I've done the scratch test on 5 or 6 Supras over the years. As Kev said, you have to file a bit more than 'a little' as you might just reach the copper plate and conclude it's brass. If the shavings start to add up as a gold color, it's not aluminum Ludaloy, but a copper containing alloy-either brass or bronze.

There was a guy on DFO that had an early 60s steel (or at least a pretty significant amount of 'ferrous-ness') Supra.

A very strong speaker magnet, or better, not a refrigerator sheet magnet, will tell you of any Iron in the shell.

As you can See in the Photo, the tiny Magnet is very Strong, and stays on the Shell but very slightly. The bigger Magnet Sticks only on the hoop and is weaker. I also have a brass starphonic, here the magnets do exactly the Same.

If i would go for Sound, steel is the One that is the opposite Sound, this drum is waaaay woodier.

Maybe the bigger magnet can`t hold it`s weight.

Do you see a difference in the fasteners and washers on the Brass and Chromed ?

alright i will check this at home

so the first photo Shows i think the Copyright logo behind the strainer?

i was first shocked and thought it is a B DOH, haha

the second photo Shows one Tension rod, and i found out, that all the washers on the rods do not stick to both magnets, and they are a Little bit darker than the rod colour.

the third photo Shows the inner Shell, and this is interesting, here everything sticks to both magnet, washers, fasteners, ...

Not sure what the point of the magnet would be? These shells are either Aluminum or Brass/bronze, neither of which is magnetic. If a magnet were to stick solidly then it would be due to having an iron or steel shell which is unlikely (although there may have been some steel shelled Supras made). If the magnet sticks a little that might indicate that the alloy used may contain some iron in it but doesn't establish whether the base material for the shell is aluminum or brass. As far as those washers they are typically steel which would stick but they are also a part that is easy to lose so someone may have replaced some made from another metal. No way to really know if they are original or not. The bolts and washers holding the lugs on are steel and generally don't get lost or replaced but aren't particularly relevant to the sound or the drum or the shell material. Hoops have been steel since roughly 1965 so magnets always stick to them. The lugs are primarily zinc in content but again are usually an alloy of some sort and possibly could contain some iron.

Bottom line though is that if you have a Supra made after 1963 it's about 99% likely that it has an aluminum (Ludalloy) shell. Of course they have brought brass back as a shell choice for the Supra in the past couple of decades but those are clearly identified as such.

a friend of mine is professional Drummer, he will check the snare also and we will do the "ear test" ;-).

he is also Ludwig fanatic and has several hammered bronze, bb´s and 400/402s in his Arsenal.

we will test different heads, hoops, wires. so we can do some A/B tests.

i will Keep you guys updated!

i will send you the acro weights if i have enough time ;-), i have not forgotten

For zenstat:

Weights components Acrolite 1976:

1 bowtie lug 55g

Strainer 12 hole 121g

Muffer only 31g

Knob only 26g

1 tension Rod 9g

Bare Shell only 760g

Coffee Break2