Name/Title
Men preparing for dirigible test flightEntry/Object ID
SHH 2001.359Description
Print developed from gelatin dry plate glass negative. Five unidentified men on ground around a dirigible gondola with Ralph Upson and Herman Kraft in gondola. Pipe at the rear of the gondola extends upward beyond visible portion of image. Pilot, Ralph Upson, is wearing goggles and dark colored shirt. He sits in the center cockpit with left side of face towards camera. Herman Kraft, is wearing dark colored headgear, goggles over eyes, and dark colored jacket. He is standing slightly leaning over and looking down at Upson. Bundle of rope hangs below second cockpit. Man stands on ground, with back to camera, wearing light colored Navy hat and dark colored clothing. Man wearing light colored clothing with light colored hat stands in foreground with back towards camera. Portions of two men standing next to gondola in dark colored clothing visible. Man standing next to gondola, below third cockpit with back left side towards camera, wears dark colored hat and dark colored uniform reading "GOOD YEA... AERO SQ...". Portion of man in dark colored clothing crouches beneath gondola. Man standing in right foreground of image wears dark colored clothing and stands facing gondola. Series of "Flight for Board" prints.Photograph Details
Subject Person or Organization
Upson, Ralph Hazlett, Kraft, HermanSubject Place
Location
Goodyear Airdock, USA: Ohio, Suffield, Wingfoot LakeCollection
PERMANENT COLLECTIONCataloged By
Steven KreitzAcquisition
Accession
SHH-OriginalSource or Donor
Seiberling HeirsAcquisition Method
GiftMade/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Seiberling, Willard PenfieldRole
PhotographerDate made
1917 - 1921Notes
Medium: glass, silver gelatinOther Names and Numbers
Other Numbers
Number Type
Negative NumberOther Number
N-1715Number Type
Other NumberOther Number
SHH 2001.359RDimensions
Height
4-1/4 inWidth
3-1/4 inGeneral Notes
Note
Willard Penfield Seiberling (1892-1981) was an avid and amateur photographer who developed his photographic interest while attending Princeton University. The Dark Room at Stan Hywet Hall was added to the floorplan during construction for his use. Willard is credited with most of the early images of Stan Hywet. Willard's interest in aeronautics is exemplified by meeting Orville and Wilbur Wright after their first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk. Willard may have been the first passenger aboard the first Goodyear blimp. He also participated in national and international free balloon races in 1921. Willard was manager of the Aeronautics Department of Goodyear from 1917 to 1921. Goodyear began its Aeronautics Department in 1910. In 1916, Goodyear purchased land in Suffield around Fritch's Lake. Wingfoot Lake hangar was constructed in 1917. WFL is the oldest airship base in the U.S. The facility was the training site of the first class of Navy airship pilots. From 1917 to 1921, WFL operated as a U.S. Naval Airship.
Wingfoot Lake Airship Base was built in 1917. Willard Penfield Seiberling was manager of the Aeronautics Department of Goodyear from 1917 to 1921.
Working Print ( "R" suffix) and Negative made Oct 2000.Created By
admin@catalogit.appCreate Date
July 28, 2021Updated By
bwelch@stanhywet.orgUpdate Date
May 16, 2025