Tattoo machines are those machines which are used for
creating or designing a tattoo. Tattoo machine is a gun shaped machine
that marks skin with ink. With the help of electromagnetic coils the
needle bar of the tattoo machine moves up and down in alternation, which
drives the pigment or the ink into the skin. In Europe, the tattoo
machines are called as tattoo guns but Americans usually call it tattoo
machine. The use of the term "tattoo gun" does not go
favorably with the tattoo artists in America. Anyone using the term "tattoo
gun" is looked down upon.
The tattoo machine was invented by Thomas Edison and patented in the
United States in the year 1876. It is interesting to note that the
machine was patented as an autographic printer and it was only in 1891
that Samuel O'Reilly realized that Edison's invention could be tailored
to introduce ink into skin, and patented the tube and needle system.
This is the same old system which we use today. The tattoo machines are
designed to control the needle depth to almost any degree. It is because
of this control, tattooing has become a very accurate art form.
