I had a Pearl kit when I was a kid in 1972. They seemed pretty old when I got them at an auction with my Mother. They were white Pearl; and the floor was a metric size. I recall they might have been a sleeve mount 13"; on a 22" kick, plus the slightly oversized floor. Did Pearl make a kit like this - in Premier sizes? Is there anyone here who has seen pictures of
Thanks for your time - it's much appreciated.
I use this page on the Pearl web site to get a date range on certain things about Pearl. It does show they started the drums in the 50's but that they were not importing them into the US until later...
Their web site also does not show any images of those early drums, so they might not really exist in any quantity until the 60's when they were shipping them into the US under so many different names...
David
My understanding is that Pearl only started to sell their own branded drums around 1964. Before that (50's and early 60's) they were making stencils for other brands such as Maxwin, Apollo, etc.
In terms of the metric sizes, I am not sure. I have seen a 1982 Pearl "Extender" model that had been converted from Metric to normal sizes by putting rubber spacers under the lugs. I don't know the history of that kit, but it implies that the metric sizes are not really an indication of age.
Plenty of pictures of old Pearl kits in the vintage section of pearldrummersforum (apologies if it is not considered etiquette to mention any other forums here).
Here are some pictures of a 1968 Pearl kit that I restored (pictured with an Acrolite snare)
Thanks for the replies - very helpful.
Mr Blues, that is one beautiful kit. Congratulations.
Hey Mr. Blues...
I think I know where the matching snare is!!!
The earliest Pearl drum that I have come into contact with is this era...
I believe that there is a post on this forum somewhere about this drum. If I remember correctly some members were telling me that the drum was fifties and earlier than these 1960's drums below...
This is a set that has been in my family for years. What cool colors they made! Maybe we should be the first to write a book on them. I actually saw a blue matching snare at last years Chicago drum show. I love this era of Pearl.
Isaac
Got to give credit to the japanese companies they really make some beautiful drums.
I got a Blue strata Pearl floor tom from the 60's if someone is interested. Im looking to trade it for any interesting vintage drum or parts.
My understanding is that Pearl only started to sell their own branded drums around 1964. Before that (50's and early 60's) they were making stencils for other brands such as Maxwin, Apollo, etc. In terms of the metric sizes, I am not sure. I have seen a 1982 Pearl "Extender" model that had been converted from Metric to normal sizes by putting rubber spacers under the lugs. I don't know the history of that kit, but it implies that the metric sizes are not really an indication of age.Plenty of pictures of old Pearl kits in the vintage section of pearldrummersforum (apologies if it is not considered etiquette to mention any other forums here).Here are some pictures of a 1968 Pearl kit that I restored (pictured with an Acrolite snare)
Hi All, Well the year was 1960 is when "Pearl" started to inport sets to the u.s.a.--but not under "Pearls" name many were stencil sets..The first one was called "MINDY" an inport made by Pearl but sold by a man name Woody Cooper who started to inport drums from pearl he was on the west coast,his first shop was called "COOPER DRUMS" but change the name to "WEST COAST DRUMS" in the mid 60s...I will post more about this later today the story of the first man to inport sets to the U.S.A. mikey
