I have my oem coil at home. As I recall (didn't take pictures of both of them or anything neat like that) they did look quite similar.
There is a pic of the electrex coil on this site...somewhere..like
here. .
Your comment regarding the connection is probably noteworthy.
I can take a look at the oem unit I have..post a pic of it maybe? Take a resistance reading?
I don't recall if the number of plates was the same. I'd suspect not......how many you got in yours?
So...are they notably different in operation? Yep. Considerably in the 'ability to watts' wise.
Yeah...maybe you HAVE always had the good stuff.
You didn't buy the thing new, then, I presume? Any chance of asking the seller about it?
Jim..send me an email about this. That will tickle my single brain cell into action this weekend.
..well...or not....;)