All: As I go through restoration, I have some corrosion on the rims. As I looked at different sets, the rims appear to be very standardized. For instance my mid 90's Sonor kit rims look the same as my '67 Mod Orange. Am I seeing something, or is this typical. I only ask as I go through restoration if I need to replace a rim, should I drive my self nuts trying to find an orignal. Thanks Again for all help. Hope to contribute in the future.
While the triple-flange hoop used on our vintage drums by companies such as Camco, Ludwig and Rogers may look the same, there are, in fact, subtle differences to each one. One difference is in how the ear was formed. The "ear" is the part where the tension rod passes through the hoop to get to the lug. While it can be a subtle difference, those of us familiar with the details of each companies hoops can see/tell the difference. If your 90's Sonor hoops/rims look just like those on your '67 Ludwig kit, then either you may not notice the difference or, possibly, the hoops have been changed. Another tell-tale sign is the thickness of the hoop. Most of the hoops of the 60's and 70's were only 1.6mm thick, while today's standard (and possibly from the 80's on) use much thicker hoops. Your Ludwig kit should be using the thinner 1.6mm hoop.
As for myself, I do try to find original hoops for my restoration, but, that can start costing allot of $$$!!! Let your heart and pocketbook dictate how much you are willing to spend to bring your kit back to what it was when it left the factory. Yes, I like everything to be as it was designed, but I do end up spending too much $$$ to achieve that! But, that's me!
Good luck... and keep us informed on your Mod Orange restoration!
Mark