Wow. I didn’t realize they were inking the cymbals that early. Just learned something.
One area of “ink research” I have done, which seems to bear out is with the AMERICAN K line. The “hype” on the so called “early American K” is valid in my opinion, and they are something I seek out these days. But the ink can give excellent insight into these if you pay attention.
I have divided them into generations for my own head. Please feel free to contribute or correct as needed.
Gen I ( the good stuff- hand hammered)
These show a “strobe” K on top and bottom. No large Zildjian ink. Also the size/type ink on top is “upside down” compared to the A’s of the same era (1980-83/5?)-
Gen II (not bad- hand and machine hammering)
I believe more machine hammering was being done at this point. Not quite as “special” As Gen I to me but some real gems can be found when you can play them in person. Now the underside has the large Zildjian ink rather than the strobe K. Top looks the same as Gen I.
Gen III (machine hammered)
These, like production A’s of the era (mid to late 80’s?) can have some real dogs. Hand selection in person is the only way to go with these. Top ink changed with “right side up” size/type stamp, just like A’s of the same era. Large Zildjian ink on the bottom. Basically a darker 80’s A. I would not be surprised to find they all are made the same at this time and then stamped and inked after the final product is played...
Edited to add Gen IV, which is when they started sealizing the in the 90’s. I think they lost the plot at this point. Only the KnCustom lines are worth looking into. I REALLY tried to like the production K’s of the 90’s-up but they are clanky and gongy to me. I found some in-loved KnCustom Dark 13” hats and they are awesome. I then found an 18” Crash to match. Any smaller crash in this line sounds like, well, sounds bad. 20” ride in this line is good; the 22” is a pig... strange but true to my ears.
Side note: k custom session crash is awesome if you are not ready to “fully commit” to the dark side... I have an 18 crash that notches perfectly between my 18” A and 18” k custom dark crash... the gateway cymbal. (Developed with Steve Gadd I believe)