Thursday, May 6, 2010

PRUSSIAN BLUE


The invention of Prussian Blue.
Konrad Dippel was born in Giessen, Germany in 1673. Dippel became interested in alchemy, mainly the tranformation of base metals in to gold. In Berlin he created a laboratory with the purpose of achieving the a universal remedy. Dippel believed that this remedy lay in the distilling from mouldering animal parts such as leather, hoofs and horns in to a viscous oily liquid which became known as “Dippel’s Oil.” Dippel claimed this oil could cure fever, colds and epilepsy and slowly did gain a certain notoriety as a medicine. As a cure-all its results were refuted, however its positive results as a sheep dip and insecticide were undeniable.

Johann Jacob Diesbach was a paint maker of the time, and was attempting to create a red lake pigment from cochineal but a mistake obtained Berlin Blue. While at work Diesbach had run out of potash, so he borrowed used by Dippel. To his astonishment he created not a deep red, but an ungodly, dark blue. Dippel traced back the process and found that the potash used by his colleague, Dippel’s own, contained animal blood and it was discovered that animal blood mixed with iron sulphate (green vitriol) caused a reaction creating a never seen before blue. He named it Berlin Blue. Its unearthly colour mixed with its stability made it the popular choice of painters and printers and, fittingly, for fabric makers who chose that colour for the Prussian Army uniforms and became synonymous with Prussia itself.

I wallow in the color. Danke, Konrad & Johann

Monday, May 3, 2010

KRAFTSTOFF = Filthy Austrian Bikes




Holy Scheiße!!! I think that the Austrians have gone and maxed out the form/function meter on these incredible bikes.
How can I begin to verbalize how immaculate and dangerous these look. I think that these bikes must have a similar effect as Jesus or some sort of witch doctor, giving someone perhaps handicapped from the head down the ability to annihilate asphalt, or decimate dirt. Or at least have an amazing day dream such as I. I know your girls are beauties, now I know your bikes are beasts! Fucking Austrians!!!!!






We build your personal Bike – KRAFTSTOFF hand made Bikes !




Für jedes Gesicht das passende Bike !
Für jeden Fahrertyp das passende Bike !
Für jeden Einsatzbereich das passende Bike !
For each face the perfect bike!
For each driver type the perfect bike!
For every application the perfect bike!