Inventor of the Tattoo Machine – Samuel O’Reilly
Samuel O’Reilly is the name, who invented the tattoo machine. The tattoo artists are quite familiar with the name. Samuel O’Reilly is the cousin of Tom Reilly, who is well known as the most successful British tattoo artist. December 8th 1891 was the date when Samuel O’Reilly invented the Tattoo Machine. It was known to be a modification of the Autographic Printing Pen by Edison in 1876.
Those days, tattooing was a good practice amongst the natives and tribes. The invention of the tattoo machine caused the tribal or local techniques of tattooing to be obsolete. The use of needles, threads attached to a stick was found to be inconvenient since then. The O’Reilly’s electro mechanic tattoo machine was proved to be the most efficient one which had its one advantages. Previously the tattoo artists found it to be hazardous – first to prepare the equipments, shape the wooden sticks, prepare pigment and put into threads. The puncture on the skin and pulling the threads from beneath really used to be a more painful event.
The invention of the tattoo machine brought forward a revolution in the world of tattooing. O’Reilly’s own tattooing experience and expertise and also his cognition of techniques and mechanics paid off. His invention added more to his preexisting fame. His skill and fame always kept him busy with never-ending appointments. Just imagine, even decades ago, people were so crazy about tattooing that his tattoo studio was always over crowded with customers!! Besides his tattoo studio he also used to attend people at their houses. He founded his tattoo studio in 1875 in Chinatown, New York City. You can of course understand that at that time the society must have been much conservative. So, there were many people, especially women, who felt shy to visit the tattoo studios. O’Reilly also attended such exclusive people at their homes. O’Reilly’s fame and success was spread and held till the end of the decade. Famous future artists like Charles Wagner took apprenticeships from O’Reilly’s tattoo studio.
Gradually, down the years new, talented artists with their potential overtook him. Later many artists developed similar tattooing machines. O’Reilly wasted both money and time in litigating the copycats, but, in vain.
He died in the year 1908, due to falling down from the ladder while painting his own house situated in Bronx.
