Nikkan marching school snare

[khmerali]

I picked up this Nikkan marching school snare today here in Phnom Penh in Japanese second hand store.

It was the best condition of about 4 or 5 drums the same so my guess is that they came from a Japanese school music department somewhere.

What I know:
12" x 8"
6 central lugs
Luan shell (maybe 3mm) with reinforcement hoops about the same.
A bit roughly finished- stamped, but I can't make it out!
Red sparkle wrap a little loose in places but still in good condition

No snare wires
From what I have read on this forum, the Nikkan company was bought by Yamaha in '67 when Yamaha started making drums and other instruments.
When searching for Nikkan, quite a few of these come up on the various Japanese auction sites and it is pretty similar to a Yamaha marching snare I saw in another Japanese store here but didn't manage to snatch up.

Any other info anyone?

Sorry - only a couple of pictures as my internet is very poor tonight!

[khmerali]

A few more pictures

[grantro]

I`m thinking that this is a case where someone has converted a tom into a snare...That size is common for a tom...I personally have not seen a MIJ snare smaller than 13" diameter...

Cheers

[khmerali]

Originally Posted by grantro

I`m thinking that this is a case where someone has converted a tom into a snare...That size is common for a tom...I personally have not seen a MIJ snare smaller than 13" diameter...

Cheers

Thanks for your reply but I must disagree with you!

I picked up the snare in a Japanese second hand store here in Phnom Penh and there were 5 or 6 others the same. I just picked up the one in the best condition (for 9 dollars!). I have also seen similar Yamaha 'marching snares' on the Japanese selling sites.

I have since replaced the snare wires with some 12" wires and it sounds less choked than when I had some 14" wires butchered in place. I plan to take it back to Scotland next year (if the luggage allowance and the wife allows!) and restore it fully.

Look at this old ebay post - it's the same drum.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikkan-Snar...p2047675.l2557

[grantro]

Interesting!! Like I stated, I have never seen a 12" MIJ snare before...

Are there snare beds cut into the shell?

Cheers

[khmerali]

Originally Posted by grantro

Interesting!! Like I stated, I have never seen a 12" MIJ snare before...

Are there snare beds cut into the shell?

Cheers

Yes - shallow, maybe only 2mm

[jmcohen]

I remember being in a marching drum corps in the early 70’s. At a parade in Cuyahoga Falls, there was a flag and baton corps made up of little kids, probably 10 - 13 years old. They were propelled by a marching drum section of TINY drums. We figured they made the drums for their little bodies. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the snares they toted on their little legs were 12”.

Josh

[slingerfan]

Originally Posted by khmerali

Look at this old ebay post - it's the same drum.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikkan-Snar...p2047675.l2557

Very similar but not the same. The badge is a different color and the strainer bodies and levers are different. Perhaps a year to year change. The stamp on yours appears to be 'SONIC' and '341'. Neat find.