Hello,

Here's the latest to enter the collection:

1930s WFL 7x14 (nob) Imperial Lug Twin Strainer Model

I got this one from a private party a few weeks before the 2009 Chicago Show.

At first I thought that I had gotten ripped off but it turns out that I learned something new while cleaning this drum. It seems that the WFL Drum Co. chose to alter the beads (inside and outside) on their metal shells rather than "notch out" the single or twin strainers in order to make the them fit onto the beaded shell. So I take this drum apart and see the altered bead on the outside and inside, I immediately got out my 1930s nob All-American Swing Model and my 1930s 7x14 WFL cob Twin Strainer Model and voila, the same shell/bead alterations are on both of those too! I never really paid attention to this detail before as there were no extra holes or any other anomolies on these drums so this was a pleasant new discovery for me...The photos say it all.

The nob shell was in great shape and needed only a basic cleaning and polishing. The badge is one of the earliest WFL lyre badges with "Wm F. Ludwig Drum Company" at the bottom of the badge.

The hardware was also in great shape (except for the Imperial lugs) but everything cleaned and polished up nicely.

So how many of you out there already knew of this bead/shell alteration?

Enjoy.

Mike Curotto