Thanks for all the input.
I just tried a Remo Ambassador on the snare side and the situation was the same.
So I went with plan A and filed down some of the hoop on the Aquarian American Vintage snare side head. That seems to have done the trick.
A lot of bother, but it really is a great-sounding drum!
Thanks - John
Question: Aren't those American vintage heads slightly OVER-sized? I know that many of the older wrapped shells were really tight fits as far as getting a drumhead to seat well and so they started making a line that would fit better on the older wrapped shells. However, a duco finish isn't as thick as a wrapped finish, so you might check to see if that makes any difference.
But, I'm surprised Rob Cook wasn't aware of contoured bottom flesh hoops on old snare-side heads. I mean, mine was a Leedy drum and Leedy must have made ALL their old calfskin snare heads this way, I would think -couldn't have been that uncommon...but I didn't ever notice it before, either. But I'm certain now that the single-flange rim that you are having problems with would be alleviated in the most original way, by using one of those old-style flesh hoops...but if Rob is unaware of them, then maybe they are impossible to get.
Your solution sounds like it works, but just in case you ever need/want to restore it to "pristine" original condition, then the contoured wood flesh hoop is the only legit solution. If you really want to get a sense of what that drum might have sounded like when it left the factory, you have to use real calfskins and nothing else. They are completely different sounding/feeling than any synthetic head. Of course they are no way "practical" by todays working drummer's standards, but they do have a thing. You would have to have Rob contour the flesh hoop though, because you couldn't file it down after the skin is stretched or you will just tear through it. Modern heads have the plastic tucked into the flesh hoop.
They are slightly oversized. Very slightly. They're made for American drums made before 1960 ("Modern Vintage" for 1960 and after) and I had wondered if there might be something about them that would solve the problem before I got them. It fits better than the Remo I tried which I had to use more force to get on. The pinching snare cord issue with the hoop was the same with both, however.
Sure, I'd love to try calf heads. I just wish they were cheaper. I'm sure I'll treat myself someday...
John
For anyone who might be reading this thread in the future...
I had/have a 1955 Slingerland student model with stick chopper rims and I had the same problem. When I acquired the drum in the 1960's, there were plastic heads on the batter and snare sides. What I did was tie a second string around the parallel strings coming down from the strainer so that the two parallel strings were more pulled together. This permitted the two strings from being "caught" between the metal rim and the edge of the head. The method did not work great but at least it worked. The method also permitted me to loosen the snare mechanism screw enough to drop the snare down enough to completely clear the head.
