The theory has been that they wanted to make the snare a little brighter, so they used a more reflective paint. Sounds reasonable enough.

I have never seen a bass or tom with the gloss paint inside.

Only bass I ever saw with a shiney gray interior was obviously sprayed by a previous owner, as the paper tag was also coated. Dan C points out that the theory behind the gloss interiors in the snare shells was to increase volume and resonance (or decrease dampening depending how you look at at), and I've read that Buddy Rich actually had extra varnish or lacquer applied to the interior of his Dynasonic shells (Tommy P. could confirm if this is true). This method of "brightening" up the snares probably inspired some Rogers owners to spray the interiors of their basses and toms, but I don't believe the factory ever put a gloss interior in a Holiday tom or bass.

Any other opinions?

mchair303!

DanC is absolutely correct!.. ( as he most always is! ) .. on the why/use of the semi-gloss grey paint for the wood Powertone snare drum.. and .. you are also correct with regard to Buddy's requesting EXTRA coats of lacquer on his wood Dynasonic's. But there's more!... there's always more! Buddy also stipulated that he did NOT want any flat gray paint on the interiors of his drums, rather they all be left NATURAL with clear lacquer applied instead... and that is what Rogers did for ALL of BR's drums. Buddy's thought was again... reflectivity, and perhaps a little more projection/brightness out of the shell. I had the opportunity to purchase one of Buddy's ACTUAL wood Dynasonic's... but passed due to the cost at the time.. ( although I could have bought it ) .. plus the fact that after I purchased said drum... then what? Not one that I could actively gig, or would want to, so... it would become a $20,000.00 conversation piece. I passed, but I did take note of the fact that the drum most certainly had EXTRA coats of lacquer applied. It was almost "glass like" in the way it looked. Pretty neat that BR was cognizant of that back in the day!

Tommyp

I had an 18-12-14 Cleveland beavertail kit that wore factory lacquer inside. Probably made for an endorser. Sold it to Bruce Felter 8-9 years ago.

DanC!

I was very good friends with Bruce Felter! He bought three Rogers snare drums from me: A 1966 WMP Dynasonic.. ( NEVER shoulda sold that one! DOH!! ) .. a 1967 Red Sparkle Pearl Dynasonic, and a 1966 WMP Powertone. He mentioned the set that he purchased from you on a few different occasions. Was that the re-wrapped one? It's been awhile, thus I have forgotten. Regardless, he dug 'em! We spent time hangin' one year at the Chicago Vintage Drum Show. That was probably about a year/half before his untimely passing. I came in from CT and he came in from CA, we met David Anfuso at the show, and the rest was... a GREAT weekend!

Tommyp

Yes, I rewrapped it in WMP. It was in rough shape when I got it, already stripped and beat up. But I had it looking pretty nice when I sold it to bruce.