Italian made, by UFIP.

This may well be 30's to 40's, but it could be from a little later too.

Let us know if you find a sgnature under the bell.

This cymbal was most likely sold under the "Ajaha" trademark name, but these never did come with an impressed trademark.

I knew you would come through for me! Let's say I got for a "really nearly almost nothing but shipping because it was a part of a mostly Japanese cymbals" lot cost, and a Zenjian....cracked bell, what would this little puppy bring on the black market?

**EDIT**....nevermind...cracked as well, at the edge in two places. Has a nice, gongy musical sound though. I kind of like the wash on this one, light and airy, with a simple undertone, nothing too complex...like cheap wine....

O.K., if it came with a Zenjian and assuming that these were all purchased around the same time, then there's a good chance that it was in fact 30's to 40's vintage. The oldest ones had ink signatures that were hand signed. More often than not these faded away to nothing over the years.

My guess would be that this was once paired up with another cymbal and may have originally been made for concert band/marching band use. I once played in a church band that had a pair of these that were also the same size that looked very much like this one does. UFIP made cymbal under the Ajaha name and they made some very good cymbals back in those days. Comparable to Zildjian in fact. I refer you back to an earlier thread posted by someone else here who had just purchased a 20" from the 60's period. That one sounded great to my ears.

Very interesting. Thanks for the insight!

Actually, inside the small bell, it looks rather consistant with a cymbal that had something like the felts and hand hoops attached. It is rather darkend, like moisture was trapped in the felts for a time, like a hat that is left in the clutch for years.