I'm new also, I am guitar player that somehow ended up with three old kits.

(I Got a brother and two cousins who drum) I needed 70's drum spurrs years ago and a guy turned me on to jp2creations.com check him out his site

states he does it all.

Although it might be that someone tried to repair the re-ring, some later Camco drums (pre LA) might have come from the factory with the defect (I've seen it). With some late Oaklawn and Chanute Camco drums, defects were more likely to slip through. It's also possible that time has taken a toll on the wood and glue bond.

I have a late oval badge kit with a couple of minor flubs. The kit sounds great; toured with it for many years and wouldn't part with it. One of the Chanute era kits I've owned had flaws, too. I regard it all as a coin collector would with a double stamp or such. Or, like "last ditch" examples of Japanese or German wartime production of collectible military gear.

For cleaning, a light furniture grade cleaner might be the ticket.

The problem with your bearing edge can be solved professionally without ruining the value. You will be well advised on this site. (But not necessarily by me).

Camcos and Rogers very often have a bulge at the reinforcement ring overlap. Not a big deal, I would leave it alone unless it's really out of hand. If the edges are original, having them re-cut will put a major dent in the value of the drums, assuming the set is in otherwise good shape. It has nothing to do with whether or not the sound is improved...collectors want original edges, period. If you're really unhappy with the tone, I would experiment with new heads, and if that doesn't work, consider another kit and moving these on to someone else. Of course they are your drums, and you can do whatever you like with them, but from an investment perspective you will want to leave them alone.

Thanks,

Bill

This is an issue that keeps recurring for me. I look at drums as musical instruments first and as investments second. To me, they are tools I use at work, and as such earn a lot more $ being played than they would being traded. Seems like there are those who would put a guilt trip on me for doing something to my drums that would make them play and sound better. I love vintage drums, and I love to play them, and if I need to clean up a bearing edge to make them sound as good as possible, I am going to do it. I owe my band members and the audience the best sounds possible. A drum that spends all it's time on a display shelf is just a knick knack.

Yeah, it's really just the collector market that has changed things...the same is true of any antique, the more original the better. But it's in terms of investment only. I'm never going to give someone a guilt trip for doing anything to their drums, but if they ask about how it will affect the value, I will always advise to keep everything as original as possible.

When I first got into buying and selling vintage drums, I sold a kit to a guy that said he planned on putting large Pearl spurs on the bass drum to keep it in place on stage. At first, I was kind of upset and wanted to talk him out of it. Then, my wife said, "He owns the drums, he could start them on fire or put them in a wood chipper for all you care, it's not your business any more." She was right! Since then, I don't care what people do to their drums, unless they specifically ask advice about how it will affect value.

-Bill

I'm not really talking about altering them. Just that if there is a flawed or dinged up bearing edge, I am going to have it cleaned up using the original profile. Not talking about going from a roundover to a straight 45%. Luckily my Camco Oaklawns have good edges and sound great. Even though they are re-wrapped.

Thanks for all the replies, everyone.

I've gotten a lot of feedback from locals and on another forum; the overwhelming consensus is to keep them as-is. There was one repair guy who suggested the work, but he only saw pictures. All those who saw them said don't mess with them.

I'm playing around with them, trying different heads/tunings. It's not as bad as I first thought. Point taken about knick-knacks; if they don't grow on me over time, then I'll sell 'em.

Thanks again for all your help,

DV