Weird Tales! UFOs, Curiosities and Tattoos
Thu, Oct 1, 2026 11:00AM EDT
Lot 214
SWIFT, Henri C. (British, 1880 - 1929). Upright Frame Dual Coil Liner.
Estimate: $4,000 - $6,000
Unsold
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $5 |
| $30 | $10 |
| $100 | $25 |
| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $200 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
SWIFT, Henri C. (British, 1880 - 1929). Upright Liner Machine. Mid 20th century. Upright frame and reddish-brown wrapped coils. Approx. 7 x 3 1/4 x 1".
Swift's machines played a notable role in influencing those of Amund Dietzel (Norwegian-American, 1891 - 1974). As a traveling tattoo artist who also operated a small supply company, Swift spent his time between England and New Zealand and was documented in San Francisco in 1913. While the exact connection between Swift and Dietzel is unclear, Dietzel likely encountered Swift's machine while working with William Grimshaw, who began his career in England and may have acquired one there. Both Dietzel and Grimshaw performed as tattooed men in sideshows, in addition to tattooing between shows. Dietzel eventually settled in Milwaukee and is celebrated as a pioneering tattoo artist.
Our thanks to Jon Rieter, who assisted with the cataloguing of this lot.
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