EBAY Craze over these Engines and Why?

WOW, Well Happy Birthday to me!  I just bought one locally off Craigslist for a lot less than those ones that were sold on ebay!!  I thought it was a good deal, turns out to be a Great Deal!! Thanks

Sleddin04 wrote:Hi Guys,
I have a question for you all.
Why are these engines so important to so many that they're willing to pay what I thought was a lot of $$$? $250+ in one case.
Curious about their history/attraction, etc.
THanks in advance for any insight.

Hi Sleddin04, Cool username.. Thought I'd throw in my  I'm not a collector.. but I have more Cox .049 glow-engines than other types. I'm 60 years old and Cox engines were in their heyday when I was a youngster. The engines were designed very well.. and manufactured to strict design-tolerances. It's nice to have a never been used engine in its original box.. but even nicer to have an old well-used engine, that will still start, run and deliver. That's what these engines generally do.. at least in my case, which I would call a boat-load of value.

Cribbs74 wrote:

Cox International wrote:

getback wrote:The black tank .010s bring more $$$$ than the red that's why i bought up two tank assy. for repair Sitting here right now just repaired a TD.020 and was trying to put a .010 size tank assy. on it opened 2 screw sets i still don't understand why so many the wrong size not enough mount screws ? New in pac .    The .09 carb. /muff. RC is always HI $$$

Was that a tank assembly from us ???

BTW, we price the red 010 versions between $50 and $150 higher than the black versions, depending on packaging and the market seems to confirm this, as we get way more requests for the (older) red versions; which are in Jewel cases or Really old Bubble Packs.

It’s pretty common knowledge that the earlier red versions hold more value. Hope you haven’t been overpaying Eric!
Nothing wrong with the black versions in most cases, but quality is hit or miss with them. They do look good though.

In the Model Engine Collector Journal (Issue #134 -March 1999  Volume 24 #2  and Issue #136 - October 1999  Volume 24 #4)
Has where the earlier engines had "red" venturi. Later engines had the "black" venturi (to cut costs), being that the plastic was petroleum based product, black was cheaper to produce over the red plastic. Took a while to go through my Model Engine Collector Journals (started in 1997). Nice photos of model engines the way they were new.

Probably why the "red" venturi are more prized than the "black"?
As you notice in the list, the 1959, the "Olympic" .149 glow had a "red" venturi, blue prop driver and ball bearings.

Here is a partial of the index I have of Cox engines.
Early Model Engine Collector Journals had black and white photos, so a description of the color of the engines were written down.

getback wrote:  Yes in 2015 LOL I don't know where the .020 TD  screw sets came from .. No not over spending Ron My 3 .010 s are red tanks but i do like the look of the black , i guess i need to update my memory mind Thanks for enlightening me everyone . Nice spread sheet i will save it for future reference:D  

If you are a fanatic for collecting the Cox engines, you need to purchase the "Cox Model Engine Handbook" from Model Engine Collector Journal. They have reduced the price on the book compared to when I purchased it years ago when it first came out.

Here is the website to the Cox Model Engine Handbook. Great to have if you love Cox engines.
https://modelenginecollecting.com/Cox%20Web%20Material/Cox-Book.html





from Tim Dannels:

WHY A BOOK ON COX ENGINES?

As the most prolific and longest lasting model engine manufacturer in U.S. history, the Cox name is probably one of the best known among model builders.  Here we present a listing of the engines produced by Leroy (Roy) Cox and those who followed his lead.  It begins with the story about the man himself and carries on through the dissolution of Cox products as manufactured items.

The huge variety of models they produced as well as the engines to power them went far beyond just the model builder.  In this day and age it is almost impossible to find someone who was not at least touched in some way with an L. M. Cox produced toy of some sort.  Airplanes, boats, cars and practically anything that could be powered with a small engine have, at one time or another, been found under a Christmas Tree or wrapped up for a birthday.

In their prime, they were the first choice for the competition minded model builder.  While the line of competition engines were in production, no other engine of comparable size could match the power and performance they produced.

Yet the main emphasis of Cox model engines was directed towards powering ready-to-run, off the shelf models of all sorts.  This volume lists the configurations of the engines used in these models throughout their lives. While the models themselves are not pictured, a close study of the engine listings will show the correct configuration for the engine that should power it.

It will be a valuable guide in building your collection of Cox model engines.

Tim Dannels
The Model Museum
Engine Collectors' Journal

balogh wrote:Black carb body is only one thing that later produced 010- s come with. The older red carb 010-s have tapered cylinder wall that may mean added power and improved longevity compared to the black carb 010-s...hence the more interest and $$$$$$ for the older red carb 010-s IMHO.

I am in agreement with you with the taper cylinder wall being the better engine to collect because of the added power and longer life.
It was easier to recognize the older engines with the "red" venturi over the "black". But now you really can't tell with all the mixing and matching of parts? You could have a straight sleeve cylinder with a "red" venturi, or a taper sleeve cylinder with a "black" venturi.
Even when you get a "NIB" is it really the original engine that was in that box?
I have old and new engines with "red" aluminum venturi, So, what are they really?