Hey that looks like a great project!!

All your dates look right based on "The Ludwig Book" by Rob Cook. White Oval.. Conn era drums made in Elkhart, Ind. 1930's.

Rectangles 1930's.

How about a close up on those bass drum lugs.. are they "The Zephyr Lug" style?? Are all the other lugs Imperials?

What are the numbers on the inside of the shells?

What does the strainer look like on that snare?

Yep.. those will be sweet.

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numbers inside bass are 3908, the snare is 3907 and is white inside, the larger of the two toms is 3809. so i guess the toms are from 1938 and the snare/bass 1939? does that sound right? the lugs on the bass have a capital 'L' imprinted in all of them. thanks for the help any additional is greatly appreciated. I was thinking of trying to restore these but I'm considering selling now.

3907 would be the month and year. They all go like that. The snare would be July 1939. My dad was born in July 1939 and my mom Aug 1939. Pretty cool. Whoever is talking about zephyr lugs has the wrong company. Zephyrs are WFL lugs. WFL also had an imperial lug but they looked nothing like the the imperial that Ludwig and Ludwig used. Two different companies.

Hey Kurt... that was totally a question about the lugs..??

I couldn't find those bass drum lugs in my Ludwig book so I was hoping for a close up to see some detail and wondering if they had a name... like "Zephyr" which is an awesome vintage name for hardware.... like "Rolling Bomber" is such a cool name for a kit.

So what is the 411 on those bass drum lugs and are those early imperials on the other drums??

The lugs on the set pictured in the provided link are all Ludwig and Ludwig imperial lugs. WFL had the zephyr lug and also an imperial lug all thier own. The two companies were rivals and had totally different parts. When WFL bought the Ludwig name back from Conn in 1955 they aquired all the hardware patents as well. That is why the modern supra still uses the imperial lug on snare drums. That design has been around a long time!

Thank you all for your help. I think that I've pretty much figured out all that I can about these drums. Here's what I've got.

14x7 Enamel Badge Snare in White Avalon Pearl

-made in July 1939 (3907)

-painted white inside

-individually tunable snares? (need replaced)

28x14 Enamel Badge Bass also White Avalon Pearl

-made in June 1939 (3906)

-capital 'L' stamped on all lugs

-seem to have original calfskin heads

-mahogany hoops

14x12 Red & Gold Rectangle Badge Tom in White Avalon Pearl

-made in November 1938 (3811)

-unfinished ?maple? interior

-unoriginal Slingerland mount

-does have small chips on rim

-intact (tacked on) calfskin head with original decorative strip

-has a 'P' written in chalk on inside

16x14 Red & Gold Rectangle Badge Tom in White Avalon Pearl

-made in September 1938 (3809)

-missing bottom head (would also be tacked on)

-two of the brass clips are missing and two are broken

-looks like the inside was lacquered

-also has a 'P' written in chalk inside

I also have the Ludwig Super Speed King Pedal and original set of cymbals.

Cymbals are:

11" ZENJIAN HATS (bottom cymbal is cracked)

11" KZILDJIAN&CO Crash (signed inside bell but is worn off)

10" KZILDJIAN&CO Crash (signature intact looks like H.H. Shepps)

12" KZILDJIAN&CO Crash (also signed but worn off)

I got these drums from a friend who's girlfriend found them at an estate. I originally planned on trying to restore them but have now decided to put them up for sale. I haven't done anything with them but put new Remo Fiberskyn 3 batter heads on both toms and the snare. I'm not sure what to ask for the set (which includes the cymbals). I guess if you're reading this and you're interested in buying the set then send me an offer. If you have any suggestions on a price it would be greatly appreciated. Any comments are more than welcome. Once again thank you!