Great kit!

Yes, it does seem odd that that snare should come with the kit. It features a

flo-beam mechanism, more commonly found on Premier 2000's and 2001's - lines which I'm sure had been discontinued by the 1990's. The plinth badges are a 1990's thing too as far as I'm aware, so it's odd to see a 1990's flo-beam drum. You may have one of the last flo-beam drums ever-made!

Premier 2000 line (developed in the 1980's), Flo-beam system, Die-Cast hoops. http://www.realscenes.com/drumarchive/premiercatalogues/snares/snaredrums.zip

It's similar to the infamous Black Shadow snare. Use a thicker batter head (Emperor or similar)

New wires, if you need them are available from Baskey Vintage.

http://www.baskeyvintage.com/products_snare.html

I have 2 of them, they're killer snares.

Any idea why this drum didn't come with an internal damper? Is that something common with these snares?

It was option on various models of the 2000. It's nice to have but, on this snare you won't need it. Play it wide open with a thicker head, you'll love it.