Sometimes the beauty is in the history, not the medal

Askari · November 17, 2003 12:54PM

Although Alex Shagin is a pretty well-known and respected US medalist, it's hard to describe this medal of his as anything but "homely." Perhaps that's why only 45 pieces of this medal were cast, instead of the 500 planned. Maybe it's just the aerospace engineer in me, but I'd never have thought anyone would have made one for this obscure piece of history. Ever wonder where Count von Zeppelin ever got his idea? From the man who beat him to it!

How the Zeppelin got its name:

This rare medal was created by premier American medallist Alex Shagin to commemorate the actual inventor of the first successfully demonstrated rigid airship, David Schwarz. There is an interesting story that goes with this medal. The noted Judaica collector Manfred Anson commissioned it in an attempt to set the historical record straight. While Mr. Anson was travelling in Eastern Europe, he happened to notice a postage stamp there which pictured an archaic airship and its inventor David Schwarz. Like most people, Mr. Anson thought the first rigid airship was the brainchild of Count von Zeppelin. Once he got home, he began to research this David Schwarz and his so-called invention. After much research this is what he uncovered: David Schwarz had in 1896 drawn up plans for a piloted, motor-propelled airship. It featured an array of controls and a wooden infrastructure within its gas-filled envelope to insure stability and maneuverability. He contacted the Imperial German Army to try and interest them in the military application of his invention and they grudgingly agreed to allow Schwarz to give a demonstration. When the day came, the flight was successful but of short duration. Unknown to Schwarz, also present for the demonstration was a retired Intelligence Colonel by the name of von Zeppelin who had acted in the Army as a trained observer for the General Staff. In this capacity he had visited the US during its Civil War -- attached to the Confederate Army. There he observed the modern tactics and technology which were evolving in that conflict. At the 1897 test flight of Schwarz's airship, he was deeply impressed and immediately saw the possibilities of this new technology. The Gerneral Staff also showed an interest and prepared an Army contract for Schwarz and his machine. Schwarz was in his front yard when the postman delivered the Army's proposal. He became so excited that he had a heart attack and keeled over dead right then and there! Within a couple of days, the Count von Zeppelin came to call on the grieving widow to offer his condolences. Almost as an afterthought, the Count inquired about the financial situation of the widow Schwarz. It came up that her husband had not had a pension and had used up all their savings building his Airship. On hearing this, the generous Count offered her a cash settlement on the spot. He gave her a couple of hundred Reichsmarks for the plans, patents and rights to her husband's invention. The rest is history. And that's why all airships are known as Zeppelins and why the 1936 Lakehurst, NJ disaster known as 'The Crash of the Hindenburg' is not recalled as 'The Crash of the Schwarz'.