I recently won an eBay auction for a 1958 or 1959 Ludwig trans-badge 6.5x14 with 8 bowtie lugs, and an early-style P-83 strainer. I believe everything is factory-original, except for the black paint someone used on the tension rods and strainer. The black "pearl" wrap is original - why anyone would have paid extra in 1958 for boring black wrap is a mystery. The drum came with the original plastic-end wires but they were bent up beyond playability. Edges look "factory" and are unmolested. Snare beds were cut rather deep. Date stamp is April 13, 1958 or 1959 - not sure if the last digit is a mis-formed 9.

I have not had a chance to clean this thing up but quickly put on a Ludwig medium batter, Remo snare side, and "German" snare wires. The drum sound awesome! A pleasant change from all my 6.5" metal snares. It is basically a 6.5" Jazz Festival.

I'm not sure if this is a Contest or Auditorium Model. The 1957 catalog shows the Contest model as a similar drum with a strainer that looks similar to a P-83 but isn't. The 1960 catalog show the Auditorium model with a "large Pioneer" strainer. I can't find any 1959 catalogs so I don't know exactly what I have. Does anyone have a good answer on what this drum was called in 1958-1959?