Mike -- good of you, appreciate it.

Each one of these teaches something new. I am now very partial to the WFL SKs, and am really intrigued with the Swivomatics.

That's what brought up the sticker thing to begin with - I saw one on a Rogers hi hat... didn't know if it was correct, but it polished it off!

I'm starting to use the catalogs at the "vintage drum guide" partner site to learn the details.

>I'm starting to use the catalogs at the "vintage drum guide" partner site to learn the details.

It's all the same website. From what I've been told, the forum part (the part we all use everyday,) was intended (originally) to be a place where people could log in and ask vintage drum related questions and get answers. We turned the place into a Social Club, but it was really meant to be a way to get info and have your questions answered. Bless Dave's heart for allowing us to use the forum the way we do and for giving the kiddies someplace safe for us to play.

I love this forum.

John

Well John!...

.. you have hit the nail SQUARELY on the head!! That is exactly correct! The ORIGINAL CONCEPT was for the VDF to be a research/learning tool, not a "social club"... which is what is has turned into for the most part. David and I talk about this/that all the time. He/we are not convinced that this is the way it should be... a "social club" I mean. However... things are staying put and as they are for the time being.. BUT! .. it is entirely conceivable that we will eventually correct the listing on the good ship VDF, and return it to it's original conception. Until then though... carry on!!

Tommyp

Tommyp -- interesting. For me, the forum is for research and learning. It's a source of expertise for arcane information.

I'm like the guy who may run into friends when he goes to the library, which is different from a guy who goes to see his friends who get together at the library.

bfulton!...

Interesting response actually.. and .. allow me to flesh out my comments a bit as I now have a little more time to do so! But before that... arcane information? I had to laugh!, and I mean that in a nice way of course! The information shared here between, by, and for the members, well... I never would have considered it... arcane. Oh sure, there is going to be the "odd bit" here and there that one might find mysterious.. secret.. obscure, etc... but for the most part no, as today, it's so much easier to FIND the answers what with the internet and the incredible search engines at all of our disposal. Still...

I have been here from the start with David, and I know what he thought/intended this forum to be: The free sharing of information specifically having to do with vintage drums and/or their history, etc. What he did NOT want, was the whole "social aspect" that one can easily find on so many other drum forums, ie:

What size sticks do you play?

Do you play heel down or heel up?

Check out my band's NEW video!

My lead singer is a DIVA and driving me nuts! What would you do? etc.........

You get the idea I'm sure. So... we have always aspired to keep the focus on Vintage Drums, and of course the social aspect that goes along with those type discussions! That's why there can be DELETED posts/pics from time to time as we are just trying to keep our little vintage drum community in a tidy order! To that end: I would have to say.. ( with zero attempt at being biased ) .. that the admin/mod of the VDF ( Dave and Tommyp ) really DO let the membership have a pretty free reign! We appreciate ALL you guys, and especially the one's that CONTRIBUTE to the VDF's growth and knowledge base. So!...

Hopefully that wasn't too boring a read, and maybe the membership might have a NEW understanding as to what we are after here! Regardless, it's mostly ALL GOOD!, and if it weren't, well... the VDF would have been put out to pasture long ago. BEST!

Tommyp

Tommyp -- okay, so "arcane" may have been a bit strong!!

I've found, though, in car restorations, that catalogs and pictures like this are invaluable in trying to do an authentic or 'correct' rebuild of something.

On the other hand, well, yeah, I guess when one is obsessive about the type of wing bolt, whether it's polished or chrome, etc etc ...that kind of info can be said to be arcane!

I surely do appreciate what you've done. Any way I can add support to your efforts, let me know...

Interesting question. You would assume so, since he's making money off of them. Or, could it be that the patent ran out on them? You would think Ludwig would want a cut of his loot, and I'm sure they (and other drum/cymbal companies) have a designated internet "scourer" to find people who are unauthorized to make the repros.

Case in point, The Cymbal House is local here in the Cincy area (the guy who owns it is from Turkey and does a lot of online/ebay sales. He carries Bosphorus, Istanbul and his own brand). His brand that is made for him in Turkey was originally called "Zilzan", which means "Cymbal Player" in Turkish. Zildjian sent him a nasty "cease and desist" letter not long afterwards. He changed the name to Xilxo (pronounced zeek-zo) because it was easy to just change the logo by putting another line through the Z's (making them Roman Numeral Style X's) and covering up the "an" with a filled in circle "O".

Point is, Cincinnati is a long way form Norwell, MA. I'm sure Zildjian's "Internet Spy" caught him.

Interesting question, indeed.