Tattooing is an ancient art form, practised long before there were specialised machines. Tools found in parts of Europe dating as far back as 12,000 years show evidence or early tattooing art. Egyptians tattooed their mummies in cultural burial rituals as late as the second millennium BCE. Early Asian cultures also incorporated skin art very similar to modern tattoos, as did Africans.
Humans have been obsessed with skin art since the very beginning. Whether it’s an expression of beauty, or for cultural and religious purposes, we have come great lengths to perfect and appreciate its significance. At the heart of years of advancement in skin colouring lies the modern tattoo gun.
The gun completely revolutionised tattooing, as both an art and a trade. New designs became possible, as did new pigments and finer detailing. It brought about the birth of a profession and an art form. Modern tattooing, as we know it, would not exist without it.
So, how do tattoo guns work, and how did this incredible invention come to be?
The Origins
Early tattooing was a painstaking and lengthy process, limited by the crudeness of the methods, which involved using hammering tools and long needles.
Samuel O’Reilly, a former convict, patented the first electric tattoo gun in 1891 in the US. O’Reilly based his invention on Thomas Edison’s Electric Pen, a failed 1875 idea for a pen that would make duplicate copies of text by piercing through the master copy over a stencil with an inked roller to blank sheets underneath.
The electric pen suffered several drawbacks at a time when electric batteries were still rather crude, leading to its failure shortly after launch. O’Reilly added multiple tattoo needles at the tip of the pen, as well as an ink reservoir. That's how the modern hand-held tattoo machine was first designed.
The gun used the original high-speed reciprocating DC motor mechanism to turn circular spin into an up and down piercing movement of up to 50 times a second. At the time, the speed and precision of the machine were utterly impressive. The innovative device rapidly grew in popularity and soon established tattoo artists as professionals. The tattooing culture also grew in turn.
In 1929, another significant improvement came about. Percy Waters, a tattoo artist from Detroit, patented a new gun design that featured two parallel electromagnets to move the needles instead of the motor. His invention very closely resembled the modern tattoo gun.
The Takeaway
For new or even experienced tattoo artists, understanding how their guns work gives a unique insight into the making of the art. In addition, you can learn to tune the machine to suit your artistic style. This knowledge also helps you narrow down your choice of tools from the various types and brands.
Take some time to view our selection of the best quality machines for aspiring and veteran artists at Body-Shock. We have a wide range of world-popular specialist tools in both rotary and coil models. We will also supply you with everything you need to keep going, from quality inks and spare parts to needles and other tattooing products.
Here at Body Shock, we believe in spreading body art and have been dedicated to its growth for over 25 years. If you’d like to learn more about our equipment and supplies, we are always ready to lend a helping hand to a fellow art-lover.
