Hi, lately I was able to get back my first kit, an old Westbury wrapped in red leather. Specs are 8x12 and 9x13 rack toms, 15x16 floor tom and 14x20 bass drum (mismatched snare and no hardware).

15 years ago it seemed like a good idea to give it away in favor of a magnificient CB kit (lol) that was fully functional (unlike my WB with no reso, many lacking bolts, crappy hardware).

I probably have read all the threads on this site about/mentioning westbury drums, and from the hardware mine seems older than the 70s WB that are shown. The tom arms/mount look like a 60s Pearl except that it's doubled (two toms), bass drum tension lugs are the same, bass drum legs are the same.

I don't know much about vintage drums but should I assume my Westbury kit is from the same era? Or did Pearl later produced drums geared with remaining 60s hardware? (could that explain the birth of Westbury drums?)

Here is the Pearl drum I'm refering to: http://www.vintageandrare.com/produc...ne-Pearl-27104

Westbury drums are not premium, I know that, but is one from the 60s an interesting piece? Would you try to restore it or just clean it and play it for fun?

(my first language is not english, please tell me if I don't make myself clear)

Those are 70's drums, as 60's stencil kits would have a rail mount and rering thin shells. I had an unbadged kit similar to yours in white leatherette and it was definitely 70's vintage. Post a picture of the whole set, please.

Here are the pictures teverson-sr.

I think you are right that 1960s kits are more likely to have rail mounts.

But I saw a lot of these hexagonal tom holders on late 60s Pearl President kits ('68 and '69). And nothing like it on early 70s. I'm confused.

Anyway, I want to try a restoration project and I think it's cool that I can do it with my first drumkit. How deep would you dive into this project? For example, I want to try to cut new bearing edge. Waste of time or perfect opportunity to learn? Thank you.

Well, yes and no on the tom mount. The tom receiver is a 60's President part, but the BD mount was never a Pearl branded part, and the Westbury's lugs are post 1970 catalog. The actual hex-rods are longer than the Pearl branded ones . Cutting luan with a router is tricky- you need a very sharp bit and it still may fray on you. I really liked the sound of my white leatherette set, but ended up selling it to a friend's student after installing "real" spurs so it could be played out.

Thanks for the informations. Much clearer now to me... that I don't have a 60s drum just because one part it on seems to be of that era. Now I still have to decide what to do with it. I'm glad my kit reminded you of a kit you liked.

My post may seem confusing. All those parts were used on Pearl stencil drums, of which Westbury is one, throughout the seventies and early eighties, before the conversion to 7/8 pipe mounts for toms. Everything on your drums looks correct for the early-mid 70's. I'd fix those up if they were mine due to the unique wrap.

Great, thanks for your advice.