Zeppelins are actually quite an impressive species of aeronautical engineering—you know, when they aren’t on fire. That’s especially true considering the level of technological prowess in the 1920′s. Our friends at Oobject have assembled 12 shots of these magnificent air-borne cruisers before they ever lifted off.

Be sure to also check out the hangers that housed these zeppelins, these impressive aircraft factories, and some interesting balloons.

Men atop giant fire ladders work on airship

The framework of LZ 129 ‘Hindenburg’ under construction

Interior shot of airship trusses

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) under construction – view of fuel tanks

Nose cone of the Hindenburg under construction

680ft Navy airship ZR-1under construction in 1922-23 at Lakehurst Naval Air Station, New Jersey. This was the first airpship to use helium rather than hydrogen.

Skeleton of Graf Zeppelin, Friedrichshafen, 1928

LZ-126 fuel tanks

LZ-126 tail view before linen covering

Looking along the axial gangway from the nose

Shenandoah under construction, Lakehurst, NJ in 1921

Britain’s R 101 airship under construction at the Royal Airship Works, Cardington