Landau (carriage)

A landau is a four-seat, four-wheel and suspension on both axles carriage with two vis -à- vis and arranged in parallel benches. The top is usually divided in the middle and folding, occasionally one piece. It is a so-called " convertible " carriage, that is, they can be converted from an open to a fully closed car which versions are known to those in the middle of the vehicle an integral part of the roof stops. The roof type is occupied figuratively at least since the 17th century. Through the connection with the suspension of the half-open Berline, presumably developed in France before the 18th century, the Landauer was in the 18th and 19th centuries in all European countries as the preferred travel cart and status symbol of the wealthy circles.

Derived from the Landauer is the design of the Landaulet, in which only the rear half of the roof is open.

Etymology

The origin of the name Landauer is controversial and not entirely sure to decide on the location of the known documents.

Discharges from the Germans bring the coach name with the place names Landau, and then especially with Landau in the Palatinate, in conjunction. There cars of this type to have been first built or in special quality, as well as Goethe suggests, when in Hermann and Dorothea "the first businessman " of the right-bank scene in " open car (he was in Landau manufactured ) ' (1.56 ) drives. Or the name to have originated, there to take over the command at the siege of what was then the French border fortress as King Joseph I in 1702 from Vienna to Landau went on: of the then sensational process in which the king with an entourage of about 250 people completed the course laid in 77 coaches in 14 daily stages, should have linked the touring car used in this case novel type in the aftermath permanently with the name Landau.

An "Arab " origin theory derives the name, however, from Arabic al - andul ( "litter, cars," hindola of Sanskrit " Swing " ) from: the word is taken from the Arabic in the form lando ( " four-seater mule carts " ) into Spanish, have been migrated from there in the form landau into English, French and German, and only then brought in German by popular etymological reinterpretation with the place name in connection Landau and formed into Landauer.

The Arabic derivation has the advantage that it manages conditions without anecdotal ( Joseph I travel to Landau ) or historically questionable ( emergence of the landau in Palatine Landau ). However, it is inconsistent with the chronology of the known evidence: since the word as a coach name in German in 1723 (English 1743), but is in Spanish until 1830 has, it is believed to be more likely that it is not from the Arabic, but from the French ( 1814) was adopted into Spanish and is believed to derive so but in the last analysis from the German place names.

The early evidence know the Landauer ( Landauer Schwimmerl, landau carriage, landau Chaise ) as mostly six-horse wagon travel, so in 1709, 1734, 1743, 1745 or 1756

Landauer as automobile body

While derived from the Landauer Landaulet was quite common at the start of the engine and still exists as a niche product, very few Landauer were prepared as a motorized carriage. However, acquisitions representative Landaulet with four to six seats in the rear, the seat number of the landau. Often the benches vis -à-vis were arranged, which also goes back to the Landauer.

Other uses of the term

• For another carriages with two benches and two- top.
• In France, a children's carriage Landau was called. Another name is " pram ".