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Jan 1, 1300
(???B.C.) - The Basics
The idea of tattooing began an extremely long time ago. The most primitive form of it was to rub any soot or charcoal into an open wound to darken the scars. From there, it was discovered that this could be controlled by puncturing the skin in specific places, usually using a stick or rock tipped with pigment. -
Jan 1, 1400
(3000 B.C.) Baby Steps!
As carving tools advanced, a finer point was able to be achieved on the tattooing needles. These needles were then able to be tied together in a "comb" fashion, and this allowed tattoos to be applied much quicker. Tapping the needles with a hammer type tool was also used in application. In some cultures, pigmented sinew was "sewn" under the skin. The earliest known tattoos have been found on the Iceman , dated back to 3300 B.C., and Egyptian mummies. -
European Influence
Sailors discover, over their travels, the art of tattooing. Captain Cook brings a heavily tattooed man to Europe, and tattoos become a fad. By this time metal needles are used, but the application process is still primitive. Ink is now used as pigment, rather than soot. -
Electricity
With Thomas Edison's invention of the "Electric Pen", tattooing became mechanical. This original invention was rotarty based with treadle power. It was intended to be used as an engraving device - with a reciprocating needle that would puncture the paper. This would allow the paper to be used as a stencil. All one had to do was roll on ink over it, and a copy was made. The pen itself didn't use ink at all. -
The Actual Gun
Tattooing took off famously when Samuel O'Reilley patented an official tattoo gun. This new gun featured an ink resevoir and several needles. This gun was a great big step in the tattooing process. -
Innovation
In 1929, Percy Waters continues to build on the tattoo gun invention. He puts the electromagnetic coils on a frame and adds an on/off switch and a spark shield. Percy wasn't a tattoo artist at all. -
Modern Tattooing
BY 1979 Caorl Nightingale had adapted the tattoo gun further. The parts of his design were extremely adjustable, which has opened doors into modern tattoo gun's capabilities. This has allowed for machines to be more precise, thus allowing things like permanent makeup to be applied. -
Bibliography
Lineberry, C. (2007, January 1). Tattoos : The ancient and mysterious history. Retrieved from http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/tattoo.html Krcmarik, K. (2003, April). History of tattooing. Retrieved from https://www.msu.edu/~krcmari1/individual/history.html McKay, E. (1991). Thomas alva edison (1847-1931). Retrieved from http://www.tattooarchive.com/tattoo_history/edison_thomas.html McKay, E. (2008). Samuel o'reilley. Retrieved from http://www.tattooarchive.com/tattoo_history -
Bibliography 2
The tattoo machine : A history. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.theinnovationdiaries.com/281/the-tattoo-machine-a-history/ Lutzenberger, T. (n.d.). The history of tattoo guns. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/about_6546764_history-tattoo-guns.html http://www.weyriver.co.uk/Images/Charcoal.jpg
http://www.billy-ball.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/boring.jpg
http://www.designboom.com/history/tattoo/h4.jpg http://marshall.csu.edu.au/Marshalls/html/histpix/Tattoo_Pohnpei_Comb.jpg
