A better way to date Ludwigs is to use the date stamp, or the serial numbers (plus other factors) then straight up shell construction most of the time.

Anyway I'll give you a little insight on 3 ply molds. Up until about 1960, 3 ply shells always consisted of mahogony poplar mahogony, unless the outside finish was a lacquer, then it would be maple because maple is a much less porous wood and allowed a much smoother surface. After that point they started using maple as interiors as well as mahogony. The maple was usually just raw maple, no lacquer or any type of finishing. In 1962 they started using their famous resa-cote on the interiors until 1968. Between that time frame, the interior plies varied between maple and mahogany, despite advertising as mahogany. It all depended on what was in stock that day at the factory, because as we all know, Ludwig was quite hectic with orders after that wacky beetle went on the Ed Sullivan Show.

The mahogany wood itself stopped around late 1968, although still can be seen on drums after to use up stock. They switched to a maple configuration with clear lacquer interior.

We're gonna need more information on your drums however if we want to correctly date it, because it can be through a number of years.

what kind of badge?

any date stamps?

serial numbers?

white or clear interior?

I have 3 ply Ludwigs from 1968 that are (inner to outer) Maple-Poplar-Maple, and I have 3 ply Ludwigs from around 1974 that are Maple-Poplar-Mahogany. Even though they switched to maple interiors around '68, they continued to occasionally use mahogany on the outer ply for the rest of the 3 ply era.

Thanks guys,

No badges, no date stamps & no serial #

The insides of the shells have been sanded, but I can see traces of white.

The bass drum has various filled holes. I'm hoping that someone will recognise the hole patterns as being original.

I don't know which way is up with the bass drum!

I know it's worth nothing and it will never be original, but it's heart breaking to see a work of art be destroyed.

So I'm restoring this kit to it's former glory.

Thanks for your help.

This post and another recent post got me thinking about an article about the interior of shells and the correct paint to match them with for restoration. Also, the ply configuration and shell history. (Rob Cooks books is a great resource also).

So here is a sample page I just started and as I fill in the blanks and discuss this with a paint expert on this forum, then I will add the info.

I'm going to also put this in the Web Site Update section for people to add comments to and help me along.

Thanks

David

Hmmm...the first and third pics look like they are drilled for Rogers Swivomatic mounts - are you sure these are Ludwig?

Thanks,

The shell had Ludwig lugs attached. They fit perfectly in the holes.

That's the only reason I'm assuming it's a Ludwig.

Thanks heaps for your post.

I've done some research (not a vintage guru) and there was definitely Rogers hardware attached to this drum. Also the Ludwig lugs don't fit perfectly as I said previously, they're a little "snug"

In the 2nd pic you can see 2 possible spur bracket hole patterns and another in the centre/top of the pic.

The hole patterns in the 3rd & 4th pic I can't identify.

Is that not the gray interior paint found Rogers shells on those shells in the picture? Or is that paint speckled grey like Ludwig had in the 70s?

Neither.

It's primer. The shell had a 2" hole burnt in it from the fire that almost consumed it.

I cut a 3x3 section of the shell away and repaired it with fibreglass. Looking at it now you'd never know there was a hole in it.

It'll never be a player or a collectable, but I'd still like my restoration to be an accurate one.

Thanks for your interest.