Topic: 1928-29 Paul von Hindenburg´s Mercedes with the first plexiglas windscreen

[grobmotorix]

Who knows this car?

Well the basis is obvious, but what is special about this one?

[grobmotorix]

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[exekiel]

A mercedes Benz?

[grobmotorix]

Yes, quite obviously.

[grobmotorix]

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[oko94]

Popemobile ?

[grobmotorix]

Good guess, but no.

This was built for a profane VIP.

[4popoid]

Built for a German VIP?

[grobmotorix]

Indeed.

[4popoid]

An automobile for Paul von Hindenburg?

[grobmotorix]

Exactly.

LOCKED for you.

But what is special about this one?

[4popoid]

I'm not sure exactly what you are looking for, but I assume that it is some sort of special construction, as opposed to some event that it was used for.  I believe this one looks like an enclosed limousine (armored?), but has a retractable roof which leaves the side windows (bullet proof?) in place.

[grobmotorix]

You´re on the right track.

Which kind of armour was used here for the first time?

Just have a closer look at the photo and you will see which part I mean...

[4popoid]

Well the windshield looks a little unusual, and I know that laminated safety glass became available in the later '20s.  While providing safety from shattered glass shards, it was also used to provide resistance to bullet penetration, so perhaps this was an early application of "bullet proof" glass.

[grobmotorix]

I do not want to torture you.

You´re so close, so I´ll help.

It is indeed the windshield and it is not laminated or conventional glass, but the first time they used Xxxxxglass...

[4popoid]

I assume that you are looking for Poly(methyl methacrylate) or PMMA, which was developed in Germany in the late 1920's.  This product was marketed  by the German firm Rohm & Haas as Plexiglas (only one s) in 1933, although it generically existed prior to that time, and today is widely known by a number of names such as Lucite, Perspex, etc.  It was transparent, shatter resistant and lighter than glass, but was not widely used in automotive windshields due to its poor resistance to scratching.

[grobmotorix]

Plexiglas(s) is what I wanted to hear.

Hindenburg´s Mercedes was the first car that used this material (then called Luglas) for a windscreen.

And Röhm was the company - a perfect answer!

[4popoid]

Thanks grob!  I didn't realize that M-B had ever used Plexigas in an auto windshield because of the scratching problem.  I used it in my high school hot rod in the late 1950's, because it was cheaper than safety glass, as  well as easier to work with.  I don't think governmental regulations, at least in the USA, would allow its use today in that application.

[grobmotorix]

I didn't realize that M-B had ever used Plexigas in an auto windshield because of the scratching problem.

No problem for this special one-off, as there were enough servant who would have been able to polish the windshield.

I used it in my high school hot rod in the late 1950's, because it was cheaper than safety glass, as  well as easier to work with.

I do envy you. In German high school you would not even see or repair an old lawn mower...

I don't think governmental regulations, at least in the USA, would allow its use today in that application.

The same over here in Germany.