As is usual when we go back to Illiana, I hit the local CL and visit local music shops when time allows. My son and I stopped in a favorite shop in Southwestern Indiana that I have done business with before. The guy has a great backroom filled with awesome old kits - Vistalites, Zickos, Slingerland RK, everything that will always be out of my price range. My son the explorer asks if he can poke around the *back* back room - no lights, tarps covering all sorts of gear, etc. Upon given approval, he quickly calls out - 'Dad, get back here' - and he surfaces with this little gem of a 3 piece project.
Rogers 20-14-12 in nearly unrecognizable BDP. 5 ply shells. Two flat grey interiors, one speckled. Only one partial tag remains.
Was able to come to terms on a fair price, given that it clearly appeared a re-wrap was in order, and re-rings need clamped, and so many parts are missing, and, and, and... you get the drift.
After a bit of research, it appears this is a Rogers ORBIT kit, since it has the novel 12x20 bass. The tag on the 14 shows a 287XX serial, so the guides I've seen point to late 1963 timeframe (cool, since I also am a late 1963 model!). The 1960 and '62 catalogs both show the ORBIT kit, but with B&B lugs. I didn't see the ORBIT kit in the '64 catalog, when they had made the transition to beavertail. So perhaps this kit is transitional?
As someone who has always collected TAMA as a reasonably-priced avenue into future-vintage great drums, I've always felt I would never be able to afford cool American-made kits, as there is so much recognition keeping prices out of my reach. Super-stoked to be working on this project!
John/levelpebble
Bop iT / Til U Drop iT.
