Thank you Jonnistix, that's interesting. I suspected the floor tom was not a typical MIJ piece. Nicer bearing edges and better overall construction with the addition of the third re-ring. The hoops don't impress me much, as one can easily see the join which detracts from the look. Were Star drums made in Japan as well? What year/era is this floor tom? I need some better legs for it, as one is non-original and at least one other has chrome missing.
Yes, it was made in: http://www.tamadrum.co.jp/anniversary/expansion.php?cat_id=5&now=1
And the parent company has more than one trademark in other instrumental categories. With those hoops, that puts it, if they are original, in the early 60s, likely pre-65.
I love Star drums and will be working on a history of what I can find and dissect and glean from others. I will be working in concert (pun intended) with other members to bring to the world our experience and knowledge, with quite a bit of sleuthing, to bring to the world as best we can, the best history of Star/TAMA in the early years.
We want to make a billion....uh...I mean...we want to make sure we get as much of the best history and the best information we can manage, in the hands the public, collectors, enthusiasts we can. Especially the most comprehensive parts descriptions and understanding of all that we can possibly put together.
We are exploring a few speculative ideas because there seems to be a lot of "interactively" similar, or exact parts, meaning there may have been a central foundry making parts for both Pearl and Star. The reason for this investigation is the outright use of seemingly exact parts in both of the Japanese manufacturing facilities for bot companies.
There are many of us that have knowledge, a fair amount of speculation and real information, and we all will be contributing to this work. I would hope to make it something along the lines of Rob's Cookbooks...
Anyway, ask questions, send any info you have, and speculate so we can all make something concrete and rewrite the inaccuracies of the Wiki page o MIJ drums.
Then we will write the most definitive Star/TAMA vintage drums, pre-78. I want to include only the earliest years of TAMA, focusing mainly on Star and the transition years.
Anyway, I was told you are pitching a BBQ this weekend in honor of those of that are delving in to this endeavor...I like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale or the new Torpedo Ale and either rabbit or squirrel, grilled or fried....
