How to make hydro in 1900 Zeplins?

[triffid]

That sounds right the germans could not get helium so they were forced to use hydrogen or not fly at all.I dont know how they made their hydrogen.Triffid

[triffid]

I think some old copies of "Popular Science " and" Popular Mechanics" from the 1920's and 1930's  would give a weath of info on Zeplins and their design.These would be in the public library  bound into hardback book form.Triffid

[khabe]

Hm? Do you seriously trow that electrolysis was unknown and invented just today   
1800 - William Nicholson and Johann Ritter decomposed water into hydrogen and oxygen.
As you know it is simple. Is simple now and was simple then.
Many another ways too but ... I think that Zeppelin used not electricity.
cheers,
khabe

perhaps:
Hydrogen was made by dropping iron filings into containers of sulfric acid then piped to the inflating balloon. This could take a couple days to complete.
http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/models/Aircraft/Balloon-Lowe

Since hydrogen doesn't exist on earth as a gas, we must separate it from other elements. We can separate hydrogen atoms from water, biomass, or natural gas molecules. The two most common methods for producing hydrogen are steam reforming and electrolysis (water splitting). Scientists have even discovered that some algae and bacteria give off hydrogen.

Steam reforming is currently the least expensive method of producing hydrogen and accounts for about 95 percent of the hydrogen produced in the United States. It is used in industries to separate hydrogen atoms from carbon atoms in methane(CH4). Because methane is a fossil fuel, the process of steam reforming results in greenhouse gas emissions that are linked with global warming.
Electrolysis is a process that splits hydrogen from water. It results in no emissions but it is currently a very expensive process.

Hydrogen Technology from Science, 1900-1940
http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4404/app-a3.htm