1933 Essex Terraplane Six emblem stolen

Jay_G

All, I purchased the 1933 Essex Terraplane Windover Sport in England that was for sale in WTN about 4 months ago. I just picked up the car from the shipper and the radiator emblem was missing. The griffin was intact but the white Essex Terraplane Six emblem with red lettering was gone.

Does anyone have one they are willing to sell? I believe they are the same as the 1932 emblems if you have one of those.

Thanks Jay

dbputman

Contact Kerry Haggerty. He is a FB member of Terraplane Seven, and I think he is also a member of the HET group. He has been selling a lot of parts on eBay.

dbputman

You might also check with Emblem Magic. Karla has restored some over the last few years.

dbputman

The emblem is held onto the Griffin with a small spring clip.

Jay_G

Thanks, I will give then a call. Karla restored my 27 Essex emblem that went the boattail that was at the National last year. Going to have her do my 1928 Essex as well.

tigermoth

This is why I have grown to hate people. What kind of pond scum cretin takes parts off an old car?

best of luck finding or recreating the stolen emblem.

regards, Tom

29sptphaeton

Here is a photo of the 1933 Essex Terraplane emblems. The one that says USA at the top is on my British built Terraplane. The other emblem is on the American built Terraplane.

29sptphaeton

Jay_G

Thanks for the pics. I found an emblem on an auction site. They were selling off a collection of about 500 emblems. So my understanding is the one without the USA is an export emblem. That is to one my car had on it and happily that was the one I was able to purchase. I have sent it off for restoration.

Nice looking Railton or is it a REAL? Mine grill is the same as your pic but only in a cream color. The car was originally red. Your Pic almost makes me want to repaint the car.

Jay

tigermoth

Who is restoring the old cloisonné emblems now?

regards, Tom

Jay_G

Ok, on further research, the one with USA is the export emblem. So I need one, if there is one to be found?

Karla Maxwell is restoring them.... well mine. She restored a 27 Essex for me last year. This year it is a 28 Essex and the 1933 Essex Terraplane emblem. Wait tile is about 6 months.

Jay

tigermoth

Thank you.

regards, Tom

Jay_G

David,

Thank you, you have a nice looking car. I am currently working on the Windoverette. Fixing little things and putting new tires on. I am planning on having Bent Metal as he is know in this site to recreate the center grill spear. David gave me the restoration pictures and I noticed a center chrome addition that was not put back during the restoration in 1992. I plan on recreating that feature as it was on the car when found. I know of no other with this feature but it was on the car and I believe it was there when the car was build or painted.

Jay

Jay_G

David,

Yes, I am aware the other two don't have it. But.......somehow the car got it and judging from the barn find photos the car was painted red including the grill shell and insert. This chrome center strip was placed under the griffin and the grill insert modified to accept it. Given that these were made in such limited quantities and each car was basically hand built I can see them experimenting with different grills. In any event it was placed on the car at the same time as the red paint (from what i can see) and from the documentation I have the car went to Hudson unpainted, then was painted red and sold. Kind of strange to me but that is what is written when researched by one of the ROC guys in 1992 when the car was being restored. Also the racing one has a slightly modified grill insert near the bottom. Maybe I am getting too wrapped up in the history of this particular car.

But I do have a question for you UK guys. The car is fitted with a Cooper-Stewart London tach. On servicing and replacing the fan belts I noticed a grease fitting missing from the gear drive unit. It was just open. Which is not good as you would expect. An SAE 1/4 fitting is slightly to small and bottoms out locking the gear drive up. Is there British 1/4 fitting slighter larger or have a different thread pitch?

Thanks Jay

Jay_G

Thanks, I have some friends coming for the eclipse who have some morris minors. They are binging me a few to try. Thanks for the offer.

As for the center grill piece. I am conflicted as the Essex Terraplane did not have one. But I understand that some full size Hudsons did. So it is not out of the question to see something fitted? Maybe.

I may post a thread in the near future with a few of the pre and post restoration pictures with the center piece fitted. Just to see what people say. Not that I go with what people say......

Jay

Jay_G

So they brought the small thread style, this uses the larger thread size. However, I was able to fit an SAE fitting after grinding the fitting down so that just a few of the upper threads grabbed. The housing for the is a very thin casting with only a few threads visible anyway. If the fitting screwed in too far it would interfere with the gears. This would have been the case with almost any fitting. Once I got the fitting to clear the gears, I put blue lock tight on the threads and screwed in hand tight. it is now locked into place and will not fall out. all it needed is a cap of sometime to keep the dirt and water out.

As for the center grill piece. After looking at the unrestored disasslembled pics of the grill I could see red paint under where the center piece was fitted. So yes, you were right and originally the grill piece would not have been fitted. I am having the grill repainted as it was peeling badly. Once that is done I will start the re-fitment. I did decide to repaint the wire wheels and the grill insert green to match the interior. There was just too much white on the car. Between the white car, fenders, grill, wire wheels, and white wall tires all you saw was a white blob. It need something to make it pop a little more as there is not much chrome on the car.

Jay_G

David,

You read my mind. I am going with a green grill insert after it is restored back to original without the cut center piece. The wire wheels are going green as well. They will match the interior. I agree the tires should be black. I have purchased them, just waiting on the wheels. I am going with the Terraplane 6 hubcaps. I am working the dents out of a set and will have them rechromed. I will try my hand at painting as well.

I had not thought about painting the wings a different color at this point. I probably will not but I am going to have the paint retouched in spots. At that point I will post pics and take it to some Hudson meets. I think I have found an intact Griffin to replace the one that is a bit tired when I get the radiator badge back.

You won't believe the transformation of the dash. I made new plastic castings from the existing knobs and replaced the switches and cable pulls so they look like the original. I would post a pic but the gas gauge is out for repair. I also restored the idot lights. They look good in polished brass. oh and a correct Lucas starter button......well one like the unrestored pic.

This should be a nice refreshed example when I am done. It might be worth a short article in WTN when finished as it is so unique.

Jay