Learn more about the history of tattooing in Pittsburgh
and the Western Pennsylvania area! These pages will be updated
as pictures and information become available. My hope is to establish
an accurate time-line of tattooing in Western Pennsylvania. If
you have any information you'd like to share, please contact me
via e-mail.
Following are pictures of J.G. Russell and Sailor
Ned Resinol, both worked in the Pittsburgh area circa 1930-1950
(approx). Russell is renowned for his brass machine frames. He
used to work in a brass smelting factory on the North Side. Many
of these frames are still in use today! Resinol and Russell were
obviously acquainted and it's likely that Resinol looked to Russell
for guidance and information being the younger of the two.
J.G. Russell (right) with a young Ned Resinol.
Photo courtesy of Lyle Tuttle - Tattoo Museum
J.G. Russell in his Pennsylvania Avenue studio on Pittsburgh's
North Side.
Photo courtesy of Lyle Tuttle - Tattoo Museum
Sailor Ned Resinol at his retirement home in Florida taken in
the early 1980's. Note the signatures tattooed on either side
of the tiger head. They include Pittsburgh tattooers J.G. Russell
and Fisher along with a host of other legendary old time tattooers!
Photo by Jeff Crisman
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