i think this is a fairly recent production Tacton.
Yes, that's right, Phil - it's a last version (I grabbed a kit like this two month ago).
I even don’t know if it is a standard size... so you could tell me something more about wood… The rods have a little bigger head than the standard (like Amati).
FT size is standard - 14 or 16". Wood for last versions - 6 or 9-ply birch, without force-rings.
Tacton rod's heads are for standard key (Amati had a non-standard size - for original key with rounded sides)
the drums morphed through a number of different wood types before and by the late 80's at least some of the drums were being made from laminated pressed cardboard.
Yes, in Markneukirchen era - different kinds of wood, but after moving to Weissenfels - birch, mostly 95%.
Bakelized cardboard - yes it's true for low budget line models.
What's amazing, dear Phil? Tacton is not absolutely original and not a pioneer in that idea. Let's remember low budget Premier, Pearl, student Tromsa --made from fibreboard and chipboard... :)