Early Space Bug Glow Head Adapter

**Admin** Sun Mar 07, 2021 2:03 pm

Does anyone know if the glow heads using a standard plug shown on early Space Bug advertisements and parts envelopes were ever in production, and if so for how long before they were replaced with the glow head?

I know Cox sold standard plugs, but I always thought those were for the engines used in the Thimble Drome Champion tether cars.

I recall Mud showing a prototype that used the head in question, but was it ever released to consumers with that head?

This topic has come up a few times in the past but I don't think there ever was a clear answer. https://www.coxengineforum.com/t11486-space-bug-ads-in-1952-issue-air-trails-magazines

Early Space Bug Glow Head Adapter Spaceb10

Early Space Bug Glow Head Adapter Parts_10

**Cribbs74** Sun Mar 07, 2021 2:20 pm

I’ve often wondered about that also. With as much collective knowledge we have in CEF someone would know and someone would have that head if it was ever produced. The fact that nobody has seen a real one except for Mud (who worked at the factory) I would assume all the early ads depicted the prototype, but was only released with 302 heads.

Even with large private collectors, all together the forum members have the largest Cox collection, yet nobody has come forward with a head like that.

Ron

Mudhen Sun Mar 07, 2021 3:06 pm

**Cribbs74** Sun Mar 07, 2021 4:28 pm

Well don’t I feel stupid. I could have sworn I have seen video of you flying planes in the Santa Ana parking lot. Maybe I just have a vivid imagination. Embarassed

**Admin** Sun Mar 07, 2021 5:10 pm

Mudhen wrote:
Cribbs74 wrote:...I would assume all the early ads depicted the prototype, but was only released with 302 heads.
That is spot on.
Pre-release, and early post release artwork depicted the prototype engine.
By 1953, advertisements began changing showing the standard 302 head.
Cox never intended to sell the engine with a glow plug.

That's what I figured. Hand Shake

I brought this up because I was poking through Martin Hepperle's site earlier today and read where there was one theory that the plug was replaced with the head after a few months.

https://www.mh-aerotools.de/airfoils/cox_frameset.htm

Martin Hepperle wrote:Note the ordinary glow plug on the parts bag - as far as I have heard, the glow head replaced this option only a few months after the Space Bug was introduced. On the other hand it may never have been produced with the ordinary glow plug - the paper bags had to be produced in advance and might show an artists impression of a prototype engine.

Mud, how's that book coming along? bounce

jmendoza Sat Sep 25, 2021 3:10 pm

Looking at the 1953 Air Trails Cox ad, it is apparent there was at least one Space Bug with a removable short glow plug. Notice it is a photo, not a drawing of the Space Bug, and it has a glow plug, not a glow head. How many were made is anybody's guess.

Someday, I bet one will show up.

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Early Space Bug Glow Head Adapter

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