Existing comment:
Edison Electric Pen, c 1877
In 1876, Thomas Edison, who made New York a base for financing and publicizing his inventions, patented the "electric pen" for cutting stencils to use in copying documents. In 1891, Bowery tattoo artist Samuel O'Reilly repurposed Edison's invention as the first electric tattoo machine, which revolutionized tattooing by replacing handheld tools and needles. |