American tattoo artist
Samuel F. O’Reilly (May 1854 - 29 April 1909) was an American tattoo artist from New York, who patented the first electric tattoo machine on December 8, 1891.[1]
Biography
O’Reilly was born in Waterbury, New Haven County, Connecticut, to Irish immigrants Thomas O’Reilly and Mary Ann Hurley in May 1854.[2]
He began tattooing in New York around the mid-1880s, probably mentored by Martin Hildebrandt.[2] O'Reilly's machine was based on the rotary technology of Thomas Edison's autographic printing pen.[3] Although O'Reilly held the first patent for an electric tattoo machine, tattoo artists had been experimenting with and modifying a variety of different machines prior to the issuance of the patent. O'Reilly's first pre-patent tattoo machine was a modified dental plugger, which he used to tattoo several dime museum attractions for exhibition between the years 1889 and 1891.[1] From the late 1880s on, tattoo machines continually evolved into the modern tattoo machine.[1]
O'Reilly first owned a shop at #5 Chatham Square on the New York Bowery. In 1904, he moved to #11 Chatham Square when the previous tenant, tattoo artist Elmer Getchell, left the city.[1] Charles Wagner was allegedly apprenticed to O'Reilly and later assumed ownership of his #11 Chatham Square shop.[4]
On April 29, 1909, Samuel O'Reilly fell while painting his house and died.[5] He is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY.[6]
References
