The archive of Commercial Motor, went on-line. A stunning collection spanning from 1905 til recent. A massive collection of articles on the motor industrie. The searchword "Ludewig" brought me 2 articles from 1934 and 1935.
Perhaps the most remarkable coach in the Show was the Ludewig Aero. This is an unusual conception of a doubledecker, supports reaching from the four corners of the body as a cruciform construction, The upper deck is carried on these, space being left between its sides and those of the body proper. Nearly all the seats are arranged in herringbone fashion,. those on the lower deck facing outwards and those on the upper deck inwards.
Access to the upper seats is gained by a few steps at the rear of the vehicle. An extra seat can be pulled out of these steps, also extra seats at the corners, and there are two seats over the wheel-arches, these facing forward. Luggage can be carried in the space between the lower rows of seats.
The whole body is built of duralumin, and accommodates 45 people on a 41-litre wheelbase, which permits it to be used in Switzerland, etc. ; it weighs only 3,600 kilos., or 89 kilos, per person. "Most of the passenger vehicles weigh 350 kilos. per person, so. that the saving is obvious. Even the spring seats are of duralumin, and all seals are removable.
A scoop under the radiator conveys air to the middleof the vehicle, an.d it is discharged through extractors arranged all along the sides at the top and bottom. Four of these vehicles are used between Berne and Essen, taking 10 hours for the 500-600 Idioms. The driver's seat is midway between the lower and upper decks; he has ample vision and is above ordinary dazzle.
Another Ludewig body was shown on an Opel-Blitz. This was a coach with patent gangway dropped below the chassis frame at one side.
Of the coaches not already mentioned, perhaps the most interesting was the Ludewig Aero, with its seats arranged in herringbone fashion; this was illustrated in The Commercial Motor a short time ago. It was mounted on an Opel-Blitz chassis. One of the main features of the bodywork is that it has an elastic connection between it and the chassis, whilst the seats are mounted, on the frame proper. A portion of the roof is sunk to carry luggage, and the space thus afforded is covered, access to it being gained by step Suporting the curved back of the body; which has tail fins, presumably to give stability at speed.