How a Milwaukee tattoo artist's vision for a custom coil machine turned into a collaboration celebrating the history and craftsmanship of tattoo machine building.
Some of the best projects start with a simple conversation. Back in April, Milwaukee tattoo artist Jesse Engelbrecht of MANIA Tattoos reached out to Lucky Supply with an idea for a custom coil tattoo machine.
Jesse wasn't looking for something off the shelf. He wanted to create a machine that combined elements of his favorite historical designs with his own ideas about geometry, functionality, and appearance. What began as an email and a hand-drawn sketch eventually led to months of exchanging ideas, custom frame fabrication, and a visit to Lucky's Tattoo Museum in Largo, Florida.
Inspired by the Classics
Jesse's original concept drew inspiration from several classic tattoo machine designs, particularly those associated with Dietzel, Melroy, and the Jonesy Roundback.
He envisioned a modified Dietzel-style frame with a repositioned upright and T-top configuration that would accommodate either a liner or shader, while maintaining a traditional geometry similar to that of a Bulldog.
As our conversations continued, Jesse shared detailed drawings and reference photographs highlighting the features he wanted to incorporate. He admired the smooth, rounded edges and mirrored nickel finish of Scott Sterling's machines, the clean construction of Jensen frames, and the distinctive tube vise found on Coleman machines.
His attention to detail extended to the smallest components. He envisioned traditional nickel hardware, vintage-style wing nuts, flathead screws, and 1¼-inch green wire coils with white fiber washers. Even the spring shelf angle, contact screw design, and overall proportions were carefully considered.
The goal wasn't to reproduce an existing machine but to bring together elements of several influential designs into something distinctly his own.
As Jesse explained in one of his early messages:
"I'm looking to assemble and tune these myself, I just don't have the means at this time to build from scratch."
That's exactly the kind of project we love being part of.
Bringing the Design to Life
Using Jesse's drawings and references, our team worked with him to develop and fabricate his custom tattoo machine frames.
One of the challenges was translating the organic character of his hand-drawn design into a functional, CNC-machined frame without losing the personality of the original sketch.
Traditional tattoo machines often have subtle curves and proportions that distinguish one builder's work from another. Preserving those characteristics while ensuring proper alignment and geometry requires an understanding of both modern manufacturing and traditional machine construction.
With the frames completed, Jesse was ready for the part he'd been looking forward to most: assembling and tuning his machines.
A Visit to Lucky's Tattoo Museum
During the last week of October, Jesse traveled from Milwaukee to Largo, Florida, to spend time at Lucky's Tattoo Museum, where he had the opportunity to build alongside experienced tattoo machine builder Jimmy Whitlock.
Together, they worked on bringing Jesse's custom machines to life, sharing knowledge, discussing techniques, and exploring the mechanics of traditional coil machines.
The visit also gave Jesse an opportunity to dive deeper into tattoo history while surrounded by the museum's collection of vintage machines, artwork, and memorabilia.
For someone who had spent months studying historical designs and incorporating those influences into his own project, it was a chance to connect the past with the present.
Jesse had a great time during his visit, and we thoroughly enjoyed having him here.
Keeping the Craft Alive
One of the things we appreciate most about Jesse's project is his genuine interest in understanding the machines he uses.
Tattoo machine building has always been a craft of experimentation, adaptation, and shared knowledge. Many of the classic designs we admire today came from builders modifying existing ideas and developing their own solutions.
While modern machining allows us to manufacture components with greater consistency and precision, the hands-on knowledge required to assemble, adjust, and tune a coil machine remains an important part of the craft.
At Lucky Supply, we're proud to combine our manufacturing capabilities with traditional machine-building experience. Through Lucky's Tattoo Museum, we also have the opportunity to preserve the history behind these machines and share that knowledge with artists and builders who want to learn.
What began as a custom fabrication inquiry became a collaboration built around a shared appreciation for tattoo history and craftsmanship.
A big thank you to Jesse for trusting us with his vision and making the trip to visit, and to Jimmy Whitlock for sharing his time and expertise.
Projects like this remind us why we love what we do. It's about more than manufacturing tattoo equipment. It's about bringing people together, passing along knowledge, and keeping the traditions of tattoo machine building alive.
Follow Jesse's work on Instagram at @jesse.e.mania and learn more about Lucky's Tattoo Museum.
Have your own idea you'd like to bring alive? Email us at Manager@luckysupply.com
