My name is Sam Ngo. I am a tattoo artist and tattoo machine builder. Over 15 years ago I walked into a tattoo shop in Westminster, California called Sick Dogs Tattoo. There I met a tattoo artist named Oraldo Mojarro. I jokingly and in a cocky manner said, “ I think I can do that shit!,” and the next thing you know I started my tattoo apprenticeship.
At that time, I knew nothing of the tattoo culture. I just knew it was something that I wanted to learn, and understood. I love the sound of the tattoo machine and was curious in how the ink just stay in the skin every time the needle poked. As an apprentice, I’ve scrubbed toilets, mops floors, scrub wall corners with a toothbrush for hours at a time on my hands and knees. I’ve clean tubes, set up stations, and made needles; of which at that time you can actually make money selling them not like today. As a result of these doors being opened by Oraldo Mojarro to the tattoo world , I’ve been blessed to study, draw, and paint with amazing artists like Carlos Torres, Pint, Alan Padilla, Josh Duffy, Horiyo, Denovo Ryusuke, and so much more. I am extremely grateful and honored for every artist that has added to my knowledge and my career. It wasn’t until I owned a tattoo shop in Fullerton, California by the name of Big Buddha Tattoos where my whole tattoo career was forced to change.
My number one tattoo machine for the majority of my tattoo career was the National Swing-gate Mako Brass! That machine was a beast! To me, it did everything from lining to packing color with the same setup. When I feel like the other machines were not running up to par, I turned to the Mako. Unfortunately, that machine was too heavy and it took a toll on my wrist. It was a true paperweight. After tattooing for about 15 years with that clunker, it ended giving me Carpal Tunnel. One day while tattooing, my wrist hurted so much that I had to stop tattooing only after 2 hours, which in turn resulted in not tattooing for the next couple of weeks. It hurted that much. In some crazy way, it was a blessing in disguise. It gave me that free time to start focusing on making a tattoo machine.
In 2012 I made my first tattoo machine. I really did not know what I was doing at that time, but I figured how to make a tattoo frame jig thanks to the Tim Hendricks video. I already had a vise and some tools, bought me a oxy-acetylene torch and a drill press and I was off and running. To my surprise, my first machine ran extremely well. I still have it, and it actually ran better than the Mako, which at that time was my number one tattoo machine. When I was 5 years old, my father had me winding coil for alternators and all sorts of things, so winding tattoo coils was nothing. I spent the next few months tightening down the geometry, mastering tuning and spring theory, and learning everything I can about metallurgy in regards to the tattoo machine. I gave my first 15 machines to my closest tattoo brothers, and it all ran just as good or better than the machines they currently owned.
After making hundreds machine since, I’ve decided to name my tattoo machines 1850 Irons in 2017. This was the tribute to my love for California, and 1850 was the year California became a state, so I felt it was perfect. Today, my tattoo machine business is thriving, and currently taking a break from tattooing altogether. Thank you for those who support by buying my machines and visiting my myspace, instagram, and facebook for so many years. This is my life and legacy. My name is Sam Ngo, and this is 1850 Irons!