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1920s LUDWIG & LUDWIG No. 223 12X17 GOLD PLATED/CUSTOM MARQUETRY ONE-OFF SEPARAT

Posts: 1334 Threads: 235

Hi,

A small condominium has just entered into the Curotto Collection. I usually don’t collect marching snare drums but this 17 x 12 honker of a drum had all of the cool stuff that I love as a collector of vintage snare drums. Thanks goes to my good friend and fellow collector Mark Cooper of Coopers Vintage Drums for giving me the opportunity to purchase this drum and for allowing me to use his photos.

1920s LUDWIG & LUDWIG No. 223 12 x 17 GOLD PLATED/CUSTOM MARQUETRY ONE-OFF SEPARATE TENSION STREET DRUM

The Shell:

This is not faux decals as we all have seen on 1920s-30s Ludwig & Ludwig Standards, Supers, Super-Sensitives and New Era-Sensitives. The solid mahogany shell on this drum has a copious amount of expert marquetry, inlay as I used to call it. All of the marquetry is intact and in great shape. The worker who did this marquetry was a true Artisan. I can’t imagine how much this would cost nowadays. The shell just needed a little lemon oil to sharpen up things.

The Hardware:

All of the hardware is gold plated and is in great shape. The top and bottom single flanged rims are fancy engraved just like the L & L gold plated Triumphal Models of the same era. The 8 tube lugs are the longest that I have ever seen, the collar hooks and tension rods are all standard L & L issue. This drum has the optional P-338 Professional Model Throw-off and regular butt plate as compared to the “arm-less” post-type strainer and larger butt plate that are usually equipped on a drum like this. The mid-1920s L & L catalogs offer this option: “Equipped with post-type strainer as shown or Ludwig Professional Model Throw-off strainer and muffler.” I’ve never seen a 1920s L & L marching drum with a P-338 strainer so this is a first for me. There is no muffler on this drum.

The top and bottom calf heads look original and are in great shape as are the gut snares.

So I have now created a new monster by starting the quest for rare, one-off, special order street/marching drums. I only have three at this time so I have included photos of the other two.

Enjoy!

Mike Curotto

Posted on 11 years ago
#1
Posts: 1334 Threads: 235

Five more...

Mike Curotto

Posted on 11 years ago
#2
Posts: 1334 Threads: 235

A few more...

Mike Curotto

Posted on 11 years ago
#3
Posts: 10714 Threads: 579

From Mark to Mike :) this is some beautiful drums !!!

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
#4
Posts: 2809 Threads: 32

Thanks for sharing. I always enjoy seeing the drums you show. Another beautiful drum.

Rogers Drums Big R era 1975-1984 Dating Guide.
http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=24048
Posted on 11 years ago
#5
Posts: 812 Threads: 53

That is a work of art. Love to know the story behind it's creation and use.

Posted on 11 years ago
#6
Posts: 621 Threads: 41

Wow! As beautiful as the marquetry is, it's the engraved hoops that really do it for me. Sweet...........marko

Posted on 11 years ago
#7
Posts: 5550 Threads: 576

I must say, were do you put them all? LOL gary

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 11 years ago
#8
Posts: 1334 Threads: 235

From jaghog

I must say, were do you put them all? LOL gary

I have 11' ceilings in the entry way to my home so I put up 20 custom Plexi-glass shelves that hold about 200 snares...we don't do dining rooms so I've got about 25 drums on stands along the perimeters of that room...I tried infiltrating this newest drum just into the living room but so far that has flown about as well as a terd (sp on purpose) in a punch bowl with my wife...I have cabinets in the garage that house the drums with pearl finishes that shouldn't be exposed to constant sunlight...I have a storage area under the house that has a lot of nob drums along with my really old drums circa 1900s...my wife is cool about this, not thrilled but cool about, it costs me in other ways though.

Mike Curotto

Posted on 11 years ago
#9
Posts: 1296 Threads: 208

Ludwig must have gotten the idea from TAMA! Laughing H

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Never play it the same way once.
Posted on 11 years ago
#10
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