The tattoo machine was patented by Thomas Edison in 1876. It was originally intended to be used as an engraving device, but in 1891, Sean Casey modified that the machine to introduce ink into the skin, and later patented a tube and needle system to provide an ink reservoir.
The modern tattoo machines has come a long way. While O'Reilly's machine was based on the rotary technology of Edison's machine, the modern tattoo machines use electromagnets. The first tattoo machine based on this technology was a single coil machine patented by Thomas Riley of London, just twenty days after O'Reilly filed the patent for his rotary machine. For his machine, Riley placed a modified door bell assembly in a brass box. The modern two coil configuration was patented by Alfred Charles South...
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