If you can't get enough of GDR two-wheelers like Simson & Co at Christmas, it's worth taking a look online. There you can buy Christmas tree baubles made from real flashing lights from the cult mopeds. And they have proved to be a surprisingly big seller, as one of the sellers Jan Hofmann (37) says.
The Thuringia native has been offering upcycled furniture made from original moped parts in an online store since this year. The Christmas tree baubles made from the indicators were added in November. Together with a housing from the 3D printer and an electric tea light, they give the traditional fir tree a nostalgic glow.
"Absurdly many likes" for the blinker baubles
Hofmann says that he was surprised by the success of his offer. "I didn't expect anyone to be interested at all," says the 37-year-old, who now lives in the Upper Palatinate.
After making the first Blinker balls, he uploaded two reels to Instagram. These received an "absurd number of likes" for the size of his account. "I was completely surprised." He uploaded 100 blinker balls to the store on a Saturday and they were already sold out by Monday.
Original parts with patina
He is unable to produce an unlimited supply of the goods. "It's important to me to use used blinker caps," says Hofmann. He first has to find the original parts before he can provide supplies.
In addition, his online store is only a sideline. "I also work full-time and have to organize it somehow between my girlfriend, two children and the household," says Hofmann.
However, the 37-year-old is not the only one to offer Simson blinker balls. A two-wheeler store from Werdau in Saxony has a similar offer, also with used parts. "The blinker caps are original GDR including the patina!", they say.
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