I would be EXTREMELY APPRECIATIVE of any info that you would have on my new Slingerland snare. I bought it on a website that I bet you can guess the name of and though some may suggest I "have it coming" for buying an expensive vintage snare on eBay, this seller has flawless feedback and claimed it was all original. He also claimed that it has a black lacquer finish. One of my questions is, doesnt this look like a wrap and not a lacquer? [IMG]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3008/2736498976_9417790f49.jpg?v=0[/IMG] Was a lacquer applied to a wrap? Did they even offer a solid black wrap in the 30's? ( Rob Cook's book says nothing about this). The only thing to make me believe it is a lacquer is a spot where two little "flakes" seem to be missing. [IMG]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/2736499470_2ebcf4034d_m.jpg[/IMG] I figured it was very possible for a black lacquer to be available at the time or even a one-off wrap-job but I wanted to figure out if this was even original in the first place. Maybe a photo of the back of the badge would help? Im not sure if you can tell from this photo but I think maybe it appears as though it has been taken off to re-wrap? [IMG]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3041/2736500572_ee12d6f008.jpg?v=0[/IMG] It looks to me like a good job around the edges, but I am not an expert. I have never owned a solid shell but I also took a photo where it appears as though the shell was joined and glued. [IMG]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/2735663011_340274f132.jpg?v=0[/IMG] Also, along the bottom reinforcement ring (top ring as pictured), it has a black ring or line around it. Is this where one of those weird "tone flanges" would have originally been? Im also reading about this from the Rob Cook book but Im unfamiliar with the existence of the tone flange otherwise. Thank you so much in advance for helping me out. Hopefully these photos work or Ill look like an idiot.
1930's Slingerland Snare Drum Problem (?) Uh-Oh
I can see why you are concerned and I would be also. For the exact answer I defer to DrCJW when he checks in.. I will also send him an email for this post.
Tone flange drums have holes around the bearing edge.. So that is ruled out.
If you ask me, the black on the inside is overspray from the black on the outside and then the inside looks sanded to me to try and get rid of some of the overspray.
The grommet is a mess and also looks like it was removed and or sanded at some point.
The outside edge looks truly funky to me and also looks like it was sanded just at the bearing edge.
What badge does the drum have?
I have never dealt with such early Slingerland drums, so that is why I think this calls for an email to DrCJW...
David
Thanks so much for the response.
I wasnt referring to the black seen at the bottom of the shell in the photo but the line that goes around the top hoop. Though now that I see what youre talking about, you must be right. That looks exactly like over-spray. Not sure what the line is though.
The grommet did look a bit funky, though I didnt know if they had a weird way of putting it on. The badge is the 2nd of the three cloud badges, I think from the mid-30's or so (dont have the book in front of me). The hardware and badge and everything else line up but the finish has to be redone.
The good news is, the drum seems to be in round and heads fit on perfect. Im sure it sounds good too, but when you buy a 80 year old snare drum for a few hundred bucks, youre not just paying for tone. Hopefully the other expert doesnt have all bad news.
Thanks again.
By the way, here is the other photo of the front, badge, strainer:
[IMG]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3023/2735664665_09facbb663.jpg?v=0[/IMG]
I'm sure the doc will help me out, but...
Firstly...although the solid black was not a catalog finish, I've seen one other from that era that was very similar to yours...it was black duall with gold plated hardware that turned up in attic...it hadn't been touched in years...still had the original heads. The drum was a solid black but it was a wrap that seemed like a thick plastic or even hard wood veneer. I'm sure it was original.
Your drum is not the top of the line artist but a lower end model. It was common to offer these drums in solid black or white lacquer.
Usually, those would have a 3 ply shell, so if yours is solid, you did real well. The top of the line of that era would have 10 lugs, rims that are triple flanged...the metal would go over the head's flesh hoop like on a modern rim, but would still have clips.
Until the early '30s it would have had a tone flange...for a short time the tone flange was discontinued, the edges were sharp and there was a tone control (muffler).
The badge on your drum does look suspect, but I've seen many old Slingerlands that were unmolested, that had messed up grommets. They were always on solid shell drums.
So...you've got a nice drum...could be all original...you'll never know for sure...but as is would be at least a $500 drum.
For an example of one of my old ones, look on this site for my 1930s Slingerland in WMP with diamonds...
Thanks a lot for the info.
In that first photo that I posted, it looks like a seam that would be on a drum with a wrap. I would assume that a lacquer would be applied directly to the shell, or would a wrap or veneer be applied first and then a lacquer over that? Anyways, it is interesting to hear that there have been original solid colored lacquers found on old Slingerlands.
Also, I believe this is the Universal model in the old catalog. I know the top of the line had 10 lugs and then there was another model with 6 lugs. The way I looked at it was, I saw that it was double-tension and had a solid shell so I thought of it as a "really cool looking pre-radio king." I paid right around $500 so it may be an OK deal but I do think that the drum could have been better described.
I think Rich K. meant double-flanged instead of: "rims that are triple flanged."...1920s-30s Artist Models had heavy brass double flanged rims....but if your drum is an 8-lugger then I'm pretty sure it's a Professional Model hence the single flanged rims...Dr. CJW will clear it all up and put it all in perspective for you...man, I hope he puts out a book someday!
Mike Curotto
"I think Rich K. meant double-flanged instead of: "rims that are triple flanged."...1920s-30s Artist Models had heavy brass double flanged rims....but if your drum is an 8-lugger then I'm pretty sure it's a Professional Model hence the single flanged rims...Dr. CJW will clear it all up and put it all in perspective for you...man, I hope he puts out a book someday!"
Yes, sorry- the Professional model, not the Universal. Also, looking through your drum collection in Rob Cook's book and you being THE eBay vintage drum guru and all, I should be happy that you haven't chastised me for my purchase, right? Haha!
"I think Rich K. meant double-flanged instead of: "rims that are triple flanged."...1920s-30s Artist Models had heavy brass double flanged rims....but if your drum is an 8-lugger then I'm pretty sure it's a Professional Model hence the single flanged rims...Dr. CJW will clear it all up and put it all in perspective for you...man, I hope he puts out a book someday!"Yes, sorry- the Professional model, not the Universal. Also, looking through your drum collection in Rob Cook's book and you being THE eBay vintage drum guru and all, I should be happy that you haven't chastised me for my purchase, right? Haha!
I think for the price you did well, the hardware alone was worth it...
Mike Curotto
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