Theobald Ludwig, brother of William F Ludwig and also a professional drummer at the turn of the century. Assisted in managing the first Ludwig drum shop in 1906 and co-founder of Ludwig & Ludwig. Dies young at the age of 29 in 1918. He was traveling to Philadelphia to find out more about a large order of drums that the US government needed. On that trip Theo looked for the Government chief in charge of all musical instrument purchases. Colonel Brockenshire was caught up in the influenza epodemic of that year. So Theo tracked him down in the hospital to find out the Gretsch Company in collusion with a local jobber from New York City, Buegeleisen & Jacobson. They convinced the army that the larger drum would produce more volume. That is how Theo contracted influenza and died shortly after this trip and these letters.