Well, I read his ad's... I think it's kind of obvious. As a youngster, when he came into contact with the 'Social Graces'... he ate them.

The more I look at Drouyn , the better I like them. They seem to have made available a lot of options for fine tuning and flexibility. I don't think I've ever seen a drum with 2 adjustable strap mufflers( pratt mufflers), which certainly elevates them as a potential bass drum overachiever. Probably, if any were around in Canada, they would become my new favourite drum company. Terrific logo too.

I know! I think , I'll pass my comments along to the seller, to his ultimate delight and maybe throw in some insight about the Sally Ann as well. I wonder if he knew for instance, the history of their uniforms? or the names of any of the most famous Salvation Army sousaphone players, or did he know that there was an impromptu sousaphone/ motorcycle throttle rev, concert on the street at the Toronto Pride dykes on bikes parade, a week ago, or......

calfskin: When you post your comments to this fount of information, please let him know that I drained and re-filled my pool last spring... just in case he needs to know.

"or did he know that there was an impromptu sousaphone/ motorcycle throttle rev, concert on the street at the Toronto Pride dykes on bikes parade, a week ago, or......"

I am now including Canada in my next trip for sure...

Cheers Falling Do

How I enjoyed those replies! Thanks for your indulgence.

I did email him saying I feel the 20" kick was made in '58 owing to the mufflers and serial. He replied to the effect that I know nothing; he knows everything about Drouyn; is privy to this and that; has owned "100 Drouyn drum kits" and all would be told in a book due "next winter"

I can't understand the reluctance of some people to accept that any drum company that went to the trouble of (mostly) hand writing separate serial numbers inside their drums in the post war era, would not have included the year in one of them. Why not include it in the job lot?

http://www.troutsounds.com/home/drums/drouyn/drouyn-image/

I collect mostly snares (3 kits, though) and I've always wanted a Drouyn snare. If anyone sees one show up, please let me know. I agree with calfskin that they look like very well-made drums.

Very interesting thread (the drums, not the eBay seller!) :)

I followed your link and looked at your drouyn pics and am very impressed.

I see our "sister-site" (VDG) has dandy-drouyn listed under the "vintage drums-non usa" section but with no link... maybe you could provide copies of catalog pages and/or more info? Just kinda thinking out-loud I guess...

Bill

I will keep an eye out for you. The wood snares go for good money. Perhaps even around $500 - $600. I know Chris Whitten (drummer who now lives in Australia, played with Paul McCartney and Dire Straights) says his 6 lug Dandy snare was voted the pick of a recent drum sample DVD he recorded with an armory of good drums.

The S100 alloy shell (Supra copy) is one heck of a drum. I actually prefer it to my Supra (don't tell the Luddites!) They come up for very reasonable prices occasionally - mostly because the chrome is often gone. Drouyn made drums for many years - mystery where they all went. Must be up in Queensland, under beds.

Bill, I contacted the curator of the web site asking if they wanted to link my site from the page (as a temporary measure really) and they declined. I wouldn't mind contributing something to the site either but it seemed like that was not wanted. Seems a shame that there is nothing there at all about these quite rare and very well made drums. The workmanship is just superb really. Anyway, I'm a bit of a trouble maker, so I might be on probation ;-)

I know Chris from other forums (mostly gearslutz). He's the one who got me into collecting drums in the first place. He's a great guy and been very kind to me; and he knows tons about drums and recording them. He played on a favorite record of mine - St. Julian by Julian Cope. He played on lots of great records in the '80s. I'll have to ask him about the Drouyn drum he used. I assume it was for one of his Toontrack sample products.

It would be very kind of you to look out for one for me. I'm old enough to remember the Easybeats, and that guy played a Drouyn kit. I would love to have a snare, the older and bigger the better, but the Supra copy sounds like it would be pretty cool. I found a guy who was willing to trade a damaged D-and-Dy drum for one of my newer Premiers, but I lost touch with him. Just as well; his drum was in pretty bad shape.

Thanks so much.