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Cleaning a NOB 1920s Ludwig Snare

Posts: 1725 Threads: 135

From Powertone

I would like to respectfully offer a different opinion. I don't go for trying to polish these great drums up to try to look like new. They are after all, a vintage piece and I personally like to see some patina and signs of aging as opposed to seeing how shiny I can make the nickel. I know it is very tempting as nickel is so soft and it is easy to make them nice and shiny.No matter what you use to polish nickel, you are removing some of the nickel land the nickel plating on those shells is very thin. Yes, even the cape cod cloth. (I have actually used a cape cod cloth to remove swirls and light scratches from stainless steel, which is much harder than fragile nickel.)If the drum is pretty nice to start with, a good gentle cleaning should suffice. Remember, once you polish, you can't put the original finish back.I always find it interesting that with any other vintage or antique item, once you polish off the patina you destroy the value.Just my 2 cents worth and you are free to disagree. I have seen too many of these great drums over polished and trying to make a 80-90 year old drum look new.

Thanks Powertone, I understand what you're saying. I have polished it but but I don't think I've over polished it. Certainly the plating is fine.

I have also found that two of the tube lugs have come apart at one end. The balls are not cracked but they'll need to be reattached somehow. If anyone has done this before i'd be keen to know how best to tackle it.

Andrew

Golden Curtain
www.myspace.com/garagelandnz
Posted on 9 years ago
#11
Posts: 284 Threads: 66

I always find it interesting that with any other vintage or antique item, once you polish off the patina you destroy the value.

This is an interesting point. Are you talking about destroying it's historic 'value' or it's monetary 'worth'?

"If 'A' equals 'success' in life then 'A' equals 'X' plus 'Y' plus 'Z' where work equals 'X', 'Y' is play and 'Z' is keeping your mouth shut" - Albert Einstein.


1920s 14"x5" Ludwig Super Sensitive Dual Snare
1957 6 1/2" x15" Slingerland WMP Concert King
1938 8"x15" Leedy Broadway Standard
1947-53 14x6.5" NOB Ludwig & Ludwig Universal
...plus a bunch of mismatched Slingerlands that collectively make a pleasing noise.
Posted on 9 years ago
#12
Posts: 1725 Threads: 135

Well here it is after a clean up. It has one repro lug fitted at the moment and one tension rod is a replacement and one clip is a period correct replacement (thanks Supraphonic). I'm going to see if I can repair the original lug as well. I just wiped the shell down and then hand polished using Autosol. I would've used cape cod cloths but I'm still waiting for my order to arrive. I'm happy with the results though and it's not too shiny.

Andrew

Golden Curtain
www.myspace.com/garagelandnz
Posted on 9 years ago
#13
Posts: 6170 Threads: 255

Great job Andrew. Looks very nice. If you're going to be giving it anything more than minimal tension, be very careful with the original clips. Doesn't take much to break them right where they bend across the hoop. I use modern replacements on my teens-'20s Ludwig snares.

Is that thing nickel or chrome? Looks a lot like chrome.

Mike

Posted on 9 years ago
#14
Posts: 323 Threads: 42

That looks great. I cleaned my 5x14 NOB to a nice shine as well. It's never going to look new so I didn't worry about cleaning it up. Still got the mojo. Enjoy playing it.

Posted on 9 years ago
#15
Posts: 1725 Threads: 135

thanks Mike, that's a good idea. They've survived this long so best to preserve them. It is nickel although it does look a bit like chrome in the photos

Andrew

Golden Curtain
www.myspace.com/garagelandnz
Posted on 9 years ago
#16
Posts: 1725 Threads: 135

From Agopsalott

That looks great. I cleaned my 5x14 NOB to a nice shine as well. It's never going to look new so I didn't worry about cleaning it up. Still got the mojo. Enjoy playing it.

Thanks. Yeah, I didn't want it to look new but there wasn't really any danger of that happening anyway. It's a good solid example that shows some age but will play well

Andrew

Golden Curtain
www.myspace.com/garagelandnz
Posted on 9 years ago
#17
Posts: 6170 Threads: 255

From Fayray

thanks Mike, that's a good idea. They've survived this long so best to preserve them. It is nickel although it does look a bit like chrome in the photos

I learned the hard way on my first one. I knew to be careful with them. But they can be real fragile. Funny thing is that some of the late teen's models had steel clips. They work fine. You can buy the replacement is several different forms. They do have them in nickel finish made from brass. They are made differently than the old ones and hold up nicely. Of course, I've done the triple flange hoop thing too. But I just like the original stuff when possible.

Mike

Posted on 9 years ago
#18
Posts: 6170 Threads: 255

I've only got one of the 4x14 models. Mine is a 6 lug model and just a bit older than yours. You may recall the tedious restoration I did on it. It was fun though!

Mike

Posted on 9 years ago
#19
Posts: 323 Threads: 42

Wow...you rescued that one from the land fill. Nice going.

Posted on 9 years ago
#20
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