Hi everyone!
I recently received a first generation, 1965, Slingerland Gene Krupa Sound King snare drum. These are characterized by the smooth shell, rather than having the three (3) etched lines around the middle of the shell that we are all used to seeing. I recognized that this drum was very clean and all original, except for the heads and snare wires. I could tell from some of the pictures that the original rubber washer between the strainer knob and "tombstone" body was missing, due to disintegration over the decades!
First order of business was to take the drum completely apart for inspection and cleaning/detailing. I'll comment on all this in a future post!
While cleaning the Zoomatic, the knob just popped off! Bummer! Turned out to be a blessing in disguise, allowing me to completely take apart the strainer for a good cleaning. Soaking in Dawn really did remove dirt and old grease!
The splines on the shaft and inside the knob are in excellent condition! My plan is to reattach the knob with JB Weld "kwikweld" and cross my fingers! You'll notice in the pictures a small black washer, just above the two original compression washers. That's a perfect size fiber washer that will be installed on the shaft between the knob and "tombstone" casting to eliminate play and make the use of a spring between the shell and the Zoomatic unecessary! I'll report back on how this repair turns out!
-Mark
