When you think of Thomas Edison, you probably think of “that one guy who invented things,” but did you know he’s also the father of tattoo technology? And, without his invention of the electric pen, tattooing today might look a lot different!
“We struck the idea of making a stencil of the paper by pricking with a pen & then rubbing over with an ink,” Edison wrote in his notebook in June 1875. His first attempt to create such a device used a steel stylus to puncture the paper, but it used too much pressure. He then decided to apply a clockwork mechanism, and the electric pen was born.
Edison’s invention of the electric pen was patented, and while it used some old-world technology, namely stenciling, and patterns for embroidery, it also used the power of electricity to automate and regulate perforating paper, which then served as a template for duplication. The pen was powered by two cell batteries and driven by a motor. A needle from the stylus was used to perforate paper up to 50 times a second, and the user could write with a smooth motion to trace the pattern of the perforation onto a stencil.
Years later, the same technology used to power the electric pen was adapted for tattooing. The first tattoo machine had five needles, a reservoir for ink, and a tubular handle. The machine allowed tattoo artists to create designs with speed and precision, and it made the process of receiving a tattoo less painful, but not pain-free. However, thanks to Face and Body Professionals, tattoo artists today can make their clients’ tattoo sessions pain free with the use of topical anesthetics, including pre-procedure and during-procedure products.
Today, the modern tattoo machine looks very similar to Edison’s electric pen but has the opposite purpose. The earlier invention was all about duplication and uniformity, the latter is all about uniqueness and creative expression, according to this article from the Spectrum.
As the tattoo industry continues to evolve, more technology for inking clients is being introduced, such as laser tattoo machines as well as tattooing robots. While neither has gained the popularity of a tattoo artist wielding an Edison-inspired needle, there is always the possibility that the technology could make big changes in future years. Until then, give thanks to Thomas Edison for your tattoo technology. Without him (and Face and Body Professionals) getting inked would be a lot more painful.