Many people are surprised to learn that the original tattoo machine was actually patented in 1891, and there is evidence of models of the machine being used by various artists much earlier than that. Tattoo machines, which are machines that puncture the skin and then drive ink into the skin, thereby creating a permanent tattoo design, have undergone some major changes throughout the years, and have been influenced by some surprising historical figures.
Of course, the earliest tattoo machines were literally pieces of bamboo that were used to slice open the skin so that ashes or other pigments could be rubbed into the skin. Then, Inuit tribes began sewing their tattoos into place, using pieces of inked string or sinew that could be pulled through the upper layers of skin using a needle, leaving a trail of ink under the skin behind them. These could technically be considered the first tattoo machines, but they in no way resemble today's machines, which look kind of like small and perforate the skin while forcing ink into the tiny perforations to create a tattoo design. The birth of the modern tattoo machine actually occurred earlier than many people imagine, and it was directly influenced by Thomas Alva Edison, who is better known for his inventions like the light bulb than his influence on body art.
The tattoo machine was patented by Samuel O'Reilly's in 1891. O'Reilly used the electric battery, recently created by the Italian inventor Volta, and the principals of electromagnetism, recently discovered by the Danish inventor Oersted, to power his electric tattoo machine, which actually looked fairly similar in nature to the handheld sewing machines of today. O'Reilly modeled his machine after Thomas Edison's embroidery machine, which used needles to transfer powdered dyes onto a piece of fabric. O'Reilly's machine simply transferred ink to skin instead of dye to fabric.
In 1904, the next era of the tattoo machine began. A man named Charlie Wagner patented a new machine that had an ink chamber, which enabled artists to become much more precise and made the tattoo machine slightly less bulky. Wagner also added an on/off switch that prevented artists from having to unplug the apparatus in order to take a break, and a needle bar that enabled artists to make clearer lines and cover more ground more effectively.
In 1929, the tattoo machine finally became an instrument of capitalism as well as taking on the form of today's tattoo machines. Percy Waters patented the tattoo machines, which had a set of coils, a needle bar and a foot pedal. Waters also created the first tattoo accessories, including plastic stencils to guide tattoo design, foot pedals, on/off switches, spark shields, and many other helpful items. Interestingly, Waters is the first inventor involved in the evolution of the tattoo machines who appears to have ever made a profit or even tried to turn a few bucks with his invention. He helped spread the use of the tattoo machines by selling his new model and his accessories very aggressively throughout the United States.
Today, tattoo machines continue to evolve. While they are usually purchased from a manufacturer, most tattoo artists have at least a limited familiarity with tattoo machiness and tattoo machines mechanics due to their years as tattoo artist apprentices, when they may have had to clean, mend, solder and repair shop tattoo machiness. Many artists tailor their tattoo machiness to fit their own personal preferences and needs, and as a result the tattoo machines today is still changing. When an artist hits upon an improvement that can make a major impact on the beauty and ease of getting a tattoo design inked, they often publicize it and promote it at trade shows. An example of this is the pneumatic tattoo machines, which runs on the power of air and is extremely lightweight, making it attractive for a variety of reasons since many tattoo artists get wrist and shoulder tendonitis as a result of repetitive fatigue.
