol agencies. Kel-Lite made flashlights from one cell to 7 cell sizes.
Almost all Kel Lites were anodized to a dark, gun metal color. For their personal safety, Law enforcement didn't want to carry anything in the field that could reflect light. However, I have a larger presentation Kel-Lite with the aluminum finish. So few one cell lights Kel-Lites were made I don't know if any were made with an aluminum finish, or not. I'm sure they could have been special ordered while they were offered. They were a very special light, so some might have been made with an aluminum finish for a presentation or gift flashlight.
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In looking into the Kel-Lite brand history, I did find some that did not include the maker's mark. Kel-Lites are much like what we think of today when we think of a Maglite.