NB: This site won't let me post photos so no photos until they get it together....

Hi,
I’ve had this drum for many years, just never cleaned it up until now.

1928- SLINGERLAND 5x14 WALNUT TONE FLANGE FANCHER ARTIST MODEL

THE SHELL:
The solid walnut shell was in great shape and was easy to clean and polish. The cloud/Fancher badge is in excellent shape.

THE HARDWARE:
The nickel plating was in excellent shape for a 96 year old drum. Everything polished up nicely. I have a number of Tone Flange Fancher Artist, Artist and DuAll models. Most of these drums have 10 brass wood screws or 10 brass brads on the top bearing edge that are in line with the tube lugs and are there to allow the brass ring of the Tone Flange to seat. This drum is a tad different, there are12 brass brads that do not line up with the lugs (see photo). I also noticed a difference in the internal attachment hardware. On Slingerland snares of this era there is usually a washer, a lock washer and a screw. This drum has a larger washer, smaller washer, lock washer and a screw for the lugs, 3 point strainer and butt plate. And to finish the minutiae part of this article; the 3 point strainer uses 4-40 screws/nuts while the butt plate uses 6-30 screws/nuts (see photo).

The of-the-era top head was really seated (stuck) onto the Tone Flange so I just left it. I used an older Evans All Weather Orchestra bottom head and some 16 strand Slingerland snares and was pleasantly surprised how good this drum actually sounds.

Enjoy!

Mike Curotto