Sailor Fred was born in Miami although grew up in Brooklyn, NY. As a young boy, he started as an apprentice; mixing ink, welding needles, cutting stencils, etc. In 1968 at the age of 15 years old, Sailor Fred starting traveling the carnival circuit with his father, Sailor Barney Sr. The following year he started tattooing along side his father from a small trailer traveling city to city.
Sailor Fred would work the carnival circuit tattooing from April through October. During the winter months he would have misc. jobs and tattoo out of a EMT box.
It was during this time in the early 1970’s that Sailor Fred designed his Signature machine. There were two versions available, aluminum and an iodized black. Due to an unforeseen circumstance, he sold his first set of casting plates to his friend Ernie C.
In the fall of 1975 Sailor Fred opened his first shop, Golden Needle Tattoo Studio located at 116 Lyell Ave., Rochester, NY 14608. Sailor Fred continued tattooing at the large fairs along side his father, Sailor Barney Sr. and many times, his dear friend Tat-2 Tony.
By 1986, Golden Needle Tattoo Studio was thriving. Sailor Fred purchased a one banner show, Clara the Nuclear Error and traveled two spring through fall seasons with a carnival show along with tattooing from a trailer. Sailor Barney Sr. managed the Golden Needle Tattoo Studio while Sailor Fred was traveling.
In the winter of 1987 Sailor Fred sold Clara The Nuclear Error and spent the winter building a 100’ ten banner freak-show/sideshow with the help of his brother, Captain Frog. Sailor Fred traveled the carnival circuit for two seasons before selling it in 1990 to make the Golden Needle Tattoo Studio his main priority.
In 1990 Sailor Fred moved the Golden Needle Tattoo Studio down the street to 252 Lyell Ave. With 3-4 years he opened up his second location Golden Needle South located at 51 Bridge St. Corning NY 14830.
In 1997 due to health issues, Sailor Fred closed his shop in Rochester, NY for good. Golden Needle South remained open until closing in 2013.
Sailor Fred is now retired. Miss Kat his long time girlfriend owns and operates Tat-Kat Tattoo Studio in Springwater, NY where Sailor Fred can be reached.
Family
Sailor Fred comes from a family of tattoo artists, making him the 3rd generation of tattoo artist in the Steinhart Family. He is the youngest son of Sailor Barney Sr.’s 1st family. (Sailor Barney Sr. was the original creator of the Coastal machine). All three of Sailor Fred’s brothers: Howie the Hand (deceased), Tattoo Larry and Captain Frog tattooed periodically through out their lives.
Sailor Fred would work the carnival circuit tattooing from April through October. During the winter months he would have misc. jobs and tattoo out of a EMT box.
It was during this time in the early 1970’s that Sailor Fred designed his Signature machine. There were two versions available, aluminum and an iodized black. Due to an unforeseen circumstance, he sold his first set of casting plates to his friend Ernie C.
In the fall of 1975 Sailor Fred opened his first shop, Golden Needle Tattoo Studio located at 116 Lyell Ave., Rochester, NY 14608. Sailor Fred continued tattooing at the large fairs along side his father, Sailor Barney Sr. and many times, his dear friend Tat-2 Tony.
By 1986, Golden Needle Tattoo Studio was thriving. Sailor Fred purchased a one banner show, Clara the Nuclear Error and traveled two spring through fall seasons with a carnival show along with tattooing from a trailer. Sailor Barney Sr. managed the Golden Needle Tattoo Studio while Sailor Fred was traveling.
In the winter of 1987 Sailor Fred sold Clara The Nuclear Error and spent the winter building a 100’ ten banner freak-show/sideshow with the help of his brother, Captain Frog. Sailor Fred traveled the carnival circuit for two seasons before selling it in 1990 to make the Golden Needle Tattoo Studio his main priority.
In 1990 Sailor Fred moved the Golden Needle Tattoo Studio down the street to 252 Lyell Ave. With 3-4 years he opened up his second location Golden Needle South located at 51 Bridge St. Corning NY 14830.
In 1997 due to health issues, Sailor Fred closed his shop in Rochester, NY for good. Golden Needle South remained open until closing in 2013.
Sailor Fred is now retired. Miss Kat his long time girlfriend owns and operates Tat-Kat Tattoo Studio in Springwater, NY where Sailor Fred can be reached.
Family
Sailor Fred comes from a family of tattoo artists, making him the 3rd generation of tattoo artist in the Steinhart Family. He is the youngest son of Sailor Barney Sr.’s 1st family. (Sailor Barney Sr. was the original creator of the Coastal machine). All three of Sailor Fred’s brothers: Howie the Hand (deceased), Tattoo Larry and Captain Frog tattooed periodically through out their lives.