Hi,

I got this drum many years ago but never did an article on it so here goes.

EARLY 1920s C. G. CONN (SPECIAL ORDER*) 7 x 14 ALL-METAL (SILVER PLATED/GOLD PLATED ENGRAVED) SEPARATE-TENSION DRUM Cat. #4-S-20

*As you know C. G. Conn was a big musical instrument company so after the silver and gold plating was done on the shell it most likely was sent over to the horn engravers for the custom engraving work. I can only suspect this but there is also the possibility that C. G. Conn had their own drum shell engravers. As always, feel free to weigh-in on this if you have more information.

THE SHELL:

The shell construction is a single piece (18 gauge brass) with soldered-over bearing edges but the bead is noticeably smaller than the Ludwig & Ludwig or Leedy brass shell snare drums of the same era. The shell is silver plated with a gold plated “tint/wash” over the silver plating. The engraving is a scroll and petal type engraving that covers the whole shell especially because it’s only a 6-lugger.

THE HARDWARE:

All of the hardware is gold plated. There is a Leedy-type Utility strainer and the common butt plate of the era.

Enjoy!

Mike Curotto