You can check out the full story on the kit at DF.
Again, thanks to Josh Fry for his help in getting this time machine to my collection.
These drums are in pristine original condition. As good as it gets. There is NO fade on any of the wrap. There is NO rust on any of the metal. ALL the original heads are on the drums and are all Ludwig calf heads except the batter on the tom which is a very early Remo Sound Master and the snare which is the original Ludwig Plastic Playon Heads. The shells are in round and bearing edges like new. The interior mahogany ply is gorgeous. All the drum hardware is nickel and it all has faded to an incredible patina that screams VINTAGE! All I have done to this kit is wipe it down with a soft microfiber cloth. There was a fine layer of dust on the drums that I wiped away to reveal such a deep dark red sparkle that I will not be doing anymore cleaning and no reason to touch with any chemicals. It's staying all original. It's too beautiful to mess with. Why not a 10 out of 10? One scratch on top of bass drum! Thee classic bottom of the tom rubbing on it. No biggie and you have to look to see it.
Included with the set was the following:
A full set of WFL era hardware with: WFL Speed King pedal in almost NOS condition. A WFL HH stand, an I've NEVER seen a Red tipped WFL snare stand?, 2 cowbells, the wood block, all the mounting hardware for the tom & accessories, the cymbal rod for the bass drum mount, a WFL bass drum muffler, the most ridicules red plaid throne, a full set (for the Porto Pak kit of 3 drums) of Joseph Rogers canvas bags, a full set of vintage hardshell fiber cases in excellent shape, a Ludwig drum key, and a vintage pair of Leedy & Ludwig 7A wood tip sticks!
The cymbals were a 20" ride, 16" crash and 14" hats. They were paper thin and from the same era as the drums. (See the pic of the cymbal badge stamps).
The Porto Pak Outfit has the WFL badges with the Damon Ave address on the bottom which indicates 1948-1952. The FT has the WFL badge with NO address indicating 1955(after L&L).
None of the drums have the red ink date stamp. Almost all my WFL drums are date stamped in red ink but are from the 56-59 era.
The Porto-Pak Outfit sizes are:
12x22 bass drum
8x12 tom
5.5x13 Classic Porto-Pak snare
16x16 Classic FT was ordered with set as this kit has spent it's lifetime together & this was to believed the original owner (who has passed, no family to ask. I tried).
If anyone has information or may have known Gerry R Menck please get in touch. The hardshell cases have airlines flight tags still on them & WCBS labels as well.
But this kit did no traveling. This kit sat. And sat. And sat. And out of the way of the harmful sun too.
The day after the drums arrived I gigged them. As is. I used the original cases and all. It was a dream come true once again to climb aboard such a pristine time machine to play music from the same era as the drums
This kit is special. And man they sounded like a dream. I could not get over how good the old heads stayed in tune. Now granted I was in a big AC cooled dance hall so no real exposure to the heat for the calf heads & they tuned up so nice. I was truly geeking out at this gig and my happiness flowed into my playing, keeping the folks dancing and making for a very memorable day.
All hail Vintage Happiness!! :)
