The Electric Tattoo Machine (Tattoo Gun)

The modern electric tattoo machine is far removed from the machine invented by Samuel O'Reilly in 1891. O'Reilly's machine was based on the rotary technology of the electric engraving device invented by Thomas Edison. Modern tattoo machines use electromagnetic coils. The first coil machine was patented by Thomas Riley in London, 1891 using a single coil. The first twin coil machine, the predecessor of the modern configuration, was invented by another Englishman, Alfred Charles South of London, in 1899.

A tattoo gun is a hand held machine for creating a tattoo, i.e. marking skin with ink. Tattoo machines utilize electromagnetic coils in alternation to move the needle bar up and down, which drives the pigment into the skin.

In the United States, it is most often called a tattoo machine. The term tattoo gun is popular in Europe, however.

The basic machine was invented by Thomas Edison, and patented in the United States in 1876, as the "Autographic printer", which was intended as an engraving device. In 1891, Samuel O'Reilly found Edison's machine could be modified to introduce ink into skin, and patented a tube and needle system to provide an ink reservoir.

In fact, modern tattoo machines are very different from the machine O'Reilly invented. O'Reilly's machine was based on the rotary technology of Edison engraving device, the first practical application of an electric motor. Modern tattoo machines use electromagnets, the first use of which was a single coil machine patented by Thomas Riley of London, England Dec. 28th 1891 twenty days after Sam O'Reilly filed his U.S. patent for his rotary machine. Thomas Riley's machine had a single coil and was a modified door bell assembly contained in a brass box. The modern configuration of two coils was patented by Alfred Charles South of Cockspur St. London (Patented London Jun. 30th 1899)It was heavy and was often used with a spring attached to the top of the machine and to the ceiling to take most of the weight off the operators' hand.

Most tattoo machines can control needle depth to almost any degree and thanks to this control, tattooing has become a very precise art form, so precise that facial tattooing has become popular in the United States of America. The procedure is called dermapigmentation or "permanent cosmetics".

Remember, booking is always advisable - for tattoo work and consultations.