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Vintage snare Drum Restoration

Posts: 1 Threads: 1

I have a vintage snare drum shell with very little info. I know it is at least 80+ years old because it belonged to my grandfather when he was young.

I'd like to have it restored so I can record with it but don't know where to start. Does anyone have any advice on what this could be, how best to go about restoring it and/or if it is worth the cost of restoring? I'd like to hire a professional to restore it.

I live in Doylestown PA and play guitar/ piano but do not consider myself a drummer.

Thanks in advance.

Steve

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Posted on 11 years ago
#1
Posts: 747 Threads: 37

This looks like a Lyon & Healy from the turn of the Century.

Posted on 11 years ago
#2
Posts: 9005 Threads: 266

Steve - unless you plan to play it in Civil War reenactments, it's not going to sound very good. (Nothing like a modern snare anyway.)

If you want to "play it," consider adding the following:

8 - Chrome over Brass tube lugs

2 - Chrome over Brass Single-Flange hoops.

16 - Hoop Clips and 16 Tension rods.

1 set - 'Vintage' Ludwig strainer and butt plate.

1 - set of Puresound Vintage brass snare wires.

Do all that, and you'll have a snare drum with a sound quality you can record with!

Otherwise, find the missing tension rod, clean it up, add some calf skin heads and gut snares, and she's ready to put up on the shelf for display! To 'play it' follow my recommendation. The shell makes it all worth while. That's aged mahogany. That'll make a warm, fat sounding snare if outfitted right.

John

Too many great drums to list here!

http://www.walbergandauge.com/VintageVenue.htm
Posted on 11 years ago
#3
Posts: 747 Threads: 37

I have one of these drums. They were inexpensive, crudely made street drums that usually came w/ a bracket for a strap, & a wire attachment to brace against the thigh. The shell is a budget construction of two plies, w/ no quality wood in the build. It would in no way be worth buying any modern hardware for this instrument, or paying a pro to work on it. They are historically interesting, but not worth putting any but a few $$ into them.

You might consider finding 2 used heads from a drummer friend, clean up what you have & put it together as a tribute to your Grandfather.

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Posted on 11 years ago
#4
Posts: 10714 Threads: 579

From tdennis

I have one of these drums. They were inexpensive, crudely made street drums that usually came w/ a bracket for a strap, & a wire attachment to brace against the thigh. The shell is a budget construction of two plies, w/ no quality wood in the build. It would in no way be worth buying any modern hardware for this instrument, or paying a pro to work on it. They are historically interesting, but not worth putting any but a few $$ into them.You might consider finding 2 used heads from a drummer friend, clean up what you have & put it together as a tribute to your Grandfather.

agreed. that would be crazy to spend the money on modern hardware as suggested, these thumb screw drums have very thin shells and don't take kindly to high tension that a more modern drum can handle. It would probably eventually cave the shell in or crack it.

Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!
Posted on 11 years ago
#5
Posts: 192 Threads: 24

From tdennis

I have one of these drums. They were inexpensive, crudely made street drums that usually came w/ a bracket for a strap, & a wire attachment to brace against the thigh. The shell is a budget construction of two plies, w/ no quality wood in the build. It would in no way be worth buying any modern hardware for this instrument, or paying a pro to work on it. They are historically interesting, but not worth putting any but a few $$ into them.You might consider finding 2 used heads from a drummer friend, clean up what you have & put it together as a tribute to your Grandfather.

agreed. im afraid you might Ruin it trying to restore it...

1977 Ludwig Vistalite 12-13-16-22
1976 ludwig acrolite
1957 Rogers Holiday BMP snare
Posted on 11 years ago
#6
Posts: 9005 Threads: 266

> The shell is a budget construction of two plies, w/ no quality wood in the build.

Oops! I thought we were looking at a hundred year-old 3-ply mahogany shell. That's why I made the recommendations I made. Did not know it was a cheap-o, knocked-out, production drum shell.

My bad...

John

Too many great drums to list here!

http://www.walbergandauge.com/VintageVenue.htm
Posted on 11 years ago
#7
Posts: 558 Threads: 60

I have restored several drums like this and they can actually be restored and made to sound very good. The hardest part about restoring these drums is finding the replacement tension rods and claws if any are missing. I can easily locate most other parts for the drum if you need any assistance. Gut snares will sound real good on that drum.

Posted on 11 years ago
#8
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