Plus two further pics:

[IMG]http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee346/PaisteStar/Star04_zpsde1d44bc.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee346/PaisteStar/Star05_zps32902afc.jpg[/IMG]

According to the "drum guide" it would be older than 1961,which is prehistoric in MIJ !The clamp style spurs and cymbal arm,along with the white hoops are unique...

Nice old drum!

I've read where the Hoshino family in Nagoya Japan exported Star drums in the Mid-50's from their bookstore. That's the earliest I've heard of any Star drums. Maybe you could contact Tama and see if they have a record of when a drum like yours was made.

@Kona: good idea. But no chance. I've contacted Tama before concerning more history datas about their Star era, but unfortunately there is either no information available or they are not willing to open their files due to companies secret files ...

In the meantime I found out through a German source, that this bass drum was made by the German manufacturer Rimmel.

Right on today I was able to directly compare a bass drum lug of my DrumMate (= Star made) with one of the Rimmel's and I found very slight difference in the overall shape.

Conclusion: this bass drum is NOT made by Star, but by Rimmel. Just for the files.

Ralf

Big yes, Ralf !

The muffler identical to earlier Trowa says us that is a german made, and Rimmel really is most probably -- during a long time he was a largest manufacturer of some unified mechanic and diecast parts for all west and east drumbuilders.

Cheers,

George.

Hi George, how have you been? We're great here in Cali...

Ralf; interesting information from both you and George. I would have sworn that was an early MIJ drum, even with the odd (for MIJ) hardware. Makes me wonder who was copying who in the low priced drum kits. So now, with this new information, do you still date that bass drum late fifties / early sixties?

Hi Craig !

Thnx, I'm fine! But in recent months no minute to take in hands screwdriver, rasp or sandpaper and touch the drums which waiting me... :)

Cheers,

George.

Finally I've settled this little project: a single Rimmel bass drum in a fantastic red sparkle (the pics do not justice it).

I've added the front part of a tom damper to make the old genuine one complete again.

Ralf

Karl Rimmel began producing drums under his name in 1955 and for a while ---maybe 6 years both Rimmel and his partnered Deri drums were both coming out of the same factory. This drum carries some components , that would normally be associated with Deri, so it is likely from that overlap period. An early 60's Rimmel kit, recently offered on ebay.de was fitted with the more common tapered ,squarish ribbed lugs( similar to 4th generation Tromsa and Sonor Swinger) as well as these Slingerlandesque sluglugs, on the rack toms. The overall effect was that although the kits wrap was consistent, it looked like a Rimmel/Japanese hybrid kit and the last time I looked there were no offers. The kit was actually a really good buy.

These sluglugs may have been the first lugs produced for the earliest Rimmel drums, between 1955 and approximately 1960.