And what did that gigantic trim(?) wheel between the seats do?
Perhaps if you had done the airship rating you would have discovered that the "trim" wheel was the pitch control :-)
So obviously the Elevatorman, with all the important controls - pitch, power, ballonet pump and ballast, was the Captain - in the left seat as is proper. And the Rudderman would have been an enlisted man, to whom the Captain could give appropriately nautical orders: "Midships", "Steady as she goes", "Make your heading Northwest by North", etc.
I would still like to know about the Champagne bottles. bri?