TIMELINE
Timeline of Tattooing in Scotland
1892.............................................................................................................................................................................
Glasgow
Professor Williams (pioneer of Electric tattooing) and Madame Ondena of Chicago USA appearing at Bostock and Woomwell’s Monster Show, New City Road.
Direct from the Royal Aquarium, London.
1896.............................................................................................................................................................................
Glasgow
Professor Tom Riley tattooing at Fell’s Waxworks, Trongate.
1897.............................................................................................................................................................................
Glasgow
2 un-identified tattooists working at Glasgow’s Broomielaw.
The Edinburgh Evening News reports that both men are living in one of the Model Lodging houses near the Clyde Docks and are making a substantial living tattooing visiting onshore sailors.
1899.............................................................................................................................................................................
Glasgow
Tom Riley, The Society tattooist is tattooing at E.H. Bostock’s Glasgow Zoo.
1901.............................................................................................................................................................................
Glasgow
Robert Leckie, professional Tattooer working around Broomielaw area (Docks) from 37 West College Street. He died from the DT’s (alcohol poisoning) in May 1901.
1903.............................................................................................................................................................................
Glasgow
Jim Wilson tattooing at E.H. Bostock's Glasgow Zoo. Representing his mentor and teacher Tom Riley.
1904.............................................................................................................................................................................
Edinburgh
Professor Barelno is tattooing at Stewart’s Waxworks High Street, Edinburgh.
Aberdeen
Professor Barenlo moved to Humber’s Waxworks at 112 George Street Aberdeen.
1905.............................................................................................................................................................................
Greenock
Prince Vallar begins his professional tattoo career in the port of Greenock in May.
Aberdeen
Professor Lloyd tattooing at Humber’s Waxworks in Aberdeen.
1906.............................................................................................................................................................................
Aberdeen
Woolwich tattoo artist Joe Kitteridge relocates to 14 New Market Gallery, Aberdeen.
He spends 8 years in the city before returning to tattoo in Woolwich.
Glasgow
Prince Vallar tattooing in Glasgow.
1907.............................................................................................................................................................................
Dundee
Sheffield born Charles Smith tattooing in Dundee.
Aberdeen
Joe Kitteridge tattooing at 14 New Market Gallery, Aberdeen.
Glasgow
Prince Vallar tattooing in Glasgow.
1908.............................................................................................................................................................................
Aberdeen
Professor Whittingham tattooing at Humber’s waxworks 112 George Street, Aberdeen.
Joe Kitteridge tattooing at 8 New Market Gallery, Aberdeen.
Glasgow
Prince Vallar tattooing in Glasgow.
Jedburgh
Travelling tattooist Ben Louvre tattooing in the Scottish border region.
Dundee
- W. Thomas from Poplar, London tattooing at 88 Overgate, Dundee.
1909.............................................................................................................................................................................
Edinburgh
Prince Vallar and Charles Smith both tattooing in Edinburgh’s Marine Gardens.
1910.............................................................................................................................................................................
Aberdeen
Joe Kitteridge tattooing at 8 New Market Gallery, Aberdeen.
Dundee
Professor Norton tattooing at 36 Greenmarket, Dundee.
Professor Harvey tattooing at 206 Overgate, Dundee.
Glasgow
Prince Vallar tattooing in Glasgow.
1911.............................................................................................................................................................................
Aberdeen
Joe Kitteridge tattooing at 8 New Market Gallery, Aberdeen.
Dundee
Professor Norton tattooing at 36 Greenmarket, Dundee.
Glasgow
Prince Vallar tattooing in Glasgow.
Lerwick
Professor Norton and Joe Kitteridge tattooing in the Shetland Islands.
1912.............................................................................................................................................................................
Aberdeen
Joe Kitteridge at 8 New Market Gallery, Aberdeen.
Dundee
Professor Norton tattooing at 36 Greenmarket, Dundee.
Glasgow
Prince Vallar in Glasgow. Also in New York and Galveston. Texas, U.S.A.
Returned to tattoo at Glasgow Zoo Carnival, New City Road, Glasgow.
Aberdeen and Dundee.
Professor Norton and Joe Kitteridge tattooing together in Aberdeen.
1913.............................................................................................................................................................................
Aberdeen
Joe Kitteridge tattooing at 8 New Market Gallery, Aberdeen.
Glasgow
Prince Vallar tattooing in Glasgow.
1914.............................................................................................................................................................................
Aberdeen
Joe Kitteridge tattooing at 8 New Market Gallery, Aberdeen.
Final year in the City. Returns to tattoo in Woolwich.
Glasgow
Prince Vallar tattooing in Glasgow.
1915.............................................................................................................................................................................
Aberdeen
Professor Charles Briley tattooing in New Market Gallery, Aberdeen.
Glasgow
Prince Vallar tattooing in Edinburgh at Marine Arcade and later at Leith Walk.
1916.............................................................................................................................................................................
Prince Vallar joins Army and is based in Arbroath, Scotland and Wicklow, Ireland for the next 2 years or more.
It is believed his father Stephen Vallar kept the tattooing business going while Prince was on active service duties.
1917.............................................................................................................................................................................
Aberdeen
Professor Charles Briley tattooing in New Market Gallery, Aberdeen.
Kirkcaldy
Professor MacKinlay tattooing at 26 St.Clair Street, Kirkcaldy.
Dundee.
Professor MacKinlay also at 45 Overgate, and also at The Kings Theatre, Dundee.
1918.............................................................................................................................................................................
Aberdeen
Professor Charles Briley tattooing in New Market Gallery, Aberdeen.
Kirkcaldy
Professor MacKinlay tattooing at 26 St.Clair Street, Kirkcaldy.
1919.............................................................................................................................................................................
Aberdeen
Professor Charles Briley tattooing in New Market Gallery, Aberdeen.
Charles Smith tattooing at 4 New Market Gallery, Aberdeen.
1920.............................................................................................................................................................................
Aberdeen
Charles Smith tattooing at 4 New Market Gallery, Aberdeen.
Glasgow
Prince Vallar tattooing in Glasgow.
1921 - 1930....................................................................................................................................................................
Glasgow
Prince Vallar tattooing in Glasgow.
1931 - 1933....................................................................................................................................................................
Dundee
Unknown person tattooing at 21 Brook Street, Dundee.
Edinburgh
Unknown person tattooing at 15 Haddington Place, Leith, Edinburgh.
Glasgow
Prince Vallar tattooing in Glasgow.
1935-1947.............................................................................................................................................................................
Glasgow
Prince Vallar opens his tattoo parlour at 404 Argyle Street, Anderson, Glasgow.
His son Robert begins his tattoo apprenticeship.
Prince Vallar and Bert Vallar tattoo together for 12 years in Glasgow.
1947..............................................................................................................................................................................
Glasgow
Prince Vallar dies.
Bert Vallar tattooing at 404 Argyle Street, Glasgow.
1948 - 1952....................................................................................................................................................................
Glasgow
Bert Vallar tattooing in Glasgow
1957..............................................................................................................................................................................
Airdrie
Unknown person tattooing at 92 High Street, Airdrie
Glasgow
Bert Vallar tattooing in Glasgow.
1960.............................................................................................................................................................................
Edinburgh
Jimmy Todd tattooing in Edinburgh.
Jimmy tattooed at various addresses including Jane Street, Gordon Street and Chapel Lane up until 1976.
Glasgow
Bert Vallar tattooing in Glasgow.
Glasgow
Terry Wrigley visits Glasgow but finds that Bert Vallar is still (just) tattooing. Vallar had lost interest in tattooing and was just waiting for the right moment to cease the operation. Terry Wrigley returns to Blackpool as a mark of respect. In those days Tattooists did not set up next to each other and respected each others boundaries.
1961-1964....................................................................................................................................................................
Edinburgh
Jimmy Todd tattooing in Edinburgh
Glasgow
Bert Vallar’s final year in Glasgow. He closes the tattoo shop and becomes a picture framer.
1965..............................................................................................................................................................................
Glasgow
Terry Wrigley and Jimmy Gould arrive in Glasgow from the northern English seaside resort of Blackpool.
After a short time Jimmy leaves to return south and Terry stays and tattoos at 793 Gallowgate in the City’s East End and latterly at 23 Chisholm Street in the Trongate.
Edinburgh
Jimmy Todd tattooing in Edinburgh
1967..............................................................................................................................................................................
Hamilton
Bill Hooper tattooing at Campbell Street, Hamilton.
Glasgow
Terry Wrigley tattooing at 793 Gallowgate, Glasgow.
Edinburgh
Jimmy Todd tattooing in Edinburgh
Aberdeen
Gilbert McLaren tattooing at Trinity Quay, Aberdeen
1968-1976......................................................................................................................................................................
Aberdeen
Gilbert Gordon McLaren tattooing in Aberdeen.
Douglas Stewart Tattooing in Aberdeen.
Hamilton
Bill Hooper tattooing in Campbell Street, Hamilton
Glasgow
Terry Wrigley tattooing at 793 Gallowgate, Glasgow.
Edinburgh
Jimmy Todd final year tattooing in Edinburgh.
1977..............................................................................................................................................................................
Edinburgh
Bill Hooper tattooing at 79 Elm Row, Leith, Edinburgh.
Wishaw
Danny O’Brien tattooing at Glasgow Road, Wishaw.
Strathaven and Ayr
Guido tattooing in Strathaven and Ayr.
Glasgow
Terry Wrigley tattooing at 793 Gallowgate, Glasgow.