hydrogen

First :-D . This is a great capture. Great angle !! Nice..

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Social Documentary Photography & events, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

wonderful shot.

Kind of cool photo but a little dark.

Inspiring.

Is this the balloon launched from atop the John Wanamaker store in Philadelphia?

So many wonderful photos...thank you for sharing them, and for all of your good work.

This is probably Leo Stevens, balloonist here in the 1906 NYT: query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F0DE6D81F3DE633A... And here (1906): query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A05E7D6103EE733A... See other L. Stevens image showing the man himself here: www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2162732173/ And I think our friend undeadsinatra has been at work making all the connections here before me - judging by the tags for this image.

We'll add Steven's complete name to the source catalog and reload the description. Thanks!

It does look like that balloon. Seems to be a July 8, 1911 date on there.

For filling the blimp?

Likely the same gas bottles are visible on this photo: www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/33621457095/

Yes, this photo (others linked) posted by the Library of Congress is of hydrogen gas bottles at Roosevelt Field (formerly Hazelhurst Field, recently renamed in September 1918 for Quentin Roosevelt) for the re-gassing of the R-34. Here is archival film of the gas bottles and the re-gassing of the R-34 at Roosevelt Field after its transatlantic flight, posted at the U.S. National Archives. U.S. National Archives Identifier:24622 Local Identifier: 111-H-1117 Historical Film, No. 1117 - Signal Corps-Historical Film, No. 1117

TVL1970  Thanks for posting that footage from the National Archives -- it really brings all of the photos together!

Thanks TVL1970 and P.W., we can add info to the records.