Hi,

Another Slingerland Radio King has entered the collection. This one came from the fertile waters of my good friend and fellow collector Mark Cooper [email]coopersvintagedrums@verizon.net[/email]

This drum was so clean that I could have left everything as is but I always like to add a little of my own mojo to the presentation.

1938-40 SLINGERLAND 7 x 14 BDP GENE KRUPA MODEL RADIO KING

THE SHELL:

The BDP wrap is just about flawless so all that was needed was a little dusting. The solid birds eye maple shell interior is very clean. The cloud badge is clean with a tight grommet. A final artifact from yesteryear, a long gone Slingerland worker’s pencil mark “7 x 14”.

THE HARDWARE:

The nickel hardware was also in excellent-plus condition so a light cleaning was all that was needed except for the threads on the tension rods. Unlike some Slingerland Broadcasters and Radio Kings that I own and have seen, all of the hardware on this drum matches and is nickel plated. The snare gates on the bottom hoop are the early versions that were attached to the hoop with machine bolts. I always find it interesting that the early snare gates have stamped numbers or stamped letters called “manufacturers’ cartouches”; one side has a single stamped number or letter on the hoop and gate and the other side has two stamped numbers or letters on the hoop and gate. All the numbers or letters always match...but...the hoop and gates on this drum have no stamped numbers or stamped letters...blank on both sides. So this is either the phasing out of the “manufacturer’s cartouches” or an oversight.

Of-the-era top and bottom calf heads rounded out this light cleaning.

Enjoy!

Mike Curotto