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.
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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. |
AuthorSailor Fred is a renown American Tattoo Artist that started his career in 1968 Archives
November 2016
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