Here's some pics...

First the kit:

[IMG]http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=90814&stc=1&d=1445792197[/IMG]

A (sort of close up) of the 'badge' which is a blank - nothing on it (same on all three non-snare drums!)

[IMG]http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=90815&stc=1&d=1445792197[/IMG]

John Grey floor tom mounts, also the rail for the 12 tom...

[IMG]http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=90816&stc=1&d=1445792197[/IMG]

Oh, and here's my other one (which IS Ajax, from 1957):

[IMG]http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=90817&stc=1&d=1445792470[/IMG]

Thanks for any clues...

Rob

Wonderful and in great shape.

Did John Grey make Ajax?

Did he also have drums under his own name?

Thanks

I don't know much ...but they are distinct companies!

I'm confused by this one!

Was able to locate the sheet of different English badges. From looking at them maybe someone took the finish off the badges years ago? But there would be marks left behind. Maybe they bought their parts from the same maker?

maybe....but then mounted them the wrong way too?holes and all?

Howya,

It's possible you may have a Vic O'Brien kit there. He ran a drum shop in the smoke during the 60s. The badge ghost is the right shape anyway. I myself had a very similar set a while back. came with the same knock off Ajax luggage but with proper Ajax cast hoops too. By all accounts he had a penchant for selling reunited orphan drums rebadged (presumably) to advertise the shop...

Spart

PS I have an almost identical genuine Ajax to yrself. 20/16/14/12 and a parallel Piper...

Wow thanks Spart. Various other helpful peeps on the FB Ajax group suggested Vics handywork too!

So are you suggesting the shells are Ajax but the rims and mounts were just cobbled together 'to order' or to fill a space in his shopfloor?

Is the 16 x 16 likely to be a stock Ajax size at that time? (1959 if the Pipperette snare serial is anything to go by) - my other kit has the 16 x 18 deep ones...

Your kit looks excellent...!

ta

Rob

My pleasure Robstacle,

Without actually seeing the shells it would be hard to determine their exact provenance. I would guess you can tell though by the usual pointers... Stamped numbers internally (signifying nothing?), vertical ply layup with stepped seam, solid bent rerings nailed at scarf etc would all point to the heroic brand.

I'm not aware of Ajax offering a 16x16 during this time period, all the floors I have seen were the deeper variety. That said I have also had a couple of 14x16s, nice drums. The 16x16 from my pictured set is I suspect a Sonor shell, distinctly undersized and not displaying any particular Ajaxisms. I might posit, entirely speculatively of course, that it was V O'Bs practise to rewrap and fit out shells that he had available at the time with whatever wrap and parts he had. This crosshatch blue pearl is a lovely finish that has largely disappeared by the late 50s, perhaps he had the last of it? It has always intrigued me as to why Premier never used it as an extension to the white and black versions as employed in the late 40s and 50s by both them and Ajax.

I guess we'll never know. One must beware though of oft repeated opinions becoming gospel, let circumspection be yr guide says I!

Spart

I guess we'll never know. One must beware though of oft repeated opinions becoming gospel, let circumspection be yr guide says I!

Wise words Spart. There is a lot of that all over this forum me thinks.