Thermal Hopper

Thanx Ron!! Dont know if it has been Run or not but finding these with the Box is defintely Cool and ups the price and demand without a doubt!! I have other Pics of the Box the gentlemen sent me as well!! He seems to keep his items in great shape!!

$80 is probably on the low side, thing is how do you place a value on a $60+ year old engine. Ebay? Well, that just let's you know what folks are willing to pay. Hopefully one of the collectors can help you out here.

I think Ron's right about hard to gauge Lew, obviously start low but careful not to upset him
As a not very scientific guide I bought one this time last year in the later plakky case for more
Pounds than that.

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Mudhen wrote:The engine’s been run and has some wear damage. The box insert is oily, which cannot be restored. If it’s a “must have,” offer $60.00. Otherwise, save your money until a real beauty comes along. Those jewel-boxed engines are hard to find, but not too difficult. I usually see one or two a year in much nicer condition than the one you’ve pictured. The most important issue about this find is not the engine, but the box. The engine's worthless and is a dime a dozen. It's the condition of the box that is most important.
Mud

Your saying the Thermal Hopper .049 came in a jewel-box aswell as the box pictured Mud? Either way that is a nice snap-shot of the past...he is a prestine collector and has lots of rare engines outside the Cox company that I will not post in here for obvious reasons!! Pretty cool relic!!

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It's interesting, someone flipped the cardboard up in the slot that holds the wrench and inserted a early aluminum prop.

it does show some wear on spinner and case, box is ruff but it would be fun to own if you didn't have one.

Second version of Thermal Hopper box:

If NIB, $300 is about the going rate.

I have been buying, watching thermal hoppers on ebay.
Thermal hopper in plastic pack, new with all necessary complete set sold $150 (really lucky) to $400 (this guy over paid, I think).

Used thermal hopper, no paper works around $60 to $80, with paper & wrenches around $100

Thermal hopper in paper Box, this one is older than the plastic pack one. Not seen on ebay frequently. I got mine on ebay with $165, NIB, with complete set. At that time, I was thinking the price will shoot up in last 10 sec, and put my maximum bid to $300 over. Luckly not many bidder noticed this and the guys gave up at $165.

Here are NIP and NIB thermal hoppers

Very Nice!! You wonder how a person can keep those boxes in such nice condition for over 60 years!!

Does it make a difference to collectors whether it has the early (narrow) cylinder/glow head or the newer (still current) one? Many have changed to the new ones when they could not find the older glow heads.

I think they made the switch in ~1954. Perhaps someone knows for sure.

George

Hi George,
It was '56 when Thimble-Drome intro'd the new head. I suppose it would to a real purest that needed one for his collection, but they'd likely already have one and to the typical collector on eBay they'd probably not even notice.

Most of the space Bugs I bought from ebay have small thread heads & matchine cylinders.

I bought 5 used thermal hopper, 3 of them have early heads & 2 have later. Both of my NIP (from Bernie) & NIB (from ebay) thermal hoppers have early, narrow thread head.

Thermal hopper with early head, cylinder fetch more money as they are older. Some sellers know this and put it in description, but some do not know this fact.

For the one you are eying, used, stained box, I would not pay more than $100 if it appear on ebay.

Bonjour,
Voici mon " Thermal Hopper " acheté sur eBay.fr, je le trouve très beau  


@+Christian

Bonjour,
J' ai fait fonctionner le Thermal Hopper, mais lorsque je retire le doigt du venturi il s'arrête ? comme si le carburant n'etait pas aspiré...
Did I make function Thermal Hopper, but when I withdraw the finger of the venturi does it stop? as if the fuel were not aspired…

Merci et @+Christian

Hi Christian, did you tried to unscrew the needle valve ? Another way to explore, is the needle valve not obstructed by some thing ?
Rémy

Ok, je vais voir et nettoyer le carburateur ou se visse le pointeau...
Ok, I will see and to clean the carburettor or is screwed the punch…

I will have it for a fiver
just kidding on flea bay if it has'nt been run it will go $120 easy thats au no us