IV 15 259-261

[Kai Frederik Lorentzen]

Drybeam is in German "Trockenstrahl". The 'method of micro-drybeam'
("Mikro-Trockenstrahlverfahren") is a soft way to brush up memorials
and other old buildings. In the following link the method, that does 
not need water, is compared to a rubber.

http://www.baufachinformation.de/denkmalpflege.jsp?md=1998047109078

Yes, "hidden things" might appear there, too, but I'm not sure whether
Pynchon, although he named the guy Fritz, knew about the method when
he gave the character its family name.

Kai


>
> Fritz Drybeam- Interesting name- Given the context, one thinks of
> the noir film director Fritz Lang. Drybeam made me think of a beam
> of light. Film noir is all about harsh angular lighting. FD is
> using the Arpanet to look into hidden things but how useful his
> searches are is not clear, and on 258 he tells Doc that the FBI is
> watching back and asking him why he is so interested in Shasta.
>