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70's Ludwig Supraphonic LM400 w/ Silver Badge

ludwig supraphonic silver
Posts: 473 Threads: 64

Hi folks. Recently I bought an old drum kit that brought some goodies with it.

The kit itself (toms/bass drum) is 70s cheap stuff. But... A Ludwig 14"x5 with silver badge is included! It has a hand engraved serial number "69x" (x is an omitted number, between 0 and 9). Original reso head and snare wires installed. I know there are a few of these around, but it is the first I got my hands on.

An old speed king pedal is included too, which is nice.

Last but not the least, a pair of 14" Sound Edge Formula 602 (pAisTe), a 20" Zildjian ride, and a 14" (ish) Constantinople Zveltiam (?) are included! The last one was being used as a crash, but it certainly is a medium-heavy hihat. It isn't a 14", because it's a little bit larger than the Fo602s, but I think it isn't a 15" neither. I didn't have any measuring tool when I shoot the photos. :(

Check it out in the following photos. Cheers.

Posted on 3 years ago
#1
Posts: 473 Threads: 64

More pics attached

Posted on 3 years ago
#2
Posts: 473 Threads: 64

Formula 602 SE and Speed King

Posted on 3 years ago
#3
Posts: 473 Threads: 64

Zveltiam Constantinople

Posted on 3 years ago
#4
Posts: 473 Threads: 64

20" Zildjian Ride

Posted on 3 years ago
#5
Posts: 733 Threads: 49

That snare should clean up pretty nice

great pies also.

Cool find

Wayne

Posted on 3 years ago
#6
Posts: 524 Threads: 75

Nice!! Clapping Happy2Cool1

1960s Ralston (Star) set in Red Agate Pearl 12/12/16/20
1961 Ludwig Cocktail Lounge drum 24 x 16 in blue sparkle
1966 Ludwig Hollywoods in Sky Blue Pearl 12/13/16/22
1971 Ludwig Super Classics in Blue Sparkle 13/16/22
1976 Ludwig Vistalites in Blue 13/14/16/22
70s/80s Ludwig orphans in Black Cortex "Bonham" style 14/16/18/20/26 (B/O Badges)

Many snares
Posted on 3 years ago
#7
Posts: 2010 Threads: 19

I have a black beauty with a similar badge. I have yet to find a definitive answer for the badge or the engraving but I do know that it came that way brand new as a friend of mine bought it new around 1977-78 and that's the way it came.

My theory is that they were drums that Ludwig wished to keep track of so they used some blank badges and engraved the 3 digit numbers. Not prototypes but maybe salesman samples, show displays, or drums they shipped out to reviewers. Ludwig being Ludwig they'd have sold them off when their use (whatever that was) was at an end.

Just a thought on one possibility. There are a handful of them out there. Enough to suspect they exist for a reason but not nearly enough to think they were part of regular production as a way to use up a batch of defective badges. Plus they did use badges with no numbers at some points so there was no reason they HAD to (sloppily) engrave a three digit number on them. I'm certain it served a purpose....but what it was I don't know.

Posted on 3 years ago
#8
Posts: 6363 Threads: 223

I really like the explanation put forth by K.O. Really makes sense.

JB... get that snare cleaned up and post pictures!

-Mark

Posted on 3 years ago
#9
Posts: 473 Threads: 64

From K.O.

I'm certain it served a purpose....but what it was I don't know.

Thanks for the reply. I feel the same as you do. The 3 digit engraving means that a few units got this sequence of S/N. I think the handmade engraving wouldn't make sense in a mass production item. It was done by hand, so it must have a meaning and a purpose.

About the internal tracking theory: if it was used to track the snare inside the factory/labs then why they didn't change the badge before send it out for sale?

I think if they knew it would be for sale later they would use a temporary sticker or so, while performing the tests or whatever. A badge, attached with a grommet, with hand written serial number sounds like "definitive" to me.

For instance I remember the Promo vinyl singles, with generic sleeves and hand writen white labels. They were sent to record stores so people could listen to it before buying the original LP.

I don't know the story behind this particular drum, so I don't have any clues.

It would be nice to know from Ludwig team or ex-worker what was this used for.

Cheers

Posted on 3 years ago
#10
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