Charlie Decker, age 29, says that he has been involved with pinstriping since he was a teenager. Born without a right hand, the task might seem difficult to some; however, Charlie, dubbed the One Arm Bandit, wears a prosthetic arm while striping and creates absolutely stunning art.

“I got the itch to pick up the brush at age 15, when I attended a pinhead gathering with my uncle, Art Frisbie. Art is a real pro sign painter out of Jersey; watching him got me pumped to start spilling paint all over the place,” he writes on his Web site, www.onearmbanditpinstriping.com.

He says that Art was a huge inspiration in finding his passion in painting.  Charlie went to art school, at the Butera School of Art in Boston, for two years to study the skill of sign-painting, specifically.

“I thought I’d be a professional sign guy,” he explains.

But, Charlie learned that he preferred old-style hand painting and continued to be drawn to the art of pinstriping.

He also adds that another uncle, Mark Conforth, helped him cultivate a love for traditional hot rods and encouraged Charlie to practice pinstriping on his collector vehicles, after showing him photos out of old 1950’s car magazines.

For some years, Charlie worked on hot rods, customs and motorcycles as a part-time gig, while holding full-time supervisor and sales jobs. But, at age 26, he let go of the office jobs and became a full-time pinstriper. Today, he runs his business out of Connecticut and makes house-calls all over the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

“From New Jersey to New Hampshire,” says Charlie. “Pennsylvania… everywhere.”

He says that he loves to travel and meet new people. He has found a passion in the old car hobby and owns a 1954 Buick Special 2-door hardtop of his own. And, he is always around collector cars.

Over the last couple years, Charlie says that he has worked on four to five cars each week, during the busy warm-weathered seasons. He estimates working on approximately 300 collector vehicles each year and guesses that he has painted more than 1000 cars in his lifetime.

In addition to other local events, Charlie has promoted his business at the “Hot Rod Fall Out”-- his own car show in Glastonbury, Conn. His third annual event just passed on October 18, 2008; it brought in 500 cars, 1000 people and seven bands. But, next week, the One Arm Bandit will leave the area to visit the Turkey Rod Run in Daytona, Fla., where he is expecting to see an estimated 8000 vehicles—some of which may be prospective projects. In January, he will head out to the legendary Grand National Roadster show in Pomona, Calif.

“I’m really just expanding,” explains Charlie.

He decided to get around to some warmer climates during the winter season, as work slows down, up North. He hopes to gain new clientele while making a greater presence around the country.

In addition to painting cars, Charlie says that he pinstripes a variety of items.

“Girls, mailboxes, helmets, shoes, leather coats…”

Wait. Did he just say girls?

He sure did.

For more information and photos of the One Arm Bandit’s work, visit: www.onearmbanditpinstriping.com

Story by: Becky McLaughlin

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