Hi ... Interested in the history / origins of the flying eyeball... Used by the ancient egyptians originally, but who was the first to use it in USA ?? Von Dutch as part of Kustom Kulture, or Rick Griffin in connection with rock music and Jimi Hendrix...?? And what is the modern symbolism behind it...?? Any ideas, info, etc... Colin
Dean Jeffries before anyone else here. Kenneth Howard took it and ran with it, as has been do***ented on here.
OK, i'll check out Dean jeffries use of eyeball. I'm english, so always ***ociated it with Von Dutch and the Ed Roth style of hot rod kulture. But recently saw posters for sale with flying eyeball by Rick Griffin in connection with Jimi Hendrix. Selling for almost 5K... I was intrigued to learn who actually originated its use in USA... I have been checking out other HAMB threads too.... Thanks... Colin
Jeffries is credited on these two sites. He still has the rights to the "eyeball', as well. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=346958 http://www.speedtv.com/wiki/Dean-Jeffries/
OK, thanks guys...much clearer about the origins of the flying eyeball now. Really enjoyed reading those five links you gave, especially the photos of all those cars.. Thanks... Colin
Not to take away from Jeffries (Barris has done enough of that) but Bob Burns swears that Dutch gave him the copyright to the flying eyeball. Everything I find about it points to Von Dutch as the originator. regards, DJ
Just like pinstriping, it had early origins long before our time. The flying eyeball was just made an icon in our time, but no one in our time span invented it. I would have to say that Von Dutch was the vehicle that made it famous. Somewhere in the world there is a flying eyeball in a cave that was probably the first one.
Strong's Book of Designs, published in 1910, includes a drawing of a woman holding a winged orb. Air Force insignia from both World Wars, commonly used symmetrical wings with a round design in the middle. White Trucks, in the 30's, had a hood emblem that was a globe with wings on each side. Pontiac had a similar design for their Super 8. The winged wheel, was used by Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and many motorcycle clubs and Police forces around the country. So if you had any imagination at all, it's not much of a jump from an orb, or circle, or globe, to an eyeball.
THAT'S WAY MORE THAN I EVER KNEW ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF THAT ICONIC IMAGE! P.S. Like your avatar COLIN T!
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