Looks like an add-on, Larry. This may have left in place to keep the re-rings from collapsing when a new calf head was installed. The reason was because those old guys, some of them, didn't know how to properly replace or restretch calf skin and got the shells wet over and over, causing problems with the rings and ply separation. You are supposed to allow some drying time, not too much, but enough to be semi dry. you need them pliable enough to set and resize to the shell, but not wet enough to cause damage. I had a 50-60 shell that was in terrible condition, but I made enough repairs to it for another member to use it and is very happy with it.

Wow! I learn something new everyday I was thinking about trying to take it out. But now that I know it is normal I'll leave it in.

This Tom had stick chopper rims and the floor Tom had stick savers, but the lugs all matched. Was that normal for a kit to have two different style rims

Thanks a lot for your help

Not sure about that Larry. Could they be different era? Maybe someone wanted to get rid of the 'choppers on the floor tom in order to slam them without breaking an entire brick of sticks every time he played? Maybe the sticksavers were better for plastic heads...? This raises more questions. Maybe the original 'choppers on the floor tom were worth a lot to someone and the owner worked out a trade+cash deal to someone...you just never know. Or the original hoops were damaged and rusted and pitted and the owner just bought what ever new hoops were available at the time for the least money? Who knows!?

Anyway, where's the beef? I wanna see 'em! You know how we like our drum p orn around here!

Ha your right about the drum ****, that's what my wife calls it. I'll some pictures to you guys pretty soon.

This kit is about to be my new project. It needs a lot of work.

Re-wrap, bottom hoop for the floor Tom, rims for the Tom, the right style FT mounts, lever for the clam shell strainer..... The list goes on and on.

i got to thinking today, that i would try and remove, this little block....and it was hard. i did some research on Google and found out acitone would weaken wood glue. well...i dont have acitone...but i found out my wifes finger nail polish remover does....HMMM...

after about 2 hours and a lot of hard work i was able to get that damn block out, with very little damage....it wasnt easy.

i used a cotton ball and soaked only the block, i wanted to keep as much of the remover off of the shell. i kept doing it and eventually it came off. I will get some pictures soon.