Both in outstanding shape and all original with hardly any pitting or rust. One without a serial number and the other with serial number 1285912. Thanks.

Very interesting question! And a very pleasant dilemma to have!

You are obviously an experienced collector. Do you plan to play the snare, or just collect it? If the former, I suppose it doesn't matter which one you keep...But if the condition of both is nearly identical, I'd check the interior of both drums for anything interesting - a date stamp, a Reliable stamp or sticker?

If an inspection of both interiors doesn't tip the scale for choosing which drum, I personally would keep the no-number drum because it's more interesting than an average mid-1970s Supra. I collected Supras for years and I focused on collecting the most interesting ones. My current backup snare is one of the "trimmed B/O badge" Supras, dated April 2, 1970. Thankfully, I've never HAD to use it, because it's in gorgeous condition!

Good luck with your decision!

Regards, mb

Hi cnw20! I thought I'd re-post your pictures to make them easier to see without craning our necks!

As MB said, it's a tough one, but all things equal, I'd also go for the no-serial number drum.

-Mark

After re-posting the pictures, I did notice that the snare drum with the serial number shows some non-original tension rods and a non-original batter hoop, all of which look like MIJ to me, while the other drum might have all original tension rods and both hoops look original. So, I'm still swaying towards the no-serial number drum!

-Mark

the no serial number one

Thank you all for the great advice and I'll peek inside both to look for dates and let you know.

In situations like this, I generally put them both up for sale, likely at the same price, and simply keep the remaining one. No harm done.

Thank you for doing that.

I'd keep the no serial number one, but I'd be sure to check that the shell is perfectly in round. I've had a few supras that looked minty, but then you go to put a head on them and the head doesn't spin freely on the bearing edge, so, I'd make that the priority. I'd rather have a not so pretty looking Supra that was perfectly in-round, over a spotless supra with a not so perfectly round shell, but all things equal, I keep the no serial badge and ask silly money for the other one. It might sit for a while, but I wouldn't take anything less for it. I've sold minty supras in the past for 350, and nowadays you'd be hard pressed to get one for twice that, so, I'd rather put a silly pricetag on it, just because these drums seem to keep increasing in value on the used market.
Just last month I sold a near mint keystone supra for 500, and I know that with that 500 I wouldn't be able to replace it with another supra in exact same condish, so, yeah. Stick a stupid high price tag on it, would be what I'd do.

Great advice, thanks.