Old slang term for pinstripers, practitioners of the old art of pinstriping.
Pinstriping is most often practiced and painted upon hot rods and
motorcycles, Pinheads however paint pinstripes on anything they think will look cool with pinstripes, such as Zippo Lighters, coffee cans, old whiskey bottles, and the namesake piece of art,
bowling pins (Cool huh?)
Pinheads often gather together and
participate in Panel Jams, where Pinheads bring their stripe box and some Plexiglas to pinstripe works of art and trade with their fellow stripers. One of the more well known ones takes place
in the middle of March called the Ratfink Reunion, which is located in Manti, UT every year.
Some of the more well known Pinheads include (but are not limited to!) Herb "The Line Doctor" Martinez (arguably the most well known pinhead), Tommy "The Greek" Hrones, Dean Jeffries, Steve Kafka, Von Dutch, Hot Rod, Morkel Snorkel, Tommy "Itchy" Otis, Peter "Preacher" McDermott, Bob Spena (Apprentice to Von Dutch), John Kosmoski (Founder of House of Kolor), Craig Frasier (Inventor of the Slash Stripe), Enamel, Bobbo Dunn (Innovator of the curly type pinstriping technique), Willis Dormer, Jimmy C., Coop, and the
Legendary Beam Brothers (Innovators of the Fresno Stripe).
It is unknown who coined the term, though it is agreed that it first appeared in the mid 70's.
