Enjoy this 90+ page, full color, perfectly bound book, of Sailor Fred's very first full set of flash with acetate stencils drawn in 1975. This book contains not only the flash and stencils but the story behind them. We hope you enjoy and continue watching for more Steinhart Family tattoo projects.
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Story time with Sailor Fred … Wondo, Wondo, Wondo
K.C. Cullison, Miss Kat and I met Wondo for the first time in Daytona around 1981/82 during Bike Week. The plan was we were all going to tattoo at Gill’s place that week. When we showed up Gill had tickets to a concert so he split. Wondo being his roommate, was gracious enough to host that evening for us all. At the time, like I said, Wondo was Gill’s roommate. Wondo wasn’t tattooing then. He was a machinist; a customer of Gill’s. By the time I met Wondo for the 2nd time, Wondo was tattooing, apprenticing under Gill, along with Clay Basket. Clay is still down at Willie’s Tropical Tattoo in Ormond, Beach, FL. Wondo and Gill came up to Rochester, NY that year so we could attend the Harley Rendezvous together. Over the years, like the rest of the guys I’ve mentioned, our friendship was solid, seeing each other a few times a year at various Bike Weeks and Tattoo Conventions. I’ll share a funny story with you. One year when Gill and Wondo came up to Rochester I picked them up from the airport. They walked off of the plane smashed out of their minds. They told a story … while in flight they sat across from a guy carrying a statue. The guys unintentionally kept knocking into this statue. The guy told Gill and Wondo that the statue was a precious one that he was hand delivering to a client “in one piece!” While they were getting off the plane, Gill comes up behind him, smacks him on the back to say, “See you later man” … the guy dropped the statue. Since it was almost closing time when I went to pick them up from the airport that night, we stopped at a Heebie Jeebie store for food. I stayed in the car while Gill and Wondo went into the store. All of a sudden, they run out and Gill yells, “ Go go go”. I asked, “What the hell is going on?” Gill says, he told the pizza guy, “put your hands up, its a F*CK UP” as a joke and he did. We went back to the shop for pizza and beer. Mr. Wondo is down in Mt. Carmel, PA tattooing at Electric Tattooing. If you stop by let him know Sailor Fred sent you. Sailor Fred first met Peter Eagle in the early 1970’s at Captain Jack’s house. Both Peter Eagle and Captain Jack (Peter’s soon after husband-in-law) were part of (6) friends that would get together on Sundays for dinner: Sailor Barney Sr., Captain Jack, Peter Eagle, Big Joe from Mt. Vernon, PA Stevens from Florida, NY and Larry from Butler, NY. At the time Sailor Fred met Peter Eagle, Peter was a tire salesman and Larry from Butler, NY was breaking Peter in. Sailor Fred remembers Peter being a natural tattoo artist with nice clean work. Peter was ahead of his time mastering single needle tattooing and doing it very well. Peter Eagle was green to the carnival business. Don’t forget at that time, it was common for a tattoo artist to also be a carnie. There was a lot of money to be made on the carnival circuit as a tattoo artist. In the early 70’s, Peter Eagle booked a tattoo shed at the PA Interstate Fair. Sailor Barney Sr. and his wife, being friends will Peter, helped him out during that spot. The following year Peter booked again, this time with a tattoo trailer. In 1975 Peter opened up his first shop. Sailor Fred remembers back than Peter would tattoo at his shop in York, PA during the week and on the weekends in his home studio. Sailor Fred remembers Peter's wife at the time taking Peter's weekend appointments and the home studio being very nice. A few years later, Peter Eagle would be the one to tattoo Sailor Fred’s daughter’s names on his wrists. Recently, Sailor Fred received a book of Peter Eagles acetates put together by Peter’s son. His son is still tattooing and can be reached at www.tattooingbymee.com Peter Eagle passed away in 2011. Peter is missed and will be remembered for years to come. Peter Eagle, Tats Taylor and Tat-2 Tony
I was recently asked, “Is this REALLY Sailor Fred??” I responded honestly and then thought, maybe I should share this information with everyone.
The answer is yes and no. Is Sailor Fred physically typing.. no. It’s fair to say Fred is technically challenged. He does have a smart phone to answer calls, check emails and every once in awhile insults someone on Facebook without understanding who all sees it. Named after Sailor Barney Sr.’s mother (Sailor Fred’s beloved grandmother) my name is Sylvia. I’m Sailor Fred’s oldest daughter. The yes to this question is I’m strictly here for technical reasons. All your emails, comments and questions are read and answered by Sailor Fred himself. I’m just here to type his responses. As for these blog posts. Every single Monday morning, I hop on the phone with my dad and he tells me a story. We talk through the details of what he wants included on the blog and what he’ll be sharing with you all in the near future. These blog posts aren’t even half of the stories he shares with me. Each person he has mentioned has a full story of laughter, scandal and sometimes sadness (for those that he’s lost way too soon). Continue following Sailor Fred on Facebook, Instagram and this blog. Feel free to share with friends and family that may be interested in learning more about the Steinhart Family, their part in the history of tattooing in America and the Grandfathers of Tattooing they've crossed paths with. Facebook: sailorfredgoldenneedle Instagram: @sailorfredgoldenneedle Blog: sailorfred.weebly.com Email: [email protected] Sailor Fred and Miss Kat met Charlie Bond in the early 80’s. He believes 81’ - 82’. They met in Daytona during Bike Week at Tat2 Tony’s house. It was the normal crew; Mr. Tramp, Tat-2 Tony, Gill Monte, Randy Adams and Sailor Fred.
The first time Sailor Fred met Charlie Bond, Fred noticed and has never forgotten his hair. Charlie was a big, bald guy with a pygmy pony tail on the top of his head. It was the first time Sailor Fred saw anything like it. Apparently it was something because he remembers it after all these years. Charlie was a good artist, if not great artist. He was an easy going guy and he had a cutie with him. All the makings of a good friend and they became just that; good friends. The second time they were to work together, Charlie was on his way down south when he received a call his shop had gotten broken into. Charlie had to go back home. Over the years, like the others; Sailor Fred would go down south and Charlie would come up north. They would see each other at Tattoo Conventions, during Daytona Bike Weeks or during the Harley Rendevue. They’ve vacationed together with Sailor Fred’s kids. Charlie Bond is down in Virginia Beach now. If you ever stop in a say hello, tell him “Sailor Fred” sent you. “Thank God we can still tattoo. Our journey was a long one to get to where we are today.” - Sailor Fred More to come on our Sailor Fred and Charlie Bond’s friendship. Stay tuned. I'll start by saying Randy Adams and Sailor Fred have been great friends for many years. Sailor Fred has many acquaintances, none of which knew his two daughters. It was his closest friends that knew his kids. Randy Adams being at the top of Sailor Fred's closest friends list. Sailor Fred believes he met Randy Adams at Gill Monte's house, at the time it was kitty-corner from the Boothill Saloon, during Daytona's Bike Week in the 1980's. From the first time they met, they tattooed together and shared many good laughs. Whether they were together in NY, FL or TX, Randy Adams always has something new to show Sailor Fred. Like many of the best stories Sailor Fred has to tell will be told in a future project although there was a short story he shared for the purpose of Monday's Story time. Often times, whenever Sailor Fred would travel across country to see Randy Adams in Texas he would bring a few guys with him. This one particular time, Randy put a sign on the door that the shop would only be closed for a couple of hours so they could go have dinner. Randy took Sailor Fred and his guests to an all you can eat seafood buffet near the Dallas airport. Of course, it took much longer than two hours. On the way back to the shop, in a distance Sailor Fred saw tail lights. He jokingly told Randy, "Hey, look you have customers waiting." Well, his wise crack turned into the truth. Randy had multiple customers waiting for his return. On one of Sailor Fred's visits to Randy Adams he ended up staying a month. During that month Sailor Fred worked while Randy went out of town. Sailor Fred learned a few things durning his stay. He had to learn the different codes of the state of TX vs. NY. Remember, during Sailor Fred's career it went from having one rule, you couldn't tattoo, to every state having different regulations. Randy is a kickass artist. He's done work on both Sailor Fred and Miss Kat. Randy Adams owes and operates the Randy Adams Tattoo Studio in Lancaster TX. If you go and see Randy, tell him Sailor Fred sent you. http://www.randyadams.com/randyadams/Crew.aspx
Sailor Fred first met Mr. Tramp in McLean Virgina at Grandpa Groovy's Tattoo Convention. (Grandpa Groovy had a tattoo club at the time. Sailor Fred believes it was called Rebel Tattoo Club) So, the first time Sailor Fred and Mr. Tramp met was when Mr. Tramp was getting off an elevator at the convention hotel. Sailor Fred and Miss Kat were waiting for the elevator. When the doors opened, Mr. Tramp SLID across the hallway a good 30 feet on his knees! As if he had a motor strapped to his ass. Sailor Fred and Miss Kat wide eyed, busted out laughing in amazement. Sailor Fred HAD to know how Tramp did it so they struck up a conversation. They ended up hanging out all weekend. As for how he managed to slide across the floor on his knees while exiting the elevator, Mr. Tramp never told Sailor Fred how he did it.
The second time Sailor Fred and Mr. Tramp saw each other was in 1981 when they both worked Tat-2 Tony's place in Daytona for Bike Week. From there they worked and partied together multiple times a year. Tramp would work Sailor Fred's shop, Golden Needle, when he was up north for Am Jam or the Harley Rendezvous and Sailor Fred would work Tramp's shop, White Tiger, in Fayetteville, NC on Bragg Blvd. (White Tiger was owned by Louis Scabaras (sp?) although operated by Mr. Tramp) Funning story there ... Mr. Tramp had an unique style. It was very light and detailed. He had mastered the washout technique in its early stages. Mr. Tramp always had three ladies. His main woman was Ms. Cookie. The other two woman changed each year. Sailor Fred and Mr. Tramp shared many memories all which include funny stories. Sailor Fred plans on telling them in the near future. Unfortunately, Mr. Tramp is no longer with us. RIP Mr. Tramp. You are missed and loved. This week Sailor Fred would like to share the story of how his friendship with Bob ‘Hammer’ Madison started.
Around 1999-2000 Sailor Fred went down to Tampa on business. When he was finished, being so close, he headed to Daytona to see his friend Tat2 Tony. Tat2 Tony happened to be working at Hammer’s shop which is where they met. Hammer invited Sailor Fred back down to work during Daytona’s Bike Week. When the time came, Sailor Fred along with his friend Terry (Terry worked in Canada at Crazy Ace’s shop) headed down to Daytona to work bike week. The rest is history. History to be told soon enough ... Sailor Fred doesn’t believe Hammer gets the recognition he deserves. No fault other than Hammer not traveling shop to shop like some of the other guys did. Hammer is a great artist and dear friend. Hammer can be found in Flagler, FL at his shop Inflicting Beauty. If you visit him, tell him Sailor Fred sent you. http://www.inflictingbeauty.com/hammer/4589544108 Karl (KC) Cullison is the self proclaimed 'King of the Bootleggers'. His words not ours. His tattoo career stretches across decades although never owned his own shop. KC, well known in his area of Akron OH, traveled coast to coast tattooing from trucks, trailers or at friends shops as a guest artist. His last tattooing was done from his home basement. Through out his tattooing career he tattooed along side of some of the greats like Mr. Tramp, Charlie Bond, Tat2 Tony, Sailor Bill, Howie the Hand and Lil' Rat and tattooed during many Daytona Bike Weeks.
KC was also a Sideshow/Freak Show owner and magician. Back in 1979 both KC and Sailor Fred played the Monroe County Fair in upstate New York. Sailor Fred was tattooing and KC had his Sideshow. It just so happens they were set up right next to each other and after Sailor Fred recognized KC's bearded lady, they began a 37 year friendship. During the time Sailor Fred was building his sideshow, it was Karl that taught Fred how to do magic and in return, Fred gave KC some tips on tattooing. Sailor Fred and KC's friendship contains so many stories and adventures to be shared soon. They were more than friends, they were family. KC passed away in 2015. He will always be missed. 'Sailor Fred refers to this post as his ‘Life & Time With His Buddy Gill”. It was the late 1980’s when Sailor Fred first met Gill Montie. They met for the first time while Gill Montie, Sailor Fred, Mr. Tramp and Charlie Bond were tattooing at Tat-2 Tony’s place in Daytona during Bike Week.
The next few times Sailor Fred crossed paths with Gill was during various Tattoo Conventions and Bike Weeks. Gill would come up to Schenectady New York along with various artists and friends of theirs like Mr. Tramp, Randy Adams, Wondo or Charlie Bond. (for those of you who don’t know Wando, he owned Sailor Jerry’s shop in Honolulu HI for many years) Sailor Fred would meet everyone down in Daytona. Again, all good times … There was a time in the early 1990's when Gill came to Rochester, NY as a guest artist in Sailor Fred’s Golden Needle Tattoo Studio and ended up stayed for a month or two. Eventually he sent for his family. After the family hung out for a week, both families drove down to Orlando together. Together, as in 4 adults and 4 kids in one car drove all the way from New York to Florida. The last few times Sailor Fred saw Gill Montie was down in Macon, GA just before Bike Week. Sailor Fred would be a guest artist at Howie the Hand's shop while Gill and Zeek Owens were guest artists at Lit’l Rat’s shop. Being friends, they would all get together for dinners. There are some great stories and many memories in between this passage that will be released soon!! |
AuthorSailor Fred is a renown American Tattoo Artist that started his career in 1968 Archives
November 2016
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