51, I don't collect vintage drums and maybe I want those drums because as a kid in the 70's I could only covet a ludwig, slingerland, rogers, because I could not afford such nice equipment, even the entry level stuff. Sadly today I still can't afford to purchase those same kits. I am currently restoring a 60's Student RK snare and I guess I really enjoy the restore process more than owning it as a piece of history. I plan to play it and if a kit comes around that I can afford to buy, I will buy it, restore it and play it.
I remember coveting those same, big 4 kits, slingerland, Ludwig, Rogers, and Gretsch. I'd go to my friend's house, his brother had an awsome Rogers kit, and I'd just drool. (this was the late 60's)
Try looking into a Ludwig Standard, I picked one up very inexpensively (300) and they have that great vintage sound, mine needed a little TLC.
They were made between the late 60's till I think around '82