Cox Models, a division of Estes Industries of Penrose, Colorado, USA, is a multimillion-dollar hobby company, is one of the hobby industry's oldest companies and is famous for their line of miniature model engines. Estes Industries (AKA Estes-Cox Corporation) is a company based in Penrose, Colorado, USA that designs and builds model rocket and model aircraft engines and kits. ... Penrose is a census-designated place located in Fremont County, Colorado. ... A hobby is a spare-time recreational pursuit. ...

The company, originally named "The L. M. Cox Manufacturing Co, Inc." was founded in 1945 by machinist Roy Cox in Placentia, California. Cox grew up in and around his father's bicycle shop and developed an interest in mechanical devices. Cox's first products were wooden pop guns, produced in his home garage. Cox chose wood since metal was scarce during wartime. 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... A machinist is a craftsman who uses machine tools to make parts or alter parts by cutting away excess material. ... Placentia is a city in northern Orange County, California. ... A popgun is a toy gun which uses air pressure to fire a small piece of cork out of the end resulting in a loud pop, hence the name the invention is relatively cheap and can be brought for a couple of pounds with a quick launch of hands the...

When metal became readily available in the US in 1947, Cox turned his attention to new products, beginning with a diecast metal car. This product was developed into a whip car, a tethered vehicle which could be manually swung in a circle at high speed. Nitro- and gasoline-powered tether cars with .60 cubic inch miniature engines capable of speeds of 100 mph (160 km/h) were quickly becoming popular. Cox's first contribution to that growing hobby was a cast aluminum midget racer powered by a .15 engine by Cameron Brothers. 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... Casting is a process by which a material is introduced into a mold while it is liquid, allowed to solidify in the shape inside the mold, and then removed producing a fabricated object, part, or casing. ... A tether is a cord that anchors something, such as an animal, to something else, such as a pole. ... Nitro may refer to: Nitroglycerin, an extremely explosive chemical compound Nitrous, a type of fuel additive for race cars Nitromethane, another type of fuel additive for race cars [[GlyceryBold textl trinitrate (pharmacology)]], a medical compound used for the treatment of angina pectoris Nitrogen, especially when used in draught beer Nitrocellulose...

Cox Manufacturing enjoyed tremendous postwar growth due in a large part to their production of miniature model engines and tethered model aircraft, finally moving to a new manufacturing facility in Santa Ana, California in 1963. The new facility started at 80,000 square feet (7432 square meters); three expansions in a few years' time saw expansion to 225,000 square feet (20,903 square meters) and introduction of a line of slot cars, model rockets, HO scale model trains and a full-sized, one-horsepower gasoline-powered chain saw. Location of Santa Ana within Orange County, California. ... Year 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... A model rocket launching Model rocketry is a hobby similar to building model airplanes. ... U.S. Prototype model of an HO scale (1:87) center cab switcher made by Bachmann. ... Alternative meaning: Chainsaw (computer program) A chainsaw (also spelled chain saw) is a portable mechanical, motorized saw. ...

Roy Cox retired in 1969 and sold his company to hobby conglomerate Leisure Dynamics. Kites, toy walkie-talkies and yo-yos were added to the Cox product line. A major step toward participation in the growing radio control hobby happened in 1976 with the acquisition of radio manufacturer Airtronics. For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... Yokaichi Giant Kite Festival held on the fourth Sunday every May in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan Kite flying is the activity of flying tethered man-made objects in wind. ... Recreational, toy and amateur radio walkie talkies A walkie-talkie is a portable, bi-directional radio transceiver, first developed for military use. ... The yo-yo is a toy consisting of two equally-sized discs of plastic, wood, or metal, connected with an axle, around which a string is wound. ... This radio control airplane is carrying a scale model of X-33 and is taking part in NASA research. ... Year 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the 1976 Gregorian calendar. ... Airtronics is a radio control equipment manufacturer based in Anaheim, CA, USA. Airtronics Categories: | | ...

By 1983, Leisure Dynamics was facing bankruptcy. Engineer William Selzer, designer of the "Babe Bee" .049 aircraft engine joined with a local businessman to purchase Cox. The new company, Aeromil Engineering Company, changed the name from Cox Company to Cox Hobbies, Incorporated in 1984. Growth of the company continued, but space became fragmented since the operations were spread out over a number of leased buildings. This prompted a move to a consolidated facility in Corona, California in 1990. 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar). ... Nickname: The Circle City, Crown Town Coordinates: Country United States State California County Riverside Government  - Mayor Eugene Montanez Area  - City  35. ... MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ...

In January 1996, world-leading model rocket manufacturer Estes Industries purchased Cox Hobbies, Incorporated and relocated operations from Southern California to the Estes facility in Penrose, Colorado. This signalled a major change in marketing direction for the new company, now known as Cox Models. A great many new releases were aimed at a mass market and sold in large chain stores and discount stores. 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Estes Industries (AKA Estes-Cox Corporation) is a company based in Penrose, Colorado, USA that designs and builds model rocket and model aircraft engines and kits. ... Mass-marketing is the process of widely marketing a mass-produced item. ...

Since then, Cox has returned to its hobby roots and is once again offering its products through hobby stores. The product line now includes a line of radio controlled model aircraft.

Notable Cox engine toys

In the 1950s and 1960s until today, Cox produced a line of hobby-oriented models of cars, airplanes, and other vehicles. The most famous are the .049 gas powered models, controlled by line or radio.

• Adam-12 AMC Matador .049 engine police car
• T-28 Trojan

Adam-12 was a television program which ran from 1968 until 1975 on police officers, of the Rampart Division , veteran Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) and rookie Jim Reed (Kent McCord), and their sergeant, played by William Boyett. ... 1974 Matador rebuilt as a replica of a Police Car from The Dukes of Hazzard Second generation 1975 Matador base model sedan The AMC Matador was an intermediate car built and sold by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1971 to 1978. ...

External links and reference

• Cox Models home page
• The Virtual Cox Museum