This week has produced some intriguing histories-Trowa/Tacton,Lefima and Mermaid with a Trumpet!I'm afraid I also would have assumed,till now,that eastern block drums would be inferior to western.Thanks for sending some valuable insights.Not all eastern items should be compared to Trabants!
And Gerry-ever try 15" snares on that drum?
This week has produced some intriguing histories-Trowa/Tacton,Lefima and Mermaid with a Trumpet!I'm afraid I also would have assumed,till now,that eastern block drums would be inferior to western.Thanks for sending some valuable insights.Not all eastern items should be compared to Trabants!And Gerry-ever try 15" snares on that drum?
Teverson, I think I mentioned above (this thread is over a year old by the way) that Trowa and Tacton snares wires had their ends cast in resin, along with a tensioning bolt. If you use normal wires of 15" length it's impossible to improvise a proper tensioning system - not enough space for the 'eye bolts' to move back (see above photo), plus they don't always fit in the narrow cavity (some filing would be necessary...which is what the guy who owned the drum before me did, with some Trixon wires).
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr14/Longfuse123/6.jpg
Having said that, it works really well with standard 14" wires and the snares are really responsive (great for brush work).
Anyway, nice to see there's interest in these drums. I've also enjoyed the recent threads about Soviet block stuff.
the only reason , that I suggest that Trowa/Tacton were acquiring wrap from the same supplier as Deri/Rimmel, Lefima,Tromsa,Sonor and Trixon were, is that I have seen 4 drums or sets from that factory with the same wrap that one or more of the West German makers used and 3 of them are weird. Gold Pinstripe was used by Trowa, Sonor and Tromsa in the 50's, Red and Green and Blue Typhoon were used by both Tacton and Tromsa ,Mexico was used by both Tacton and Tromsa. The Champagne Sparkle(glitter?) that graces my old Trowa Floor tom( c. 1955?) seems identical to the same wrap on a c.1950 set of Deri Bongos. Incidentally, an Olive Green Ripple wrap that I have on what appears to be a transition( approx. 1950) Sonor 14" floor tom is the same wrap I have seen on Tromsa and Meazzi. It's not inconceivable that there was a wrap maker behind the iron curtain but the distribution of identical wraps between the Germanys and into Italy suggests that there may only have been one. This stuff is very labour intensive to make and in todays world there is only one maker of the conventional poured celluloid, although there are other cheaper types of wraps in abundance. By the way, my Trowa 4 1/2 x 14 snare is a deeper version of yours and has a similar but Bronze coloured wrap. It is of the highest quality and seems identical in finish,thickness and depth to a Gold ripple wrap on a c. 1960 Tromsa 4 x 14 that I use.
the only reason , that I suggest that Trowa/Tacton were acquiring wrap from the same supplier as Deri/Rimmel, Lefima,Tromsa,Sonor and Trixon were, is that I have seen 4 drums or sets from that factory with the same wrap that one or more of the West German makers used and 3 of them are weird. Gold Pinstripe was used by Trowa, Sonor and Tromsa in the 50's, Red and Green and Blue Typhoon were used by both Tacton and Tromsa ,Mexico was used by both Tacton and Tromsa. The Champagne Sparkle(glitter?) that graces my old Trowa Floor tom( c. 1955?) seems identical to the same wrap on a c.1950 set of Deri Bongos. Incidentally, an Olive Green Ripple wrap that I have on what appears to be a transition( approx. 1950) Sonor 14" floor tom is the same wrap I have seen on Tromsa and Meazzi. It's not inconceivable that there was a wrap maker behind the iron curtain but the distribution of identical wraps between the Germanys and into Italy suggests that there may only have been one. This stuff is very labour intensive to make and in todays world there is only one maker of the conventional poured celluloid, although there are other cheaper types of wraps in abundance. By the way, my Trowa 4 1/2 x 14 snare is a deeper version of yours and has a similar but Bronze coloured wrap. It is of the highest quality and seems identical in finish,thickness and depth to a Gold ripple wrap on a c. 1960 Tromsa 4 x 14 that I use.
Re the wrap, it's not inconceivable that Trowa were importing it. There must have been trade routes with the West because here in the UK my parents bought cheap bedroom furniture in the 1970s that was made in DDR.
Any chance of a photo of your snare?
Gerry, while I was writing that last post a couple more came in and I am reminded about the wires. My bronze Trowa has the original wires. So, I have a pattern. I recently bought a set of old Ludwig marching drum wires with plastic ends on ebay and am going to fit them with end studs to fit into the Trowa snare brackets,---- to have as a spare. I can supply nice matching knurled adjustors as well. The original Trowa knobs are white plastic with a threaded(metric ) insert. If you want them, I'll swap for the Trixon wires, because I have need of those too and I can eventually make up another set for myself.-------just make sure your drum is a 14". I don't know when they changed over but my early 50's Orange Sparkle is a Dresdner Standard size 360( + - ) mm ----14 3/16" and this early to mid 60's version is 14". The wires on the older drum are completely different.
Re the wrap, it's not inconceivable that Trowa were importing it. There must have been trade routes with the West because here in the UK my parents bought cheap bedroom furniture in the 1970s that was made in DDR. Any chance of a photo of your snare?
I'm photographically handicapped right now. --but soon.
Gerry, while I was writing that last post a couple more came in and I am reminded about the wires. My bronze Trowa has the original wires. So, I have a pattern. I recently bought a set of old Ludwig marching drum wires with plastic ends on ebay and am going to fit them with end studs to fit into the Trowa snare brackets,---- to have as a spare. I can supply nice matching knurled adjustors as well. The original Trowa knobs are white plastic with a threaded(metric ) insert. If you want them, I'll swap for the Trixon wires, because I have need of those too and I can eventually make up another set for myself.-------just make sure your drum is a 14". I don't know when they changed over but my early 50's Orange Sparkle is a Dresdner Standard size 360( + - ) mm ----14 3/16" and this early to mid 60's version is 14". The wires on the older drum are completely different.
Calfskin, I contacted a Trowa collector last year and he mentioned that the plastic knobs break pretty easily, so I'll probably stick with the metal ones I'm using. Thanks for the offer though, and I'd be interested in seeing how you do the Ludwig wires, when finished (and when you've got a camera, obviously).
Re the Trixon wires, just PM me your details and I'll send them along if you want them (no charge). They've seen better days though. Total length of the wires before they attach to the plastic ends is 14 1/8" The ends add 3/4" on each side to the total length but seem to have been part snapped off/filed. They were attached using really fine chords (very small diameter holes). Can provide a pic if required.
Hmm, took the Trixon wires out of storage and now I see why they only have 17 wires. They've been cut and filed on one side to make them fit! Any use to you?
The original Trixon wires with black ends had 18 strands, the later grey and sometimes white ones had 26 strands. I can use the Trixon wires----probably can rebuild them somewhat for one of my drums. If you change your mind on the retrofit for the Trowa----let me know. I would use chrome on brass knurled knobs for the ends(s.a.e. threads)---because I would be supplying new studs . email me [email]south_bay@kos.net[/email]----i should cover your postage. Just for your interest----the older drum has springcoil wires each of which is hooked on a claw in the snare hanger-----so each snare is attached individually.
Calfskin, I've sent you an email from my hotmail account, so you might need to check your junk folder if your filters are set to 'stun'. Get back to me if it didn't reach you (some providers block all hotmail, I've discovered.)
