Improvements in Apparatus for Tattooing the Skin, also Applicable to Engraving.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 1st Feb., 1900-Accepted, 24th Mar., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Tattooing the Skin, also Applicable to
Engraving.
I, ALFRED CHARLES SOUTH, of 22, Cockspur Street, in the City and County of
London, Tattoo Artist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for tattooing the skin,
also applicable to engraving on metallic or other surfaces. The object thereof
is to utilise an electric current to produce a reciprocatory movement to the needle
or needles of the tattooing apparatus, and similarly to the engraving tool when
it is applied to that purpose..
In carrying my invention into effect, I employ a metal case containing one or
more clectro-magnets, which are connected electrically to properly insulated
terminals on the outside of the case, and a switch is also provided for the purpose
of establishing or breaking the circuit which is continuously maintained through
a double flexible conductor. An iron armature is mounted upon a spring above
the electro magnet or magnets, and has attached to it a spring contact make and
break, so that rapid vibration may be set up when the current is switched on.
To the end of the armature is pivotted a spindle passing down through a tube
attached to the case, holding a spiral spring to compensate the vibrations.
the lower end of said spindle is fixed a holder, or adjustable chuck to hold one
or more needles. A reservoir is screwed upon or otherwise attached to the tube
in contact with the needle or needles, for the purpose of containing the necessary
pigment for tattooing, which is gradually, by the vibratory movement of the
needle or needles, inserted under the skin.
At.
When this apparatus according to my invention is used as an engraving tool,
the mechanism is substantially the same but the reservoir is dispensed with, and
a suitable graving tool substituted for the needle or needles.
Doted this 28th day of June 1800
FREDK. WALKER,
73, St. Stephen's Road, Upton Park, London, E.,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Tattooing the Skin, alsó Applicable to
Engraving.
I, ALFRED CHARLES SOUTH, of No. 22, Cockspur Street, W., in the City and
County of London, Tattoo Artist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for tattooing the skin, also
applicable to engraving on metallic or other surfaces. The object thereof is
to utilise an electric current either continuous or alternating to produce a recipro-
catory movement to the needle or needles of the tattooing apparatus, and similarly
to the engraving tool when it is applied to that purpose.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation in perspective
of the exterior of the apparatus, as applied for both purposes. Figure 2 is a section
thereof, which is applicable to both tattooing and engraving devices. Figure 3
is an enlarged view of the point of the tattooing apparatus, showing the needle
or needles and a reservoir for the pigment. Figure 4 is a similar enlarged view
showing an engraving tool in a suitable screw chuck, the sheath or cover being
shown by a dotted outline. Figure 5 shows the shanking of a needle, needles or
tool in order to provide a proper alignment when the chuck is screwed up.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several
views.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct a metal or other case A,
Figures 1 and 2, containing one or more bipolar-electro-magnets M M which are
electrically connected to terminals T T on the outside of the case A, and I
provide a switch lever S which may make contact at P and break said contact at P',
so that a treadle or foot switch may be dispensed with, and the flexible conductors
carrying the current may be quite free from the wall plug and socket or any other
connection with a source of electric supply I may employ. 1 have not shown the
double flexible conductor in the drawings, as the connections are obvious from the
terminals T T¹ to the source of supply aforesaid.
.C
An iron armature bis mounted upon a spring s above the electro magnets M M
and is connected to a spring "make and break" contact 7 so that a rapid vibration
of the armature b may be set up and maintained when the current is switched on
at S and P. A link k is pivotted to the end of the armature b, coupling it with a
plunger spindle 2 working freely within a tube & forming a guide for the vertical
reciprocating movement. Said tube t is attached by a screw joint or like device
to the case A, and within it, below the plunger is fitted a spiral spring w the
functions of which is to compensate vibration, and also to return the armature b to
contact position. A spindle is affixed to the lower end of the plunger guide p,
and passes through the spring w, and an adjustable "trueing" chuck of any
known type is attached to the lower end of the spindle, for the purpose of holding
the tattooing needle, needles, or engraving tool. These tools or needles are
necessarily properly "shanked' in order to fit the "trueing" chuck r, and in the
case of an engraving tool such shank may be made by a simple enlargement of
the body of the tool and suitably shaped to fit the chuck and be held concentrically
relatively to the tube t. In the case of tattooing needles I prefer to shank them
by brazing, or dipping into a liquid metal when fluxed, afterwards shaping
the shank and using one or more needles as
that they
may be desired,
assume when fitted into the chuck the
and alignment, which is impossible to attain with such needles when held in
requisite shape
a chuck apart from each other, or integrally separated. Figure 3 shows the
needles n shanked at y and detached from the chuck r.
voir R, Figures 1, 2 and 3, attached by screwing or equivalent means to the tube t,
I preferably use a reser-
and containing the pigment in a liquid form with which the needle or needles
is or are fed in the reciprocatory motion aforesaid.
SO
When it is desired to use the device operated in the manner aforesaid as an
engraving tool, a graver or cutter m Figure 4, is fitted into the chuck or holder r,
and the reservoir R is dispensed with.
So far I have described and illustrated the arrangement of my invention for

page_text: continuous electric currents, but I may employ an alternating current by simply
dispensing with the spring contact and adjusting screw a, and coupling the
supply branch mains directly through the switch S and contact P to the
magnets M M', the alternations of the circuit affording the necessary vibrations or
reciprocatory movements of the plunger p and spindle x.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be
understood that I do not claim the use of a unipolar magnet, with a. spindle
carrying the tool or needles passing through it centrally, nor. the use of a reservoir
containing liquid pigment, but what I do claim is:-
-
First. In an electrically operated device for engraving surfaces or tattooing
the skin the employment of one or more bipolar electro magnets, with a spring
controlled armature carrying a guide plunger, spindle and a chuck holding a
graver or needles properly shanked, substantially as herein described and shown
by the appended drawings.
Second. In an electrically operated device for tattooing the skin, the method of
and means for shanking and holding the needle or needles substantially as herein
described and shown more especially by Figure 5 of the appended, drawings.
Third. In an electrically operated device for tattooing the skin or engraving
a surface the employment and use of a switch S and contact P for the purposes
herein described and shown by the appended drawings.
Fourth. In an electrically operated device for tattooing the skin, or engraving
a surface, the employment and use of a link k Figure 2, to compensate the move-
ment of the plunger 2 substantially as herein described and shown by the appended
drawings.
Fifth. In an electrically operated device for tattooing the skin or engraving
a surface, the combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as herein
described and shown by the drawings.
Dated this 92nd of Januan 1000
FREDK. WALKER,
73, St. Stephen's Road, Upton Park, E.,
Agent for the Applicant.