Star is the company that actually made these stencils, all of them. Star is the company we now know as TAMA. Anytime you see those Sonor style lugs on these MIJ, they are a Star stencil, usually Apollo or Stewart.
Pearl also made many stencil brands as well, and they even share some of the "brand names", as some of the distributors jumped back and forth, seemingly. Also, in the later years, after '72, Star left the field of stencils mainly to Pearl and Hoshino as they were concentrating efforts to gear up the new company, TAMA.
Glad you like this drum. It will serve you well, and for 15 bucks, you scored! Now, if you want some pointers, in order to keep this drum and get the best out of it, I would tweak it. This is how we tweak these 3 ply shells. I usually sand the interior using 100 and then 220 grit. After that, apply one good coat of lacquer to the interior. If the edges are clean, I would smooth them, closing the grain with 220 and then coat them along with the rest of the interior, it makes it easier for the head to slide over and tunes up easier.
If, on the other hand, the edges are not what you like, I would use TAMA Starphonic contour on them, and do it by hand. Since this is a three ply shell, it probably looks like an early Ludwig edge and should sound good as is, but will sound better all tweaked up.
I have a 16" US Mercury floor tom - Super thin 3 ply - the 2 outer plies are about as thick as the wrap, the middle seems less than 1/4". - I couldn't believe it was so thin; it feels like I could snap it with a bear hug Eye Ball - It does have 3 re-rings. I dig it! ~ Only $15 ! Skinny Sonor-style lugs. I've seen them called Star lugs, too. - - Also on the forum, I've read that US Mercury was either a Pearl or Tama flavor - though Pearl seems favored. Can anyone clarify here, re: the original Star or Pearl question? - Like, if the Sonor influenced lugs are Star, who made Star? I guess my confusion comes in part from the "Supreme Quality" phrase. From the MIJ badge page - Champion, Lyra, Werco, Star, Revelle, Astro, Ideal, Drum Craft, Apollo & though not pictured, the non"PRO" version of US Mercury, all have the same basic badge - including the "Supreme Quality" phrase. Was Pearl the parent company to all of these as stencils, Star included? Or were all of these makers different - just having the same source for "stencil" drum badges? :p Great Googly Moogly! I'm mystified....Coffee Break2 btw - from what I know of my MIJs - that price does seem steep :2Cents: