Ok - here's a puzzle for you astute HudsonNuts. I just got a 1928 Hudson & Essex Roadster Body Service Parts price list. I know that Biddle & Smart made bodies for Hudson, but this price list says Essex as well. For example on page 2 it gives the B&S part numbers for Hudson Roadster Body Assembly Complete (9433) an Essex Roadster Body Assembly Complete (9432). Front door assemblies are also, of course different along with front seat cushion assemblies along with a few other parts.
I've always understood that B&S built the Hudson bodies in 1928 - Briggs built Hudson Coach and Std. 5-Pass. Sedan according to the info I have and also built the Essex Phaeton and Roadster bodies.
So does anybody have an answer for this - or is this another enduring Hudson mystery. Hudson is loaded with these anomalies - such as the parts for Dover Phaeton's listed in 1930 parts books. That I can figure - proposed, never built, but since parts books came out early, usually before production began, an error such as the Dover is explainable. Could it be that Hudson contemplated dropping Briggs and going to B&S for all the bodies.

Hudsonly,
Alex B