Samuel O'Reilly
From Free net encyclopedia
Samuel O'Reilly was the inventor of the modern rotary tattoo gun, which he patented in 1891, based upon Thomas Edison's autographic printer. 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 electromagnetic coils.
He subsequently built up a business selling the machines. He was at the time a tattoo artist working in New York.