Remembering Aussie Legends...Robbo's last model

Following on from my last post, here's more info about Machines built by our own Aussie Tattoo Legends.

Dan Robinson Snr is known to many across Australia & the world as either Danny or simply "Robbo".

Over the years, he designed & built a number of Frames, in a variety of different styles & materials.
The early 90's saw Dan's very last Frame style, which were all sand cast in what's known as "Gunmetal".
Dan liked his Machines to have some weight, so this choice of Gunmetal helped with that.

The casting for these Frames was done by a small Foundry located just down the road from his then Studio, Highline Tattooing, which is located near St. Kilda Junction.
This same small Foundry was also casting those "Logie" Frames from my previous post.

Dan would do all the work himself on these rough castings, the clean up, drilling, taping & their polishing.
Once all the stages were completed, the Frames were sent off to be chrome plated.
As with all of Dan's Frames, this was specifically designed & built as a Thin Armature Machine.


I recently had the opportunity to grab some photos of one of these old Robbo "Gunmetal" Frames.
This particular Frame belongs to Graeme Iles & my Thanks goes to him for allowing this opportunity.

In my personal opinion, this particular style Robbo Frame, would have to be his most iconic.

Commonly known as the Robbo "Gunmetal" Frame.
Designed & built by Dan (Robbo) Robinson Snr, early 90's

Inside view of the Robbo "Gunmetal" Frame.
Designed & built by Dan (Robbo) Robinson Snr, early 90's

Remembering Aussie Legends...a tale of two Frames

It saddens me that there's a whole lot of young Aussie Tattoo Artists who know all about Sailor Jerry...
...but know next to nothing about their very own "Aussie Tattoo Legends"...not even their names..!

Granted, it's not easy finding out about those Old Aussie's Legends, that's mostly because their names, stories, knowledge & history were always "passed on" verbally to the younger ones...
It seems that somewhere along the line, the names of our own Legends stopped being mentioned?

I post the following in an effort to get some of those old Aussie Tattoo Legends recognised & remembered.
My hope is that these names will once again grace the lips of the current generation of Aussie Tattoo Artists, without being followed by the question..."who's that??"


A blast from the past:
Had a very good friend & Tattoo Artist come to visit & to also pick up their finished Machines.
They'd brought along a few old cast Frames belonging to Dan Robinson Snr, for me to check out.

Talk about a "blast from the past"...I instantly recognised both of these Frames!!

• Dan Robinson Snr designed Frame for a Single & Twin Coil that he affectionately called the "Logie".
• Kevin Coppin designed Frame missing it's "Swing-Gate" component to clamp the Tube in place.

So I took the opportunity to grab some photos of these old Frames & now I "pass on" their info...


Dan (Robbo) Robinson Snr "Logie" Frame:
When I worked for Dan at Highline Tattooing in St. Kilda, he was getting his Frame designs cast at a small Foundry just down the road from the Studio.
Dan would get me to pick up the raw castings & I'd drop them off to him at his home.
So that "Logie" Frame was one of those designs I was picking up & dropping off to him.

Raw casting of  the "Logie" Frame to suit either a Single Coil or Twin Coil.
Designed & built by Dan (Robbo) Robinson Snr, early 90's

Inside view of  the "Logie" Frame to suit either a Single Coil  or Twin Coil.
Designed & built by Dan (Robbo) Robinson Snr, early 90's

Another view of  the "Logie" Frame to suit either a Single Coil or Twin Coil.
Designed & built by Dan (Robbo) Robinson Snr, early 90's

Kevin Coppin "Swing-Gate" Frame:
This particular Kevin Coppin Frame has a very different story attached to it.
Back in the late 80's, Kevin gave me an old mould he had for doing this particular Frame design.
Apparently there was a problem with it & as I used to be a Jeweller, he figured I'd be able to sort it out.
So the first thing I did was to get one cast in Brass, that way I could see where & what the problem was??
I did managed to get it all filed, but unfortunately life got in the way & this project got pushed aside.
In the 90's I gave this Frame to Dan, as he had a few ideas & wanted to have a play with it.
So 20 + years later, the very same Frame shows up at my place, exactly as I'd given it to Dan..!

It's kind of funny how "Life" does things like that...

"Swing-Gate" style Frame. (missing it's Swing-Gate component)
Design by Kevin Coppin

Inside view of this "Swing-Gate" style Frame. (missing it's Swing-Gate component)
Design by Kevin Coppin

Another view of this "Swing-Gate" style Frame. (missing it's Swing-Gate component)
Design by Kevin Coppin