Dan Robinson Snr Tribute Machines...production

Following on from my previous post, here's more info about the Dan Robinson Snr Tribute Machines.


It was now mid January 2013
The prototype Frames where complete & without any major problems being encountered.
Now it was time to start building the actual Tribute Machines that would be for sale.

In consultation with Dan, it was decided upon 12 x Tribute Machines would be built & sold each year.

• They would all be built with Thin Armature (to suit Grommets & Nipples)
• They would all be built as Liners
• They would all be numbered

The P.T.A.A. National Convention was being held in Perth, in the first week of May 2013.
It was decided this would be the "official" launch for the Tribute Machines because of Dan's long history with the P.T.A.A.

So all the various components for the build were ordered, which started with the Frame components.
Here's a photo of them straight from ACT Laser Cutting.

All the necessary Frame components for the 12 x Tribute Machines.

Dan Robinson Snr Tribute Machines...the prototypes 2

Following on from my previous post, here's more info about the Dan Robinson Snr Tribute Machines.


You build prototypes for a reason...to test & check that everything is true & correct.
Read on & find out why I was lucky...

Lucky there's four prototype Frames:
With the first of the prototype Frames now welded, brazed, filed & linished, the other three were completed to the same stage.

Strangely enough, the positioning for the Signature Stamp had never been discussed in any detail.
I'd seen one of Dan's Gunmetal Machines stamped "ROBBO 3" at Brett Stewart's Australian Tattoo Museum.

One of Dan's original Gunmetal Machines that's stamped "ROBBO 3"

For whatever reason, I'd just assumed this would be where the new Signature Stamp would also go.
So I naturally went ahead & stamped the first prototype Frame in this same position.

The Signature Stamp on the very first prototype Frame

The Signature Stamp on the very first prototype Frame

I then emailed these same photos onto Dan & found out that he didn't want the stamp to be there.
Dan wanted the Signature Stamp to be located on the Side Plate section of the Frame.

That's OK, no problems...this is precisely why you build a number of prototypes.

So I stamped the second prototype Frame in what I believed was the new location...

The Signature Stamp on the second prototype Frame

Again I emailed this same photo onto Dan & found out that this wasn't where it should be either.
Dan wanted the Signature Stamp to be located on the lower section of the Side Plate, back towards the Spring Landing.

So I stamped the third prototype Frame & finally had it in the correct location...

The Signature Stamp positioned correctly on the third prototype Frame

And here's how that third prototype Frame looks with the Black Oxide treatment.

The third prototype Frame with Signature Stamp & now sporting Black Oxide finish. 

Dan Robinson Snr Tribute Machines...the prototypes

Following on from my previous post, here's more info about the Dan Robinson Snr Tribute Machines.


Having gotten Dan's blessing via the 3D Renders, the next stage was to build some prototype Frames.
Because I already had the necessary files from those renders, I could send them off to my Laser Cutters.

I decided upon 4 x prototypes as that would allow for both mistakes & any revisions to the Frames.
Also these prototypes would allow me to construct a suitable Jig to aid in their assembly when tack welding.

The following photos show the progression of one prototype Frame through its various stages of building.
For anyone wanting more details on my construction method, check out this earlier Blog post here.

Prototype Frame having been fully tack welded

Prototype Frame having been fully braze welded

Prototype Frame having been fully filed

Prototype Frame having been fully linished.

Dan Robinson Snr Tribute Machines...his signature

Following on from my previous post, here's more info about the Dan Robinson Snr Tribute Machines.


Given that I was building these Tribute Machines, I felt strongly they should have Dan's name on them.
Coming from a jewellery background, the most logical way of doing this was via a Stamp...a Custom Stamp.

Let's do a Signature Stamp:
If I was going to be organising a Custom Stamp, then why not make it really special & have Dan's signature?
Of course this would be entirely up to Dan...to which he agreed & happily provided me with a sample.

I scanned the signature & created a digital version that would be suitable for use by a Stamp Maker.
With Christmas almost upon me, I placed my order with a company in the USA called Infinity Stamps.
Several weeks later I received a parcel with the Signature Stamp.

It was now the start of the New Year 2013...full steam ahead!!

 Dan's signature made into a Signature Stamp for use on his Tribute Machines.

Dan Robinson Snr Tribute Machines...the beginning

Following on from my previous post, here's more info about the Dan Robinson Snr Tribute Machines.


Back in mid 2012, while catching up with Dan, I floated the idea about building a "Robbo Machine" that would only have Thin Armature, as a kind of "tribute" to him.
They'd be built by Colin Creed, on behalf of Dan Robinson & to his specifications.
Dan agreed to let me "explore" the idea further & to show him what I came up with.
And so it began...


Where to begin?
I needed to be able to build these Tribute Machines in the same way that I build the Jolly's, using all of the same tooling & processes I currently have available to me.
So the first stage was to decide upon a Frame style & proceed from there.
In my mind, the logical choice for a Frame style was Dan's last model & most iconic, the "Gunmetal" Frame.

Next I used MoI to create a CAD version of the Frame using the same process I've previously written about here.
With the Frame now modelled in CAD, I then recreated each of the components used within a Machine, so that I could do a full 3D photo realistic Render.
The purpose for these Renders was so Dan could clearly see how the Machine would look, all finished in real life.
This would also allow him to suggest any changes he'd like to make, prior to anything actually existing.

Dan liked what he saw, so it was agreed that I move forward by creating a number of prototypes.

Here's a couple of those same Renders I presented to Dan for his approval.

Render created for the Dan Robinson Snr Tribute Machine. 

Render created for the Dan Robinson Snr Tribute Machine.

Remembering Aussie Legends...Tribute Machines

There's the old saying that goes, "actions speak louder than words"...

So rather than just write "words" to remember our own Aussie Tattoo Legends, I decided to take "action" & build what's now being referred to as a "Tribute Machine".

For me it seemed a fairly simple choice...a Dan Robinson Snr Tribute Machine.

• Dan is a great Tattoo Artist who's had a huge influence on Aussie Tattooing, as well as having built & sold his own Machines.

• Dan's career spans from 1959, through the 60's, 70's, 80's, till mid 90's & then part-time until 2001.

• Dan introduced the (then new for Aussies) safe pigment colors of Brown, Blue & White into the Aussie Tattooing scene during the early 60's.

• Dan was one of those early converters to the (then new for Aussies) "DC" powered Machines during the early 70's.

• Dan used, built & supplied the "Hybrid" Thin Armature DC Machines from the early 70's until the late 90's.

• Dan was the first Aussie Tattoo Artist to introduce us to the (then new for Aussies) "Japanese" style of designs during the early 70's.

• Dan was one of the founding Members of the P.T.A.A. (Professional Tattooing Association of Australia) in the early 80's.

• Dan became President of the P.T.A.A. in the mid 80's.

• Dan became one of the first "Life Members" of the P.T.A.A. in the mid 90's.

Dan Robinson Snr

Dan Robinson Snr

Dan & his wife Wendy are retired to a country property surrounded by acres of bushland & native wildlife.

Dan recently celebrated his 70th Birthday with family & friends.

Dan & Wendy Robinson

More info about the Dan Robinson Snr Tribute Machines to follow soon...