Hello to forum members. This is my first post. I am the owner of 1961 set of black oyster pearl Ludwigs. No serial on the badges. The set was purchased initially used (I believe a trade in) in 1963 without a matching floor tom. I purchased a 1967 black diamond pearl 18 x18 floor tom in that year (the ludwig badge serial number begins with 509xxx.

Young and stupid, I should have waited for the matching drum but figured I would trade it one day for the right style and color. I just had to have whatever was in stock for the gig you know? I never did trade. It's an old set.

The Bass drum has no way to attach the ride Tom (using latter model bars and lugs). A small piece of hardware was used to clamp the Tom to the bass drum. If anyone is interested I'll try and post a picture. I bought a snare stand for it and used it that way.

I have original high hat stand, cymbal stands, throne, and speed king pedals. I have the original bass drum front skin with the "Ludwig" script. I have the following Zild cymbals: 20", 18", 16" sizzler, 16" crash, and two 14" high hats. These are early 60's cymbals and ring like a bell on the light stuff and crash like hell on the hard stuff; non comparable to the tinny sound of Sabans Paiste or todays stuff.

A couple of things I'd like to find out. When did Ludwig make 6 ply drums? I thought these were, can I find out?

I'm not confident on the dates of manufacture of the base set; they were a trade in in 1963 so they could be a couple of years earlier. They are factory black oyster pearl so I figure 60 or 61.

I beat these things for years and now teach young kids to play.

I have been offered fairly decent money mainly from sound studios who desire the "sound" on albums. They look as old as I do now and certainly could use some cleaning, rust removed, etc. Thank you for this site which will help me do so. I would like to price them for insurance purposes.