The original pig skins were larger by a few inches, so there was room to grab & stretch before tacking. Then they were then cut off evenly all around. Your situation is that you don't have much to grab & stretch. It would be quite a challenge, but you may be able to do it. If you soak the head(much of the paint may shed away), you could tack about 3 or 4" on one side, then pull the opposite side tight, & tack 3-4". Repeat that process for the remaining opposite sides. Finally tack down the rest of the areas between. Cut evenly all around ( & repaint ). There's a slim chance this will work, & a good chance it will look a bit funky ! ! Please keep us posted, I have some tack bottom Ludwig & Ludwigs, Leedys, & Gretschs that need the same work.

Your best bet, considering that the calfskin is almost 80 years old, would be to replace it with a new medium weight calfskin and then paint it to match. If the calfskin isn't maintained over the years with something to keep it pliable then it eventually starts to dry out and doesn't resonate as well. (The paint they used didn't help resonance either). Your other problem that you will mot likely face with this skin is that by just snugging it up a little bit after soaking it you will risk having the tacks pull through because the new holes and and old holes will be too close together. If you turn the head a bit then you will have the old tack holes showing but you may retain some of the strength of the original calfskin. As much fun as it is to try and keep the kit as original as possible, the bottom tacked heads were meant to be changed on occasion just like the top heads so don't be afraid to go the new skin route.

Good luck with the project.

I may be faced with the same problem soon on a Walburg and Auge kit I'm about to pic up.

Any suggestions on who could handle such a feat of replacing tacked on heads?

OK here's what I did. Fortunately whoever took the original tacks out

must have changed their mind as the original pig head was still in place on the rim just slack from no tacks. I found some brass tacks that matched the ones

on the other toms and then I put them on a piece of cardboard and painted them white. Then I wet the head from the inside only and pulled the skin as

tight as I could and retacked using the existing holes. Then I set the drum over a small 40 watt lamp for a couple hours and what do you know, it tightened up. I used a bare tack hammer to put them in so as to chip some of the paint off so they look pretty much like the others that have 70 years of chipping. Of course, I am way more into "Having" a set of Rolling Bombers than playing them, but they do have a HUGE sound that I hope to use in the studio for something. They do have the muffled sound of tacked heads but

they still have a nice warm ring to them. What is a shame is they are painted shells not pearl. Lot's of paint has worn or scratched off so I can never make them look perfect but what the hell, They're Mine! They look so cool my wife is letting me keep them in the living room. lol

Thanks for the info!!

I'm picking up the kit tonight and will be able to tell what needs to be done. The kit has 2 toms and both bottom heads appear to be ok. If they are bad (aka, crusty and buzzy when played.. I might go concert tom style. They can always be re-skinned if/when needed.

I plan to play and enjoy these drums. I think the drums have been repainted and one of the original batter side tom (wood) hoops is not original (replaced with a metal hoop). Perfect excuses to make it a player. :) But no worries... I won't go drilling holes the toms or bass drum.

I'll attach pics once I get it. Thanks again for the info!

O.. I forgot to ask. What is the recommend way to clean and revive the bottom heads?

Is mink oil good for them?

This is the kit.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=200702663984

Very cool kit - I like it.

Here is my whole Bomber kit.