The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-23
r1rroorve Br MloHIrERY.
PreE. o,Retiy says ne was the First TO us'
Rieutrictty fer the Purpose-

- .
An article in THE SUN a week ago on tattooing
by electricity has ELECTED q letter from Prof.
o,Reilly Of 3 Chatham square, In which he as-
serts that he In the sole inventor and proprietor
OF electrical tattooing machines. He holds
United States patent No. 464.s01. Issued on
Doc. 9, 1891, for q device consisting, essentially,
of n tubular handle with an ink reservoir and q
needle or set Of needles operated by q suitable
mechanism. This mechanism is, preferably, an
electric motor of Considerable power and high
speed, though q clockwork actuated by a heavy
coiled spring is used on some Of the larger
machines.
Prof. Samuel f. o'Reilly claims to be- known
pretty much all over the world as an expert
tattooer. He was born in Connecticut forty-four
years ago. AS a young man he was interested
in light mechanics and metal working. and then
enlisted in the navy for a three years cruise.
His enlistment ended in 1875. During q stay In
Japan he became interested in the tattooing done
there. and had samples of 1t done on his arma
and elsewhere. Before his discharge he began
to tattoo q little1himsolf, and soon learned to do
creditable work. 1t has been his business ever
since he left the navy, and has brought him In q
comfortable living and no inconsiderablo fame.
d, For eight years he was the official tattooer at the
old Chatham Square Museum. which. until o
few years ago. stood at 8 Chatham square.
When that closed he went to q museum on
Fourteenth street, whore ne remalneu TOT tnroo
years, and then he opened his present shop,
which Ia on the site of the old museum.
The professor worked at his electrical machine
fer a long time before 1t suited him. He first
tried to adapt a dental plugRer to the work, and
then an Edison pen, but each was too weak.
After many trials he finally made q model after
his own ideas, had 1t patented, and got a skilled
mechanic to build q machine. The first machine,
which carries one needle, he has used ever since
1t was made, and 1t, still gives satisfaction.
Among other machines he has made for his own
use are one carrying five needles in q row, and
another carrying fifty in a bunch. He has sold
only two or three machines like those he uses
himself. but has put a smaller type on the mar
ket in a small way, and a number of his ma
chimes are now used by other tattooers.
The professors workshop Is a single room
about 9 by ~ feet. AT the back q small space
is rallied Off, and here are the tattooinR machines
and inks. About the walls are, Japanese screens,
from which several of the professors ~"tatau-
graphs" are taken. The dragon is a favorite
design in this shop, which also turns out SER
pents, birds, fraternal emblems. religious
studies, and various patriotic conceptions. as
we'll as copies Of any photograph or other pic
ture. The professor copies free hand from tho
original, but there are also tracings of nearly a
thousand subjects, drawn on celluloid and gone
over with o knife. These may be linked like
type and q print made on the skin, which is then
gone over with the tattooinR machine. About
one-third Of the customers Of the shop are sail.
ors, the other two-thirds Of its patronage coming
from every walk of life.