Old school tattoos come from the early days of the art of tattooing. These original designs were typically quite simple with bold outlines. Tattooing was not as advanced s it is today, things like inks, tattoo machines and some of the other supplies used in tattooing procedures limited the abilities of the tattoo artist of yesteryear. Tattoo artists were not as educated as our contemporary tattooist are today so the tattoo designs seen in may
tattoo studios were reflective of the skills of the times. Tattoos were not looked upon in much of a favorable light back in the early days of tattooing and may of the tattoo studios found themselves setting up in the seedy parts of town, usually set up between a bar and a massage parlor. Military men and women made up most of the patrons of the early days of tattooing so it was common to see pin-up girls, anchors, eagles, hearts, or names. Sailors were the biggest part of bringing tattoo art to other parts of the world. A sailor with a tattoo from Cap Coleman in Norfolk,Va would set sail for Glasgow, Scotland and when entering the areas tattoo studio, the artist would trace the tattoos off his arm, back or chest and have another tattoo design for his collection of art. This went on in most seaports around the world during the 1920"s thru the 1960"s. There were a few tattoo supply companies selling tattoo designs but not many, most of the tattoo came from wallpaper designs, gravestone engravings, military engravings and other sources of early art that was available at the time.
The Early Years of Tattoo Designs
In 1891, Irish tattooist Samuel O'Reily set up shop in Chatham Square, New York City. O'Reily's use of the first electric tattoo machine attracted customers from all over the United States, particularly
those with money. The first tattoo machine was modeled after Thomas Edison's electric pen which used needle point to puncture paper. The new electric tattoo machine helped aid the advancement of the tattoo because of the short amount of time it now took to have the tattoo you desired applied. Both the First and Second World Wars were a time many people in the armed services adopted tattoos for luck, remembrance, and assurance. The late 1960's was the time when tattoo's really became to flourish but the art was still rather primitive. Tattoo artists like Zeke Owen, Don Nolan, Ed Hardy, jack Rudy, Mike Malone, and JD Crowe, to name a few, started apply their fine art skills to the trade and the look of tattoo designs were on course to become the tattoo images we know today.
Old School as we know it Today
Somewhere in the late eighties or early nineties a new look started to emerge in the tattoo world. A new school of tattoo artists started to reinvent the now vintage tattoo designs from Sailor Jerry, Cap Coloman, Doc Webb, Bob Shaw and other old timers that were the early tattoo art pioneers. This new look became a very popular tattoo design for is known as Generation X. The term "New School" took hold in the tattoo world and new style also found its place in tattoo history. Today that new school look is take even further to replicating the actual vintage tattoos. People are looking to tattoo artist to get the tattoos that fathers and grandfathers were getting back in their days. The term "Old School" is actually referring to those designs that were popular during the 1920's thru the 1960's.
