History of the Airbrush

1882 - A closer look
1882 design updates
3 main features make this model different and far more controllable than it's predecessor.
  • A - Most importantly at 'A' a lever controls the distance that the needle passes under the air blast via a cleverly designed "walking arm" mechanism. (See below)
  • B - A second lever can be twisted at 'B' to limit the amount of air pressure that spins the wind wheel.
  • C - The airflow is no longer spraying the paint forwards over the needle, but is directed downwards onto the artwork.
Walking arm diagram 1
Walking arm diagram 2
  • Position A - when the lever is pulled back (as above) the walking arm pulls the needle back toward the windwheel and away from the air blast (C). Less of the needle, only the fine tip, passes under the blast of air so less paint is blown off as a spray.
  • Position B - As the lever is returned the arm moves as indicated by the red arrows. This makes the needle start much closer to the air blast the more the lever is pushed - thus a longer and thicker part of the needle will have the paint blown off it.

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Airbrush History site © Andy Penaluna 2001

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