From: fredj@wang.com (Fast Freddie)
Subject: Tattoos in Portsmouth NH
Organization: Wang Labs, Lowell MA, USA
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 18:22:28 GMT
Keywords: HOBO



     Well, the indians had a saying that before you could judge a man you
should walk a mile in his moccasins.  About 6mo. to a year ago my niece's
husband got a tattoo in Portsmouth NH.  The Tattoo shop is the place, and
all of his friends told him this was the place to go.  He did go, the
artist's name is "HOBO".  Whilst in the chair, after about 4 inches of
outline happened, the guy passed out.  There were no complimentary things
to be said about HOBO by him.  The tattoo however was, to me, absolutely
beautiful!  It was a black Panther and the muscle definition was "amazing".
The HOBO guy apparantly did'nt seem too simpathetic with the passing out,
but did honor the "contract" and did the outline at one setting and the
shading on the other.
     I ran into a friend, from Dallas TX. who also got a tattoo from HOBO.
He said to me "he must have tattooed down to the bone".  So i amde some
stupid statement like " whatta jerk eh?"  So my friend from Dallas said
that if he ever got another tattoo (Got both the courage and desire) he
would have HOBO do it!!  Why?  "Because he was very serious about the job
that he did" was my friend's response.
     Up until this point i would'nt have known this guy HOBO if i had
fallen over him.  The only absolute thing that i did know was the two
pieces i saw were IMHO *VERY* good.  So i called up the shop made sort of
an appointment for the next day.
    It was friday @ 2pm.  I went to the shop and the line (queue for those
of you in the UK) had already started, i was third in line.  The shop was
in Portsmouth NH, about 2 or 3 blocks from "Strawberry Banke", in the
downtown/historic section.  It's on Daniels Street across the street from
the US Post Office.  The shop is narrow and there's enough room for 5 to 7
people to wait.  The flash seems to be a mixture of 60's and 70's era with
some "Philidelphia Joe" flash.  There is another person that is associated
with the shop "Tattoo George", both his original and HOBO's original flash
are on the wall as well.  i had brought some of my own drawings and i'm
glad that i did because i did'nt like anything that was on the wall.  i did
find both of the flash that my friends had.  Honestly the flash did *NOT*
look as good as the tattoos did.  
     The first person was done, he had some design done on his quads, i
did'nt get a chance to see it.  The next pereson looked a little nervous,
she said it was her first tattoo, HOBO was very nice and helped her pick
out a butterfly, sizewize it was 3/4 in by 1/2 in.  He pulled the curtain,
closed the door and began, she was having a hard time with the pain.  HOBO
was very reassuring, patient, and took frequent breaks.  When it was over
and she came out she had that look of "Boy am i glad that's over, and I did
it!!"
     Just about that time two previous customers came in (Now it's about
3pm) a little loud and boisterous, but not troublesome.  I talked with HOBO
about his MIA POW curtain, and his Vet status.  We were both in the Navy
suring the conflict.  The chit chat was over, i showed him my dragon
drawing, he gave a price by comparing the size to one of his own flash.  To
me the price was more than fair.  He was quick, quiet, serious, and one
hell of a good job.  I don't think i would want to have him work on me for
more than 1 1/2 to 2 hours.  That's all i could possibly stand.  The shop
is old and a little dingy, and i ceretainly would *NOT* eat off of the
floor!  The needles and tubes came out of autoclave bags and he used the
standard caps to hold the ink.
     If this tattoo turns out the way i think it will, i'll be pointing my
business in his direction.



Fred Jewell
Fast Freddie
fredj@wang.com        "These are my opinions not WANGS"
Newsgroups: rec.arts.bodyart