LZ 126 Zeppelin Stereoscope

Germany, 1920s

Although built in Germany, the LZ 126 Zeppelin was paid for by the United States government. The airship’s American name was “ZR III Los Angeles.” Since it was constructed in Germany, it had to cross the Atlantic to be delivered to the U.S. — a risky venture that had never been done. The project was a success — the airship took off from Germany on October 12, 1924, and landed in Lakehurst, New Jersey 3 1/2 days later.

To commemorate, the company Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH (“Zeppelin Construction”) produced this folding, cast aluminum stereo viewer with “LZ 126” die-cut into the bottom, along with 24 stereoviews of the LZ 126, photographed by Major A. D. Wilcke. The same company would later produce the LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin viewer and views.