Here's some answers as far as I can give them.

1) Yes, you could get 6 ply without re-rings near the end of the teardrop era. All teardrop drums are beech shells. This would be a late 60's era drum (post 1966). This was also the time that they had the "Made in Western Germany" drums.

2) The proper bearing edge is round-over for this era drum.

3) The kits did not come with a natural wood finish but they were available later on with veneer, rosewood is one example. Most kits were ordered in wrap and many kits over the years have had the wrap removed. The beech underneath usually looks pretty good so you can stain/finish is with a nice result.

4) Claws/t-rod. Depends what Force series you are referring to. They may be an acceptable match. You can get used parts on www.stdrums.de Gerd Stegner specializes in old Sonor hardware so take a look. Otherwise, you can keep an eye out on the Bay.

5) Sorry about the tom mount. I think virgin kick would be nice. There is a separate thread here on hole filling which is great...

http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=6341

6) Tom arm diameter....not sure....sorry.

7) Rubber balls on feet were a common item to go missing. I have seen some re-pro feet somewhere, but I can't remember where. I'll see if I can find out.

Take a look inside the shells, there should be a 3 digit stamped number which indicates date of drum manufacture. It may be faded so take a careful look and you should find it. It may be different on each drum.

I would go to the "Sonor Museum" forum for dating. The stamp in the drums is kinda cryptic. The BD tom mount, if you can find one, is a good one. The only wood finish I have seen is rosewood and only 1970 and later.

These are great drums and I have seen some nice ones with the natural beech after stripping. See mine in the drum image gallery.(1970 Sonors) Good luck, they will be worth the effort.

atomic,

Thanks.. I've been using Sonormuseum to the fullest extent possible. Thanks!

Could you measure your tom arm diameter for me? I'm trying to figure out if there's anything I can sub to mount the tom until I can find an original arm. I'd really appreciate it!

I don't suppose you have any spare parts layin around do you?

No re-rings = 6-ply beech. This was the only wood shell offered. before that was crazy thin 3-ply beech with rings. I like the 6-ply better. The 3 ply are so fragile and the shells easily distort under load.

The ones I've had had a single 45 with maybe a 1mm countercut. Changes came fast in those times for Sonor though, so i don't doubt there are roundovers out there too.

Early 70s sharktooth drums came in rosewood veneer, but were wrapped otherwise. They are however quite handsome under the wraps. the beech is blonde and maybe a bit bland too, but it has a pleasant grain and they used good wood. http://www.canalplasticscenter.com/index2.shtml has some pretty convincing versions of the satin flame finishes (get the opaque backing) at prices well below the wrap sellers. You could do a 5-pc inthis stuff for under $100. Drum Supply house is a good bit more, but they also have some pretty good approximations available, and for bigger bucks they can do a custom wrap in any of a billion shades. Way cool.

Other than real Sonor parts, the late 60s/early 70s Star/Tama claws and t-rods are a close visual copy. The threads are probably different, but that's no biggie, just swap out the lug nuts.It is missing the front BD hoop, claws and t-rods.

I fill holes with fiberglass resin. It's easier and cleaner than dowels and if you want to, it drills out easily. (It's also great for re-sizing hogged-out holes.) Fill the holes and re-wrap. And no the originals aren't hard to find, but it's all ebay.

Tom arms are roughly 3/4".

Go for modern iso-feet like the Pearls. They open the bottom end up like magic. Incredibly effective like widget. Or get the vintage style, again, ebay.

That sonor set you have are great sounding drums..I have 2 sets myself one is a 3 ply with rings 20" bass--toms are 13" and 16" with a C.O.B shell snare these are great for playing jazz..My other is set 22" bass drum toms are 12" --13" 16" 6 ply beech wood shells no-rings great for good old r and r...By the way i have alot of vintage sonor 60s parts--tom mounts brackets for bass and tom---ete P.M. me if you like thanks mike

Sonor dating is not cryptic but very well documented. You need to identify/know the model which leads to the decade of manufacture and, yes, Sonormuseum has a nice page to identify your kit....and thus the decade.

From there it is easy. There is a 3 digit code stamped inside the shell sometimes accompanied by a quality inspector initials or signature. The first digit of the code is the year and the second two are the month of manufacture. Therefore, if you had a teardrop set with 506 as the code, it would be manufactured in June of 1965. Quite simple really.

Simple only if you know the key. I personally didn't have a clue until I was hipped up by Rev. Poindexter.

I also have the bass drum T-Rods but no claws..P.M. if you like mike