Flash From The Bowery
Gro Bert
Flash from the Bowery: The History and Art of Classic American Tattoos
Flash from the Bowery is a book by Cliff White that showcases the original acetate rubbings from Charlie Wagner's turn of the 20th century tattoo shop, The Black Eye Barbershop, in the Bowery at Chatham Square in New York. This is the only known art that has survived from this shop, where Samuel J. O'Reilley's modern-day electric tattoo machine was born and patented. The book contains more than 900 individual pieces of flash that reveal the origins of American tattoos, the social and cultural context of the time, and the artistic styles and influences of the early tattoo masters. In this article, we will explore the main themes and features of Flash from the Bowery and why it is a valuable resource for tattoo enthusiasts and historians.
What is Flash and Why It Matters
Flash is a term that refers to the pre-drawn tattoo designs that are displayed on the walls or in the books of a tattoo shop. Flash serves as a catalog of tattoo options for the clients, as well as a source of inspiration and guidance for the tattoo artists. Flash also reflects the trends and preferences of different eras and regions, as well as the personal styles and skills of individual tattooers.
Flash from the Bowery is a rare collection of flash from one of the oldest and most influential tattoo shops in America. The Black Eye Barbershop was established by Charlie Wagner in 1891 and operated until his death in 1953. Wagner was one of the pioneers of American tattooing, who learned from Martin Hildebrandt, the first professional tattooer in New York. Wagner also worked with Samuel J. O'Reilley, who invented and patented the first electric tattoo machine in 1891, based on Thomas Edison's electric pen. Wagner was one of the first to use this machine and to teach others how to use it.
The flash from Wagner's shop represents a rich heritage of folk art that spans six decades of American history. The flash includes nautical themes, Asian imagery, flowers, boxers, circus characters, patriotic symbols, religious icons, and plenty of girls. The flash also provides commentary on the shop's clientele, which included sailors, soldiers, immigrants, outlaws, celebrities, and ordinary people. The flash reveals some of the social, economic, and political issues of the time, such as immigration, urbanization, industrialization, prohibition, world wars, depression, and patriotism.
How Flash from the Bowery Was Created and Preserved
The flash from Wagner's shop was created by using acetate sheets as templates for transferring tattoo designs to the skin. Acetate sheets are thin plastic films that can be cut and shaped easily. Wagner would draw or trace a design on an acetate sheet using a pencil or ink. He would then poke holes along the outline of the design using a needle or a pin. He would place the acetate sheet over the client's skin and rub it with a cloth soaked in alcohol or stencil powder. This would transfer the design to the skin as a series of dots that would serve as a guide for tattooing.
The acetate sheets were reusable and durable, but they were also fragile and prone to damage from heat, moisture, or chemicals. Wagner kept his acetate sheets in wooden drawers or cardboard boxes in his shop. After his death in 1953, his widow sold his shop and its contents to another tattooer named Lew Alberts. Alberts moved to Florida and took some of Wagner's flash with him. He later sold some of it to other tattooers or collectors.
In 1989, Cliff White opened his own tattoo shop in Centereach, New York. He had been researching and collecting tattoo memorabilia and history for almost 30 years. He came across some of Wagner's flash at an antique show in Pennsylvania. He recognized its value and bought it for $300. He later acquired more pieces from other sources until he had amassed more than 900 pieces of flash from Wagner's shop.
White decided to share his collection with the public by publishing a book titled Flash from the Bowery: Classic American Tattoos, 1900-1950. The book was released by Schiffer Publishing in 2011 and contains high-quality photographs and descriptions of each piece of flash. The book also includes an introduction by White that provides historical and biographical information about Wagner and his shop.