Just picked this up. According to the badge guide it looks like early 1920's except it says "Chicago USA", not just "Chicago". It is 26" x 12" with double braced lugs. Looks like mahogany shell with solid maple hoops. I hope the pics upload for viewing.
Were there double braced lugs in the early 20's or is it maybe a 1927?
1927 is still in the 1920's???
This is an early 1930's bass drum. Actually made in Elkhart, IN by the Conn company, alongside Leedy.
You can tell by the shape of the reinforcement rings, they are more squared off inside rather than slightly rounded, also the badge appears to have a white enamel finish on the recessed areas...thats a sure sign of a Conn era drum as well. Look for a date ink stamp inside as well......not all of them have it still, but if its there, that will tell you the actual date it was made.
This is the stamp print inside. It says 40?
The badge was tarnished so I polished it. I actually disassembled the drum and cleaned and polished it today. I can't wait to put heads on it and play it.
Thank you for the info!
This is the stamp print inside. It says 40?The badge was tarnished so I polished it. I actually disassembled the drum and cleaned and polished it today. I can't wait to put heads on it and play it.Thank you for the info!
Wow, thats actually a bit newer than I thought. 6-40 would decode to June, 1940.
It sure is a beauty. Almost as old as I am. Most of the mahogany ones you see are single tension.
Wow, thats actually a bit newer than I thought. 6-40 would decode to June, 1940.
Thanks for the info Ludwig-dude. I still have questions though...
The badge did not have any enamel, it was all brass and is a near perfect match to the sample badge on this site from the early 20's. If the drum was made in 1940 it would have been a WFL right?
I wonder when double braced lugs were first introduced.
Thanks for the info Ludwig-dude. I still have questions though...The badge did not have any enamel, it was all brass and is a near perfect match to the sample badge on this site from the early 20's. If the drum was made in 1940 it would have been a WFL right?I wonder when double braced lugs were first introduced.
Upon closer inspection of the pic of the badge you supplied.....this drum had been painted over blue at some point in its life, then the paint was stripped off. You can see the blue outline of old paint around the badge. Someone most likely painted OVER the badge. This used to happen a lot, I just restored a marching snare like this, but mine is definitely 1920's due to the type of strainer used. Anyway, it is possible when they stripped the paint off, they also stripped the enamel off of the badge at the same time. The type of T-rods used are Leedy type, which definitely points to Conn-owned era Ludwig & Ludwig and the stamping you found inside definitely dates it to 1940.
Now, remember out history here please....a 1940 Ludwig & Ludwig is not a WFL. Two seperate companies. WFL started in 1937 and was owned by the Ludwig family. Ludwig & Ludwig, which used to be owned by the Ludwig family was sold to Conn in 1929, and later repurchased by WFL and the Ludwig family in 1955. Your drum is not a WFL drum, it is a Conn-owned-era Ludwig & Ludwig. The badging is correct for the drum, except there should be a white enamel background to it. Ludwig & Ludwig as a brand lasted until 1950, then was known as Leedy & Ludwig from 1951-1955. After that when it was repurchased by the Ludwig family and the WFL drum company, all WFL drums and Ludwig & Ludwig drums were simply known as the Ludwig drum company.....
Ok? flower
