The Evolution of the Tattoo Machine

by

Micheline Moreaux

To follow the evolution of the modern tattoo machine, it’s necessary to travel back in time to the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This is when when Count Alessandro Antonio Anastasio Volta, an Italian inventor, put himself into chemistry, studying atmospheric electricity and making up experiments such as the ignition of gases by an electric spark in a closed vessel. In 1779 he became professor of physics at the University of Pavia and this was his position for the next 25 years. By 1800 he had developed the so-called voltaic pile, an early electric battery, which produced a steady stream of electricity.

The reason for mentioning Volta is that all early tattoo machines were battery operated. The basic principle of electromagnetism wasn’t discovered until 1819 by the Danish inventor Hans Christian rsted. This electromagnetic system has been used in all tattoo machine patents and in most practical applications of tattoo machines ever since.

In 1876 Thomas Alva Edison received a patent on a device designed for making painting and embroidery patterns. This patent was for a rotary type electromagnetic machine that was battery powered. The machine was designed so that the stencil pen would punch holes in paper which had been placed on the surface to be painted. Colored powder would then be dusted over the pattern, and a simple outline would be transferred to the surface. Edison was obviously not satisfied with his early stencil pen design, because in 1877 he developed a new idea and received a new patent on this device. This machine was quite different from the original rotary machine. The 1877 patent was for a two electromagnetic coil device with the coils set transversely to the tube assembly. A flexible reed vibrated over these coils and created the reciprocating motion needed to make the stencil. This method of transfer is still in use today within the sign-painting industry. Fifteen years later, with only slight modifications of Edison’s design, the modern tattoo machine began to evolve.

Samuel O’Reilly, an Irish immigrant, was already a well established tattooist in New York City, having arrived there sometime around 1875. In 1891 he filed for a tattoo machine patent. His was the first fully dedicated tattoo machine. The O’Reilly modifications included a redesigned tube assembly and an ink reservoir.

In 1904, Charlie Wagner of New York City, received a patent for his tattoo machine. Some believe that Samuel O’Reilly was a major influence on the development of this machine. However, by examining the original patent drawing, it can be seen that both Wagner and O’Reilly relied heavily on the Edison design. Wagner did a good job of altering the 1877 Edison patent for tattooing applications. Some of the alterations included a much improved tube assembly with ink chamber, an on and off switch, stroke adjustment, and a pin vice type needle bar.

In 1929 Percy Waters of Detroit received a patent on the design that most people envision of when they think of a tattooing machine. Waters’ machine was the standard two coil electromagnetic style, but the major difference was that the coils were set in line with the frame. Other modifications included a fingertip on/off switch, spark shield, and a needle set up for cutting plastic stencils. During the many years in his tattoo supply business, Waters manufactured and sold many different machine types and styles.

It would be fifty years until the next tattoo machine patent was applied for. In 1979, Carol (Smokey) Nightingale of Washington D.C.. Known as “The Man with the Golden Needle,” Nightingale was a chain pipe smoker, hence the nickname Smokey. Nightingale built quite an elaborate machine. A few of his alterations included fully adjustable coils, back spring mount and contact screw. He designed leaf springs of different lengths for different types of work, and an angled armature bar that did away with the bend in the front spring.

The tattoo machine has gone through many changes in the century since Edison started tinkering with the stencil pen. No matter what modifications have been made, the ideal machine for every artist will probably never be built. Tattoo artists will alter the standard machines to fit their individual needs and applications. Tattoo machines are a very personalized tool and no two are exactly alike.

Across the U.S. and Europe many inventors still try and tweak tattoo machine design. Each time an improvement is made to the design, the tattoo machine evolves into a superior tool. Often the design changes are not an improvement, and the applications of these modifications are short lived. As with any new development, there is a process of trial and error.

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