Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins the Prankster

Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins was a master at inking vivid colors into his tattoos. Other "scratchers"-as he called his competition-would often sniff around his shop trying to figure out his secrets. Never one to share tips with undeserving artists (and ever the prankster) Sailor Jerry always had a trick up his sleeve to throw them off his trail.

In one famous encounter a guy asked Jerry how he got such brilliant colors. Jerry told him he put a little bit of sugar in his inks. Of course, the guy went straight back to his shop and put some sugar in his inks before heading home for the night. The next morning the scratcher returned to his shop to find his ink infested with roaches.