Living at the time only a half-mile from the 1964-65 World's Fair in NY, I spent just about every day in the place. I vividly remember in the "Bourbon Street" area we in the afternoon would watch this great jazz band play. Separated only by a decorative wrought iron partition I would stand right behind the drummer and marvel at just how good this guy was, and how great his drums sounded. It wasn't until years went by that I found out he was widely known, when I came across an instruction book he had written. It was Sam Ulano.
I know, I know I'm digressing, sorry....lol
Anyway, right around the corner from there at night we would watch this rock band play. Pretty good drummer. But, what really got my attention was this HUGE ride cymbal he had. I had my then new Zildjian 22" ride at the time, and thought that was big. But in looking at this I felt I could by another and use them as hi-hats. This monster absolutely dwarfed a 22. It had a great stick sound, and when played would shimmer like no cymbal I have seen. Occasionally, he would lay into it with the stick shank and would almost come up off his throne to get this thing to really ring out.
I'm not sure if it was a Zildjian, couldn't get close enough to see a stamp, but it sure looked like one.
Was there such a thing as a 44" or maybe even bigger?