Since my honesty has been questioned here, I have been researching the tom toms I have that I listed as Bonham. On Monday I will try and contact Ludwig, but there is some information now. Thanks to Ludwig-dude who has helped clarify the situation with my tom-toms:
Bonham did play stainless steel drums, but the sizes were: 12x15, 16x16, 16x18, and 14x26. The size drums you have are not "Bonham" drums per se. They 16x16 is a size that he used, but the 8x12 is not. They are probaby from a "Big Beat" set, which would have been 8x12, 9x13, 16x16, and 14x22. Also, they are not covered in a chrome steel wrap, the drums are actual stainless steel all the way through, as are the reissue drums. Hope this helps clear some things up....
Thanks Ludwig-dude for being of help! My dilema now is how to sell these. If my 16X16 stainless steel drum is the exact same drum as the 16X16 on the Bonham sets, it was just a decison someone at the Ludwig plant made that made this 16X16 end up in the other set. If I sell this, I will explain that to the buyer; however, if someone buys this and wants to sell it, do you think they will say "16X16 stainless steel Ludwig floor tomtom from he late 70's, exactly like the 16X16's from the Bonham set, but probably frim a Big Beat set." I doubt it.
Would anyone disagree that the 16X16 I have is probably worth the same as one that came from a Bonham set? If not, I am interested in hearing from any sane individuals here who have more to offer than biased opinions.