Electric Tattooing by Women

Electric Tattooing by Women 1900-2003
by Madame Chinchilla

This publication came out when I was working at Sacred Tattoo in Oakland California.
I was fortunate to be included in this publication and able to represent my time in the Bay Area.

The machine I am holding, I still have. When it came into my possession in 1987. I bought it for twenty five dollars. Not knowing what it was at the time. I just felt like the Tattoo Gods were gifting me a magical token into the life I was embarking on. The beautiful double dipped chrome on the machine was covered in a hot pink mess of paint. I had stripped it down and replaced the components with National Tattoo hardware. Since what was on it, was not original. There is no stamp marks or maker marks on the frame. I was first told it was an original Owen Jennings “perfection” machine. And then after sharing it with Lyle Tuttle in my quest to find out who made it. He mentioned it could have been one of Cliff Raven’s machines. It looks more like Cliff’s than the Jensen or even the Milton Zeis “super electric model”. If it is a Cliff Raven machine. I wonder if he named it? And how did it come into my hands at Sea Tramp. I know Cliff had come through a few times to work there. Before my time. Lot’s of questions and not many folks around anymore to answer them. Really kind of heart breaking.

Anyhow, Madame Chinchilla has a handful of publications that many of you collectors should acquire for you libraries.
Check out her shop in Fort Bragg too if you are driving along the California coast line. It’s full of tattoo memorabilia and hand painted imagery covers most every nook and cranny.

This particular book show cased some of the women who had been tattooing up to 2003.
About ten years before the explosion of women entered and kicked butt as they are doing now.
It’s been a trip to witness.

Electric Tattooing by Women