REVOLUTION DAILY

“A native of Anniston, Alabama, Percy Waters was born in 1888 and made his mark on the tattoo world primarily as a photographer and machinist. While he tattooed a good number of sideshow acts, his incredible mark on that industry remains a large cache of images snapped by camera. In 1929, Waters received the third US Patent for a tattoo machine, making improvements to Charles Wagner’s (the man who reportedly trained Waters) 1904 design. He sold machines prior to obtaining his patent, and in his 1925 supply catalogue, he offered three models of “Electric Tattooing Machines”. Through the 1920’s and 1930’s, Water’s Detroit-based supply company was probably the largest in the nation. In 1939, he returned to Anniston, where he lived till his death in 1953.” (Paragraph from ‘Homeward Bound – The Life and Times of Sailor Jerry’)

I recently came in contact with one of these machines. Although I was only the courier, I could feel the history and absolute spirit of this instrument. Alesandro Viola from Anima Mundi Tattoos in Benoni now owns this masterpiece. I have never seen a man happier.