Interesting the inside is gloss black. At first glance it looked flat black to me too. I knew black was the correct color for inside the older W&A shells. So didn't think much about it. 6 ply maple shell is a surprise!! Looking through the hazy slunk reso side head it looked like a 3 ply with re-ring.

Me too! Looking through the snare head it looked dull black and like it had rerings... optical illusion! I didn'tknow about the black paint on older W&A shells. That's how little I know about them. If anybody has any information on these drums, please post to this thread. I'm trying to learn as much as I can about them.

Jeff - Here are some before and after photos of the snare shell. see below

John

Wow the Novus really made the shell look nice. Hardware looks great too! If you don't get much W&A info here Harry Canagy is on facebook. He might be a good source to help you with dating and info on those. Even though the snare badge looks 50's the tacked bottom heads on the toms and that red felt muffler (muffler might be a clue?) screams earlier? I think 30's for sure especially with those wrap around tom mounts on the shells. Which are pretty cool BTW!! Yes I read here or DFO the early W&A shells were painted black inside. Not sure when that stopped? Maybe Mark Cooper or Mike C will chime in? But do try Harry C as well. The history mystery continues!! :) I think this is a first for many of us seeing these! That blue marine pearl sure is pretty sweet looking too! That itself has to be pretty rare. Like Mark Coopers Sea Green Pearl stuff.

Lookin good John

I'm using the dremel with a plastic brush attachment to knock the corrosion off of the hoops. It's real slow and tedious work, but it's producing results. It's going to take longer to refurbish the hoops than anything else on the drum.

Yeah, I was hoping the W&A guy, or Mike C, or someone would chime in here. Any information they could offer would be more than we have now. I'd really just like to establish a ball-park date for year(s) of manufacture of this particular model.

My money is on, sometime in the 30's.

John

I'm sure with the Holiday weekend coming to a wrap you'll get more eyes on this thread soon. It's been a little slow lately.

Gus emailed me today, he mentioned that he spoke to you. I invited him to follow along with the thread. Maybe he'll have a little history to add to the unfolding story of the kit.

John

looking great so far. thanks for the before and after pic.

mike

Yes we did! Would be cool if he can comment on some history for the story! Very nice guy.

Wrap sure came up well... like that a lot... great project.

Cheers

John