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| MK1 YoYos x Spinworthy Red Blood Cell (RBC) - Unknown |
| Exhibit #4361 |
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| Type | Production |
| Shape | Specialty |
| Axle | Bearing |
| Finish | Anodized |
| Color | Black |
| Packaging | Display Boxed |
| Construction | Multi-piece aluminum |
| Diameter | 55mm |
| Width | 34mm |
| Gap | Fixed |
| Gap Width | 2.3mm |
| Weight | 48gm |
| Condition | Mint |
| Number Produced | 37 |
| Date | 2022 |
| Owner | Rick Brough |
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The Red Blood Cell, nicknamed the RBC, is a lightweight, hollow-bodied yo-yo made out of 7068 aluminum and designed for original (responsive) play. The RBC actually started out in early 2020 as a wooden, fixed axle yo-yo made by the maker Spinworthy Yo-Yo, based out of Australia. It debuted with the name Blood Cell and was released in small quantities. MK1 YoYos came along in 2021 and took the original Blood Cell design and worked with Spinworthy to adapt it to an aluminum body with a ball bearing axle.
In August 2022, without any fanfare or promotion, MK1 released a black RBC. MK1's webstore only described the yo-yo as "Unengraved (do not read between the lines), completely normal black color. The blast is extra niced on this one." However, by the start of January 2023, and when most of the black versions were sold out in the United States (there were a few still available to buy from SpinGear in Japan), it was discovered that this black RBC release was actually a collaboration with UNKNOWN. There were three clues given, two of which were easily found:
-Clue 1: A tiny imprint in black of the Unknown logo on the clear sticker that was affixed to the outside of the all-black yo-yo box. The logo appeared near the upper-right corner of the white "MK1".
-Clue 2: A tiny imprint in blue on an enclosed sticker that featured an image of the black yo-yo floating in a beaker. The logo appears above the yo-yo and to the right.
-Clue 3: You had to pry off the side caps of one halve. An engraving of the Unknown logo appears in the hollow cavity of the body halve (not the side cap) along with six other symbols, one of which was a QR code that, when scanned, opened a Google search results page for the query "Why did you open it?". The side cap contained an engraving of the heme group in hemoglobin, with the Unknown symbol in the center of it.
The one logo and six engraved symbols on the inner halve were the following, starting at the 12 o'clock position and moving clockwise:
• QR code
• Warning
• Do not wash
• Not waterproof
• Operator
• Unknown logo
• Recycle
According to Mark of MK1 Yo-Yos, a total of 37 black RBCs were manufactured. Of those 37, seven were divided among Mark (of MK1 Yo-Yos), Glen (of Spinworthy Yo-Yos), and Bryan Figueroa (of UNKNOWN); four went to the MK1 webstore to sell, and 26 went to various other retailers such as SpinGear of Japan and YoYoExpert. All 37 were engraved in the hollow portion of one halve of each yo-yo.
The RBC uses an uncommon axle size, ball bearing, and response pad size.
From MK1 YoYos:
"Rather than using an A sized bearing, we decided to use a smaller MR85 bearing that is only 8mm in diameter, the same as the wooden axle in the original wooden Blood Cell. This bearing combined with the same gap width as the original is intended to replicate the ideal play characteristics of fixed axle yo-yos with the smoothness and power of metal. The result is a reliably responsive yo-yo, even with a dry bearing."
Released August 19, 2022.
Recipe
Grade: A
Diameter: 55mm
Width: 34mm
Weight: 48gm
String gap: 2.3mm
Material: 7068 aluminum
Axle: M3 × 12mm
Bearing: MR85 (5mm × 8mm × 2.5mm)
Finish: Anodized matte, Black
Original retail price: $95 US.
See also these other A-grade RBC versions.
• Red Blood
• Gold (Rhnull)
• Watermelon (Low HP)
• Blue Blood
• Clear
• Black (Unknown edition) | |
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