Could this be the source of the myth?

Perhaps I should clarify:

Cox initially had some die cast crankcases manufactured in California and later shifted production to China. However, this was for the empty crankcases only, not for the cranks and drive-plates. Also, all the other components were made in California, except perhaps the plastic backplates and choke tubes of the "Surestarts". Those plastic parts were made in Mexico.

I have also heard that some of the glow head bodies (not the cores, insulators, washers and filaments) were made in China and the glow heads assembled in California. Am I able to tell the difference? Nope!

Bernie