This is an IHeart podcast.

This is Lee Habib, and this is Our American Stories.

In 1996, the Wall Street Journal referred to the Maglite flashlight as the Cadillac of

Flashlights.

The creator of this flashlight that sold millions?

Tony Maglika, founder of Mag Industries.

Today, our own Monty Montgomery brings us the story of this Croatian immigrant who started with nothing and ended up

with something.

Tony Maglika was born in New York City in November of 1930.

But with the Great Depression in full swing, he and his family moved back to his mother's native

island in Croatia.

1932, my mom went moved back to his mother's native island in Croatia. 1932, my mom went back to Europe. My father stayed here.

They thought things going to blow up in no time.

So things are going to be good right away, you know, so.

But he said, he didn't have no money he didn't have no jobs my

father didn't even have the money to send my mom back he had to borrow money on a

future a job that he gets and paid it back.

So I went over there with my mom, and we're supposed to go back in a couple of years.

So they said, Bobby, we're going to save a little more money and this and that.

And we are quite caught in the war, World War II.

And that wasn't very pleasant to anyone.

It was very difficult to live on the mazzalini.

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