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Suddenly Inherited Rogers Kit From Brother - Restoration!

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Hello VDF members!

Many of you read with interest about the posting from our newest member, Catherine, about inheriting her brothers Rogers drums. The original post is here... http://vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=65042

I immediately notice that Catherine lived close by in Alhambra and I really wanted to check the drums out in person and offer suggestions for selling them. After quite a few PM's, emails and a nice long phone conversation, we decided to meet for coffee. We had a really great get-together and it was decided that I would drive over to her house and check out the drums. I spent a fair amount of time going over the drums, hardware and cymbals. First priority, NEVER leave the house without a drum key!!! Naturally, I couldn't remove any heads to check the shells!

What I could tell were that all the Rogers drums were in need of TLC, but the Ludwig Super Sensitive snare drum needed TLC+++!!!

Catherine agreed to let me take the drums and cymbals home, so I could clean them up as best I could and then we could sell them for a better price than if offered "as-is".

Let the restoration begin...

-Mark

Posted on 5 years ago
#1
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Here are some initial pictures of the 1975 Rogers Big R kit. I would say they are the Londoner V, but with different rack tom sizes than the catalog kit. Here's what we have...

9x13, 10x14, 16x16, 14x22 and a Ludwig 411 6.5x14 Super Sensitive snare drum.

Attached are the Big R drums.

-Mark

Posted on 5 years ago
#2
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Serial numbers...

-Mark

Posted on 5 years ago
#3
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I've removed some heads from the floor tom, bass drum and 9x13 tom. What I found was that the shells are in pristine condition, with really nice interiors, non-separating re-rings and excellent bearing edges. Rogers was still producing great 5-ply shells with VG craftsmanship!

-Mark

Posted on 5 years ago
#4
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The original wrap, called New England White, is in pretty darn good condition and should clean up well. The wrap shows no bubbling or splitting. The seams are tight, except for the 14" tom, which has only some minor lifting. Easy to repair! The worst issue is the bass drum batter hoop, where the pedal was clamped so hard over the years that it smashed the hoop, de-laminating some plies and there is missing wood! JCCabinets, I need you! LoLoLoLo

-Mark

Posted on 5 years ago
#5
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The original Memriloc hardware is all functional, but the satin finish shows surface rust. I'm hoping that a good soaking in Dawn will remove it. Any other suggestions?

The floor tom legs need new rubber tips, which I have. I'll need two new 1" crutch tips for the bass drum legs.

One memory lock was missing the drum key operated bolt and nut. I already found suitable parts in my stash!

-Mark

4 attachments
Posted on 5 years ago
#6
Posts: 5550 Threads: 576
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Not bad not bad at all hope she gets a good price as a players kit I’d say 750 would be nice deal sit on it and wait 960

With pies and hardware

April 2nd 1969 scarfed pink champagne holly wood and 65/66 downbeat snare, and , supra same year very minty kit old pies
66/67 downbeat with canister
Super 400 small round knob
1967 super classic obp





once the brass ceases to glitter, and the drum looses its luster, and the stage remains dark, all you have left is the timbre of family.
Posted on 5 years ago
#7
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I've decided that my first priority is to restore the Ludwig snare drum to it's former glory. As you can see from the pictures, it's going to take time. But, I'm up to it! Besides the rust, bent snare guards and one bent tension rod, it appears that something similar to a Scotch-Brite pad was used as an attempt to remove "pimpling" of the chrome. As you can see, it didn't work, leaving heavy scratching around the shell. Eye Ball:eek: I can tell it wasn't from steel wool.

-Mark

5 attachments
Posted on 5 years ago
#8
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Drum roll, please! Here are pictures of the cleaned and polished shell, along with all the hardware waiting to be cleaned. Yes, the scratches are still there, but softened up after liberal use of Mother's Chrome Polish. Forgot to include the tension rods and washers. Remember that bent tension rod? It's been straightened and cleaned, looks pretty good and functions like new!

Forgot to mention that you can make out where the original round "Ludalloy" sticker was. This is seen in the first picture.

I have one SS mechanism if I find that any need replacing. I'm not going to attempt to clean and straighten the snare guards. I have one good, clean, guard and just ordered a new one on eBay. They're very inexpensive and come with the two 6-32 allen screws.

Also, most of you know that for the snare mechanism to properly lower the snares, you have to use a Ludwig snare-side head with a low collar. This SS drum had a Remo head and the deeper collar would not let the wires drop away from the head. I was going to order a new Ludwig snare-side head, but found that I had a good, older, Striders snare-side head, which will work perfectly! This Striders head is the same as the current Weathermaster C1114 head.

In case you were wondering, that "stuff" to the right of the Imperial lugs is the old, dried out, foam strips used to eliminate spring buzz. I'll use something else upon assembly.

-Mark

Posted on 5 years ago
#9
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From jaghog

Not bad not bad at all hope she gets a good price as a players kit I’d say 750 would be nice deal sit on it and wait 960With pies and hardware

Hi jaghog!

That would be a great price! I still need to post pictures of the cymbals. As for the other hardware, it's Pearl and Tama and needs more cleaning that I think they're worth. The bass drum pedal is a Tama dual pedal, missing just a few parts. Still, all hardware can be included if that would help. Honestly, I think the Rogers shell pack would sell easily and the SS snare drum will be sold separately.

-Mark

Posted on 5 years ago
#10
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