Posting pictures would help immensely. What do the lugs look like? Are they they the box lugs, or perhaps the earlier 4-screw Indianapolis lugs? Maybe you have the 16 art deco lugs....hmmm.

Sounds like the finish may be green marine pearl, which is extremely rare!

So here are some pics of the drum. I'll send one more of the tensioner and the filled holes.

Last bunch of pics...

1st, put that cool Leedy top hoop back on...looks AND sounds better!

That's a circa 1930 Leedy Broadway in Jade Green pearl, a very hard to find finish. It's a shame about the replaced throw off...the original would have been a 4 pt. Speedway. I know of another drum in that finish and model that also had its strainer replaced with a Ludwig...

Does the drum have a wooden grommet?

Although the "box" lug Leedys are associated with Elkhart, some have turned up with Indianapolis stamped hoops...another Leedy nut and myself have surmised that these probably occurred right around the switch from Indy to Elkhart.

Indianapolis shells had wooden grommets, but no badges.

If you're going to sell the drum, let me know.

Rich

Hi Rich,

Thanks for the info. The wood grommet is the little round thingie that sits in the sound hole? the one on mine is black. Ya, I'm considering selling it as the drum is just sitting here not being enjoyed, and I'm more of a guitar collector and player. I used this drum when I was drumming for a few acts and for some of my own recordings, but I don't so it justice.Seems a shame.

I'll have to do some research to see what it's worth.

Thanks again

Ron

Rich, are you sure that Jade pearl? I think there's a difference between Leedys Jade Pearl and the Green Marine Pearl. It looks like Green Pearl to my eyes. Please set me straight if I'm mistaken!

Anyway, I completely agree with Rich about this being a transitional drum. It looks in every way to be an Elkhart era, except for the lack of a badge, which was standard in the Indianapolis era.

It's really too bad that the throw-off has been replaced. It's too late now though. If someone really wanted to bring this drum back Adrian of AK drums would have to make a replacement 4-hole Speedway strainer for it, which would be quite expensive but worth it for this one.

Yes, you're correct about the name...the jade green is a different darker finish...you can see a picture of my jade green drum in the "other collections" section on this web site.

I checked my early '30s Leedy and Ludwig & Ludwig (same factory at this time) catalogs and didn't see the green pearl in question. Slingerland called it "sea green". I don't have all the Leedy catalogs, but I'd guess that the jade green was no longer available and the pearl supplier had this sea green instead. Just a guess.

AK in Italy does nice work...but it's costly. The price of a Ludwig "timepiece" throw-off is $200. Not unfair, but pricey.

Now, of course, the drum could be sold to someone who happens to have a 4 pt. speedway sitting in his parts drawer...