From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
The inspection, construction, and weight analysis of an Essex 6 Terraplane.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 21\6\ Scan199 | |
| Date | 28th February 1935 | |
| To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} A HOF. c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} c. to RV. c. to Ln. c. to Hn.{F. C. Honeyman - Retail orders} +4217 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/FD.{Frank Dodd - Bodies}11/KW.28.2.35. Essex 6 Terraplane. We have removed the body from this car to enable us to inspect both the body and chassis construction, and at the same time weigh the component parts. The attached sheets show the body and chassis weights in detail. The body weights are shown compared with the Graham 8 and it will be seen that the body weights of the Graham 8 only exceed the Terraplane by 26.25 lbs., although the total weights of the cars are 34 cwts. and 37 cwts. 2 qrs. 21 lbs. respectively. BODY. This is made almost entirely of pressed steel, the floor being part of the body, the sections being rivetted and welded into position. There are no bottom sides to the body, the steel floor being bolted direct to the chassis, with only a strip of varnished paper approx. 1/32" thick to serve as insulation. The chassis has only 2 body brackets per side, the rest of the bolts passing direct through the frame and cross members. The body is bolted to the chassis in 36 places, 12 points per side and 12 in the centre of the chassis, using the cruciform section and other cross members. The dashboard is part of the body and is bent under at the base to form the front floor board, and join the body floor. For access to the gearbox and clutch pit a sheet steel section of the floor to the shape of these parts is removable. | ||