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By Dan Leone

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IF THAT AMERICAN flag fluttering from your car antenna isn't quite doing the job, maybe you should consider getting a flag tattoo. Patriotic tattoo designs have always been popular in the military, but during the last few months, Tattoo Archive proprietor C.W. Eldridge observes, they've been all the rage among civilians as well. Eldridge is a tattoo artist and a tattoo historian, and his establishment is hardly an ordinary ink parlor. The walls are covered with the work of famous tattoo artists from throughout the 20th century, and his rotating entryway display currently features a retrospective look at the last 150 years of patriotic designs. Eldridge says that such designs have always been most in demand during wartime, and some of those in the display case date as far back as the Civil War. The designs include reproductions of famous battles, Union Jacks, Uncle Sam figures, and of course, American flags. The figure of Ms. Liberty sometimes appears as a blond, sometimes as a brunette, but is always beautiful and buxom and dressed a lot like Wonder Woman. The exhibit also includes a package of temporary tattoos from the 1940s, titled American Transfer Pictures. They provide an interesting look at how our ideas about what is "American" change over time. It's easy to understand why the collection includes the Statue of Liberty and a cowboy, but why the African lion, or the pirate, or the police dog? However you'd like to express your patriotism, or lack thereof, Eldridge will be happy to apply it to the body part of your choice. He does most of his tattoo work by appointment, but feel free to drop in for a look around any time during business hours. Mon.-Sat., noon-8 p.m., 2804 San Pablo, Berk. (510) 548-5895. (Lindsey Westbrook)