Category: Goodyear

Goodyear Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio

Goodyear – Rubber Company

IN 1889, with just 13 employees, Goodyear production began. The product line included bicycle and carriage tires, horseshoe pads, and poker chips. By 1916, Goodyear had grown into the world’s largest tire company, and by 1926 it was the world’s largest rubber company.

Inside view of the U.S.S. Macon, Akron, Ohio

USS Macon – ZRS-5

In this Picture Postcard view of the USS Macon, a member of the crew checks one of the ships many gasoline tanks prior to a test flight from the Goodyear-Zeppelin dock in Akron. This is the starboard lateral gangway. Narrow catwalks like this one stretched throughout the interior of the ships hull. The Macon ZRS-5, The Macon, was…

The Goodyear-Zeppelin Corp's. Airship Factory and Dock

The Goodyear-Zeppelin Airship Factory

The Air Dock, as it is known, was constructed in 1929. It was the largest building in the world without interior supports and provided a huge structure in which “lighter-than-air” ships (later known as airships, dirigibles, and blimps) could be constructed. The first two airships to be constructed and launched at the Airdock were USS Akron and its sister ship, USS Macon, built…

Construction of U.S.S. Akron, Navy Airship

Inside USS Akron – ZRS-4

Men at work on duralumin framework of U.S.S. Akron – ZRS-4, the world’s largest airship. From Framework to Flight On October 31, 1929 construction of the Akron began inside the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation dock at Akron, Ohio. On November 2, 1931, she left the dock on her maiden voyage as a commissioned “ship” of the U.S. Navy.…

Goodyear Factories, Akron, Ohio

Goodyear Factories

“The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, one of the largest rubber factories in the United States, is located in Akron, the rubber center of the United States. Goodyear produced more than 110,000,000 tires since 1998. It employees thousands of people. The annual payroll is over 43,000,000. Goodyear is the largest producer of auto tires and rubber…

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Plant

USS Akron flys proudly over the Goodyear plant. She was the world’s first purpose-built flying aircraft carrier, carrying F9C Sparrowhawk fighter planes which could be launched and recovered while she was in flight. The Goodyear company is named after American Charles Goodyear, inventor of vulcanized rubber. The first Goodyear factory opened in Akron, Ohio, in…

Goodyear-Zeppelin Co. Factory, Akron, Ohio

Goodyear-Zeppelin Corp’s. Factory

“Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation’s Factory and Dock located on the grounds of Akron’s Municipal Airport (Akron Fulton International). This building is 1,196 feet in length, 325 feet in width and 211 feet high, equal to a 22 story building. There are 3,600,000 pounds of steel used in the doors and 5,350 tons of structural steel in the…

U.S.S. Macon in Goodyear-Zeppelin Dock, Akron, Ohio

USS Macon ZRS-5 – Goodyear-Zeppelin Dock

The USS Macon was built at the Goodyear Airdock in Springfield Township (Akron) by the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation. This was by far the biggest airship ever to be built in America.  A team of experienced German airship engineers—led by Chief Designer Karl Arnstein—instructed and supported design and construction of both the U.S. Navy airships Macon and Akron.

Aerial view of Goodyear Factory, Akron, Ohio

Goodyear Factory – Aerial view

By 1926 Goodyear was the largest rubber company in the world. Only four years earlier it was forced to temporarily halt production of racing tires due to heavy competition. Nevertheless, the popularity of the Goodyear tire on the racing circuit led to a popular demand for the return of the brand.

USS Akron over Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Plant, Akron, Ohio

USS Akron over Goodyear Factory

First Flying Aircraft Carrier Between September 1931 and April 1933 the Navy’s USS Akron (ZRS-4) sailed the skies. She was the world’s first purpose-built flying aircraft carrier. Tucked neatly inside her massive body were F9C Sparrowhawk fighter planes which could be launched and recovered while the airship was in flight. Largest Flying Object With an overall length of 785 ft (239 m), the Akron and her…

Framework for the U.S.S. Akron, inside the Goodyear-Zeppelin Air Dock, Akron Ohio

USS Akron – ZRS-4

Building Airship ZRS-4 Construction of Airship ZRS-4 began on October 31, 1929 at the Goodyear-Zeppelin Airdock. wish was a purpose-built hanger for the construction of these massive airships. On November 7 that year, Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, the Chief of the U.S. Navy’s Bureau of Aeronautics, drove the “golden rivet” in the ship’s first main ring. Erection of the hull sections began…

Zeppelin Air Dock, Akron, Ohio

Zeppelin Air Dock

The Goodyear-Zeppelin Airdock was a purpose-built facility for the construction of large airships. The $2.2 million building is over 200 feet tall and more than 1,000 feet long. Most remarkable, the entire length of the building is free of interior supports like pillars or struts. At the time of its construction in 1929, the air dock was the…

Goodyear Rubber Factory, Akron, Ohio

Goodyear Factory

The first Goodyear factory opened in Akron, Ohio, in 1898. The thirteen original employees manufactured bicycle and carriage tires, rubber horseshoe pads, and poker chips. The company grew with the advent of the automobile. In this image, an Akron & Barberton Belt steam train switches cars at Goodyear’s east Akron factory.  

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