During the war two plants were put up in the vicinity of Friedrichshafen for making duralumin materials such as angle bars, strips, all kinds of girders, and other parts of the Zeppelin skeleton. They were operated for the most part with female labor.
The “DELAG” Passenger Zeppelin “Hansa”, 1912.
The “DELAG” Passenger Zeppelin “Sachsen”, 1913.
The Woodworking Factory
A woodworking factory (Holzindustrie G.m.b.H.-Meckenbeuren) also was established near Friedrichshafen for the manufacture of propellers, etc. It has recently been enlarged and is operating at full capacity producing materials for buildings, dwellings, etc. During the war the specially designed Zeppelin propellers were made at Göppingen.
The Maybach Motor Works
One of the accessory companies founded by Zeppelin in 1909 was the Maybach Motor Factory (Maybach-Motorenbau) ([Plate 18]), at Friedrichshafen. It was enlarged considerably during the war, supplying practically all the airship motors used. Today the Maybach works include three large three story factory buildings, parts of which are devoted to executive offices, two workshops of recent origin occupying two acres, many engine testing stands, laboratory, and a power plant fully equipped with the latest machinery. The entire plant is under the management of Mr. Maybach, inventor of the only motor designed for airships alone. One reason for the peculiar efficiency of the plant is the special workman’s training department which has received considerable attention from the executives.