Abstract: A two position rotary type magnetically actuated reed switch (10) having magnetic detents is disclosed. The preferred switch includes a housing (12) having confronting magnetizable side walls (13, 14), a shaft (22) secured to the housing (12) for rotation relative thereto and means (30) at one end of the shaft (22) for effecting manual rotation thereof, a magnetic member (36) secured to the shaft (22) for rotation therewith between the confronting walls (13, 14) whereby the member (36) is in magnetic detented contact with one wall (14) when the shaft (22) is rotated to a first position and in magnetic detented contact with the other wall (13) when the shaft (22) is rotated to a second position, and a magnetic reed switch (60) supported in the housing (12) in the vicinity of the wall (14) such that the switch (60) is activated when the shaft (22) is in its first position and deactivated when the shaft (22) is in its second position.