Phthalo blue and carbazole violet
Mr. Bsag and I went to London yesterday to run a few pleasurable errands. I visited Bikefix to test ride a lovely, Dutch-style bike for commuting to work (more on that later, I’m sure, if I decide to buy it), and Mr. B went to a printmaker’s supply shop called Intaglio. He’s been printmaking for a couple of years now, and someone recommended this shop. It’s in the Borough area, which in itself is an fascinating area of London. The shop itself is in a basement, and feels like a treasure trove.
I don’t really know anything about printmaking — other than what I’ve learned via Mr. Bsag — but it’s still an interesting place to visit. It’s one of those shops that — if you ignore the cash till and a few of the plastic containers — is probably more or less unchanged since the Victorian period. The walls are lined with shelves filled with tins and tubes of ink, which have exotic names like phthalo blue and carbazole violet, and there are cabinets with engraving tools and smoothing tools, alongside jars of gum arabic and beeswax. More shelves are stacked with thick, creamy sheets of printing paper, waiting for an image. Best of all, there are the tiny, end-grain blocks of wood for wood engraving, sanded and polished so smooth that you can’t help but pick them up and stroke the silky surface. It’s really another world, and one that I find very enticing, despite my complete lack of artistic ability.
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Which bike are you looking at? Pashley?
by Steve @ 04/01/2007 8:01 pm • Permalink •
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On the short street that runs between Long Acre and Covent Garden Market - Yes, I am that old, and I did work there when parking was free, as long as you did it after 12 PM; before that time the barrow boys would bounce their carts off your doors to remind one who owned the market in the morning - But I digress; as I was saying, there was a small shop, Faulkners I think, which sold a wonderous range of papers, from rice to rag, beautiful Japanese papers, soft and spongy papers which would bring joy to the heart of a watercolourist, a tactile heaven.
by Jonathan Briggs @ 04/01/2007 8:13 pm • Permalink •
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If you're looking at 'proper' bikes, you might also think of Velorution in Gt Titchfield Street, as their range of less conventional bikes is pretty good. I bought my Pedersen from there and on the day I collected the couple who own and run Christiania bikes were in there, just pottering about in the workshop and fixing things. Cool.
Bikefix are good, though. My Brompton was from there.
I have no interest in either shop - just a satisfied customer.
by Jolyon @ 04/01/2007 9:49 pm • Permalink •
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Steve: No, Fahrrad Manufactur S200 Comfort. I like Pashleys a lot, but they are a mite heavy. I don't mind that when riding (a heavy steel frame makes for a very comfy ride), but the end of my commute involves carrying the bike up quite a few steps from the towpath at the University. The S200 is lighter and very well specified. I'm going to be buying via the Cycle To Work tax free bikes scheme, otherwise I'd be going for a much cheaper bike
Jonathan Briggs: Falkiners? Yes, we walked past there, but unfortunately it was closed by that time, so we had to content ourselves with pressing our noses to the window and ogling the gorgeous hand-bound sketchbooks and notebooks. Lovely.
Jolyon: I'm going to go with Bikefix now because I've settled on a model that they stock, and they've been really helpful, but Velorution looks great. Next time I'm in London, I'll pay them a visit. I love bike shops that stock, as you say, 'proper' bikes.
by bsag @ 05/01/2007 5:55 pm • Permalink •
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Jolyon: I forgot to ask: what's the Pedersen like? I've always been intrigued by them.
by bsag @ 05/01/2007 5:56 pm • Permalink •
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They've moved from Covent Garden then, mind you, it's 23 years since I worked there; they've even finished rebuilding the Opera House!
by Jonathan Briggs @ 05/01/2007 9:48 pm • Permalink •
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I 2nd guessed you would be test riding an HP Velo Spirit (as I did some years ago at that very shop) but I was wrong....does that not qualify as a bike for Tax-free purposes ?
by zimmer @ 12/01/2007 12:59 am • Permalink •
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