The practice of tattooing dates back to the Neolithic era in some cultures. The Western tradition was brought back from Polynesia by 18th Century explorers.
Surprisingly (or perhaps not, considering), Thomas Edison could be considered to be the father or modern tattooing, having patented an engraving machine in 1876 which was later adapted by Samuel O’Reilly into a device to tap ink into skin.
Bob Ichter’s tattoo was inked by Cap Szumski.
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