The art of tattooing is an ancient one, with evidence of permanent body inkings from almost every early civilization in the world. Some of the earliest tattooing methods were rather brutal, involving making deliberate scars on the skin and injecting sharpened wooden sticks. 

Fortunately in the modern day, there are a wide variety of tattoo machines available that are a much safer and efficient way to carry out body art. Here’s a look at some of the most significant moments in the history and evolution of the machines. 

An early prototype 

Thomas Edison, an American inventor best known for introducing the light bulb, is credited with creating the first prototype tattoo tool in 1875. He invented an electric handheld pen that was intended to create duplicate ink documents, but it was not widely adopted due to its complicated battery. 

The coil machine breakthrough

However, fifteen years later, the idea was adapted into the first tattoo machine by an Irish-American tattoo artist called Samuel O’Reilly, who was working in New York, and keen to find a quicker way of working. He adapted Edison’s pen and added two needles and an ink reservoir, and adjusted the angle of the barrel.

The early machine features two electromagnetic coils, springs and contact bars, and was improved on in later years with twin coils set side by side. The coil machine quickly modernised the tattoo industry, enabling artists to move from creating one to three skin perforations per second by hand, to performing 50 per second. 

This saved a significant amount of time and allowed them to take on many more clients. It also created more demand from clients, as the process was much quicker and the results more consistent.

The customisable electromagnetic machine

In the 1920s, an American named Percy Waters developed a more modern tattoo machine involving 14 different frame styles, which are still used today in some form. It wasn’t until 1978 that another notable development was made, when a Canadian named Carol Nightingale developed an electric tattoo machine that had several adjustable features.

This particular machine was never mass-produced, but it paved the way for more flexible modern electromagnetic machines. Coil machines are still widely used in the tattoo industry, as they are highly customisable, powerful and precise. 

The rotary machine 

Rotary tattoo machines emerged as an alternative to the coil machine. They are popular because of their lighter weight and smoother operation, which puts less strain on the hands and wrist of the artist. Rotary machines also tend to be quieter than coil machines, which can mean they are more pleasant for both the artist and the client.

Rotary machines were initially less powerful than coil machines, which was a drawback for some artists, but they can also be more versatile and need less adjustment. However, recent advances in technology have introduced more powerful rotary machines.

Portable wireless tattoo machines are rising in popularity, allowing for pop-up tattoo parlours or for artists to travel to clients.