The Evolution of Tattoo Machines
- jordancasciato
- 48 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Hello everyone! In order for me to learn more about tattooing at Speakeasy Tattoo in Los Angeles, I must know more about the physical machines and their history first.
In 1891 Samuel O’Reilly was granted a patent for the first electronic tattoo machine. This machine allowed an artist to puncture the skin 50 times per second as opposed to other machines at the time that would only puncture 2-3 times per second. This machine was the first ever rotary machine. The first tattoo machine with the familiar shape was invented in 1929 by Percy Waters. Percy became the leading tattoo tool supplier with his 14 different frame styles. “In 1978, Canadian-born Carol “Smokey” Nightingale developed a complex and adjustable ‘electric marking device for tattooing humans,’“ (Dawson). This design featured adjustable coils, leaf springs and movable contact screws for altering depth.
Since then several different types of tattoo machines have emerged and each one offers its own personality to the artist. Pneumatic machines use compressed air to power the needle. “The needle is attached to a piston, which in turn connects to a valve controlling the flow of compressed air. When the foot pedal is pressed, the valve opens, enabling the compressed air to drive the piston in rapid oscillations,” (Park). As for Coil machines, “a coil tattoo machine utilizes electromagnetic current to create and break a circuit that subsequently moves tattoo needles up and down and in and out of the skin. The breaking and re-establishing of the circuit happens in a cyclical fashion.” (Painfulpleasures). While coil machines use electromagnetic coils to drive the needles, rotary machines work a little differently. “The core components of a rotary tattoo machine include a motor, an eccentric cam, a needle bar, and a grip” (CNC). Rotary motors are also used in prison style tattoo machines. Prison style machines are made from parts such as the motor from an electric shaver, a ball point pen, string from a waistband, a battery, a pair of wire earbuds and a mechanical pencil. There is a lot that goes into getting these parts and the creativity of putting them together but the outcome makes a very functional machine.
As time unfolds, new innovations come to light in the world of tattooing. One pivotal innovation is Frank Bishop’s pen-like rotary machine. “The Bishop Rotary tattoo machine was created in 2009 and tattoo artists everywhere welcomed its lightweight design that allowed them to use it for longer without experiencing wrist pain.” Although this pen made it more efficient to tattoo, this is where the tattoo industry has seen a new innovation that has caused a split between traditional and new age artists. The new rotary machines have allowed new artists who are interested in tattooing to easily be able to purchase a machine online and learn to tattoo at home without learning in an apprenticeship.
The tradition of learning through apprenticeship is a sacred part of tattoo history and tradition. By not learning through an apprenticeship, an artist could be learning false methods and incorrect practices that could put their clientele at risk. “The process of needle making was passed down from tattooist to apprentice with great care. Tattooists would have their own way of assembling their needle set-ups. Before soldering irons and needle jigs came on the scene, a tattooist would use a Bunsen burner to melt the solder to join the needle and then attach them to the needle bar. The alignment was done by eye,” (Tattoo Archive). As innovations are introduced into the tattoo community some aspects of great tattoo artist traits get lost. “Back in the day a tattooist bought needles by the thousands, sorted through them discarding the ones that were flawed, and soldered the remaining good ones into the configuration that worked best for them. Needle making was one of those skills that often separated the good tattooist from the not so good one,” (Tattoo Archive). While there is nothing inherently wrong with starter kits, taking the art of tattooing and packaging it into a starter kit demeans the tradition of learning through an apprenticeship and growing as a person through that process. “The popularity of the starter kit and the lack of apprenticeship opportunities have filled the ranks with artist/operators who don't have a full grasp of the bigger picture. Starter kits don't come with instructions on safe health practices, an autoclave, history lessons or a moral compass. Are we creating a generation of tattooists ill-prepared for the modern world?” (Tattoo Archive). As new innovations enter the tattoo industry, we will see less and less precautions taken and more and more upset amongst traditionally trained tattoo artists. There are ways to take the useful aspects of these innovations and apply them with correct training and ethics. However the use of these innovations without the proper training and ethics has the potential to erase what makes the tattoo world safe and cared for.
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