American Traditional Tattoos: Their History And Meaning

It’s easily identifiable with big, bold black outlines, a limited color palette, and a number of the iconic images, this style known as an American traditional or old school. Usually, tattoo artists like to use a rotary tattoo machine to make thick-line tattoos. Compared to the coil machine, the rotary tattoo machine is easier for tattoo artists to draw border lines

The history of the American traditional tattoos can be traced back as far as the late 19th century, but it didn’t truly get known until the 1960s, when the former sailor and tattoo enthusiast Norman Collins, aka Sailor Jerry (as in the rum brand), opened his shop in Honolulu, Hawaii. He spent many years as a sailor in Southeast Asia, Norman Collins learned Japanese- style tattooing from the old master in Chicago from local legend Gib “Tatts” Thomas. While corresponding with Japanese tattooers, Collins developed his own iconography and style, which is still the standard today. Nowadays His styles can still be seen throughout many tattoo shops flash sheets. Flash sheets were created to cater to the most common customer requests. The client just could walk in a shop, point to a tattoo on a flash sheet, and an hour later walk away with the tattoo he wanted. The purpose was to churn out as many tattoos as they could.  This is where American traditional developed its simple color palette and bold outlines. They were easy to knock out quickly.


American traditional tattoos have their deep meaning not only to the person wearing it but in the general tattoo canon. Here are just some of the most famous. 
Bald Eagle

The bald eagle is a popular traditional tattoo for American people and who proud of it. The bald eagle is a symbol for freedom in the land of the free, and it stands for the bravery and honor in the American spirit. 
Swallow

According to the American traditional tattoo style, the swallow tattoo is noteworthy for both its symbolism and superstition. This swallow tattoo was popular among the sailors at that time, according to the one legend each swallow tattoo was a symbol of a sailor who has sailed 5,000 nautical miles, another legend claims that since the swallow returns to the same place every year to mate and nest, having a swallow tattoo guaranteed a sailor would return home. That’s why The sailor would get the first swallow tattooed before shipping out and get the second upon his return. This legend also contributes to many getting it as a romantic tattoo, a promise to always return to the person they love, just as the swallows do. This tattoo could be personally suggested to someone who is loyal to their beloved person.
Skulls

Sculls can be designed in an infinite number of ways, by adding different types of a pattern on it, it can be differentiated in many ways. So its meaning depends on the affectations that artists add to it! In the early days of American tattooing, these tattoos were popular with sailors, mercenaries, and adventurers, people who brandished their lack of fear of death or had to come to terms with the inevitability of it wore these tattoos.
The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty originally conceived as an emblem of friendship between the United States and France, the Statue of Liberty is the ultimate symbol of freedom. Located in the upper New York Bay, this inspiring statue is a famous landmark in the city.
Pin-up Girls

Back in the days when women weren’t allowed to be sailors unless they pulled some Mulan-type antics, many sailors would go months without seeing a woman. So, many men would get tattoos of women on their body as a reminder of what was waiting for them when they got ashore (because they forgot, I guess?)  this tattoo got more popular in the 1890s, when men’s magazines started to feature more scantily clad women, the pin-up girl represented the prototypical attractive American woman. These became widespread during the war, and they were especially popular within the military.
Uncle Sam 

Painted in 1916 by James Montgomery Flag, the Uncle Sam “I Want You” poster was designed to recruit soldiers for World War I. This classic image represents American patriotism.
Soldier Memorial

This design features a soldier uniform hung up on a rifle, by an empty pair of combat boots. This tattoo design commemorates soldiers in war and celebrates their contributions.
Snakes

Reprinted from this blog: https://wormholetattoosupply.com/blogs/news