This is certainly an interesting and unique custom-ordered set, as not only weren't 18x20 bass drums offered in the Cleveland era, the Cleveland catalogs (and parts catalogs) didn't even offer 18x20 floor toms. The only 20" FT's I've personally seen were Fullertons. I'm not sure they were even available in the Dayton era as the parts catalogs don't list a 20" triple flanged hoop. Can you Rogers gurus verify this? And did anyone notice that the 20" FT has a 10-lug configuration...

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This is one bizarre set, and if it wasn't put together by Joe Thompson for L.B., it could have been just one of Thompson's experimental configurations. I remember reading in Cook's Rogers Book how Thompson was slightly chastised for spending so much production time and money putting together unique sets for L.B. So is this one of them? We'll never know.

Mike

the owner is a man named Thomas ... and he just sent me this on the Rogers page

" As far as I know, I am the second owner of this kit. It was owned by Lou Ship, A man from Skokie IL, who was in the meat packing business. He passed away and his wife called The Percussion Shop in Evanston. I happened to be there when the call came. One of those right place at the right time things. He had five Rogers sets in mint condition. According to his wife, it was his hobby. If the kit was custom ordered I do not know. I always thought that the kit might have been for a clinic or demo and that Mr. Ship acquired them after. Or he could have special ordered them. I still believe that somewhere in this world there is a picture of this drum set when it was new."

Thomas has owned the kit since 1985

he is a really good and honest guy ... I interact with him quite a bit