Cox Banana 049

Being a new member I would first I would like to say hello to everyone and introduce myself. My name is Tom and I've been collecting Cox
engines and vehicles for years. I found this site while looking for information on the Cox Banana 049. The page in the Cox Engine Collection
site contains all the info I could find via my web search. Here is a link to that page:

http://sites.google.com/site/coxenginecollection/banana-049

I was happy to find this site. Liked what I saw so thought I would register. I'm looking forward to learning more about Cox engines here and
hope to be able to contribute as well.

I started researching the Banana 049 because I just purchased one on eBay. It was the first one I have ever seen listed there and I felt
very lucky to have hit the Buy It Now before someone else did. Much to my surprise I checked the sellers completed listings and
found that he had listed his Banana the week before with the same $40 BIN. It ran for 7 days and no one bought it! So, he relisted it.
I bought it 3 minutes after the listing posted. It was just coincidence that I searched "cox engine" right after the listing posted.
To have missed the previous listing me and my fellow collectors were obviously not paying attention! I would have paid the $40 asking
price for the box alone! Here is a link to the eBay listing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230642628068&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

I first learned of the Banana when reading my copy of the Cox Model Engine Handbook. The following is quoted from it:

Cox #250
ECJ #144
1989
Very much like Product engine ECJ #71
but with spring starter, red spinner and
fuel tubing extended below plastic mount.
Also included in the box is a brush, presumably
to clean off accumulated desert dust.

The entry also has a photo. The engine in the photo has an unfinished case.
The engine I purchased also has an unfinished case. As those shown in this sites collection
have black cases they must have been produced with both finishes. So, if you are a hard
core collector you need to get both versions!

I find it interesting that the Banana 049 boxes have no product numbers while the Cox Model Engine Handbook
gives a product number of 250. I know Dan Sitter did a great deal of research through original Cox documents
so he probably got the number there and for some reason Cox decided not to apply the number to the boxes.

Tom