Thanks! I have to agree on the "Instant Expert" comment. In fact I find that very true.

The thing about the expert history is that once you share it, most people use the information as their own or do not really give the credit where credit is due.

This has taken me years to get over and understand that is the way it is with everything.

Every time I post an article for DrCJW an expert on Slingerland it seams to filter around the Internet.

The good thing about that is he does not give all of his information out, just enough to clear up some things and keep people coming back for more.

What I can say is that the people that know the business and the vintage community know who the experts truly are and where the information came from. It is all very good in the end and worthy of more research and hopefully in the end more cymbals in your collection.

We will appreciate your work and make sure it is properly credited and featured in the best way.

David

Admin

[COLOR="DarkRed"]Here, here ! It is probably something as simple and misguided as certain selelrs noticing that "trans-stamps" seem to fetch significantly higher prices than, say, a '60's A...so they figure 'well, it's real old so it could be a trans-stamp'.

Incidentally, a bona-fide one is really an excellent, excellent cymbal. In some ways, arguably as good as an old K.[/COLOR]

No offense meant, but that's a pretty bold statement as to you being the only one to be qualified.....

Well it may sound bold to some, but it's true. At this point most vintage cymbal enthusiasts know how to recognize a trans stamp from the other eras. But I have not yet released the details of how to separate out each of the 4 distinct types of trans stamps from one another as of yet. So in fact I'm currently the only one in the world who knows the difference.

Hence the boldness of my claim.

Pretty bold, the proof is in the pudding as they say, I'm waiting with baited breath......While I'm waiting, maybe you can offer some of your expertise as to this cymbal stamp:

[IMG]http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii279/backbeatkeeper/zildjianstamp.jpg[/IMG]

[COLOR="DarkGreen"]Ooooh, ooooh !

3 dots below the "U"...that's a late '30's-early 40's, I think.[/COLOR]

That's a rare one. It's called an Early 1930's type II. That's only the 2nd trademark they used since they started in making them here in 1929.

I have a 16" with that trademark. Just curious:

What size is it?

Also there's something in there that I probably shouldn't even mention but I'll do it will anyway. They're called artisan mark identifiers which show who worked on the cymbal. Mine has EXACTLY the same ones as yours does. But please don't ask me to go into any more detail on that subject for now. I want it to be a surprise for a later time when I reveal everything that I know about these things and everything else that goes along with it.

I saved your photo for my archives as a reference.

It measures across the top at 18 inches, measuring the bottom flat, approx. 17 3/4 inches. As you can see from the earlier picture, it has rivet holes. Actually quite a bunch, but all symmetrical. There's 8 rivet holes approx. 1 1/2 to inches from the edge, then 8 more about 2 to 3 inches from those. The inner ones are in the center of the outer ones space wise. A couple of the holes it looks like the drill bit wandered. On one of the holes, it's about 3/8 to 1/2 and grooved in the cymbal. The weight is 1960 grams and the topside patina is a brownish red, while the bottom side is a bit more natural.

You can tell it's been hand hammered, very slight keyholing. I've had it for years, just sitting in a trap case. I've thought about sending it to a cymbalsmith for some rework, but the originality of it and age stop me every time. As with anything I own, it's always for sell for the right price, but it is a very dry ride. I don't know if it's because of the patina on the top or just the type of cymbal and weight, or the combination of the both

You did the right thing by deciding not to mess with the originality of such a rare piece.

That would be an orphaned marching band/symphonic cymbal that lost its mate somewhere along the line.