That certainly looks like the right yellow. How did there stamps work ? There is a big 1946 stamp on the interior of the shell but no paper tag like you usually see on the interior of silver interior Gretsch drums. This stamp is big and right on the shell. Similiar to my old Leedy.

Just a big 1946 written vertically in black

The stamps I have on my Gretsch 53 floor tom and 47 rack tom are not very big.

This is my 47 stamp.....haven't got a photo of the 53 but I remember it's about the same size.

The hole to the bottom right is a lug mount screw hole - so you can sort of tell the stamp size by comparison.

Yea that is what they look like on my 53 cocktail as well. This is a weird drum. Not sure what is going on with it. Posting a new thread with pics now.

Most likely this is a model number, maybe they ink stamped it in the shell instead of using a paper tag, since it's a student model.

I thought model number also....but the model number is 4104 and 4105 for this particular drum according to the Gretsch catalogs of the 50's and 60's in the Vintage Drum Guide. It looks like the Dixieland Model which was a step up from the "Junior Pro". They called it an Orchestra Snare drum....still stumped on the stamp.

I'm interested in what the stamp is about on your drum too.

In some cases factory workers/drum builders will put something inside the drum at the buyer's request. I know this because I asked Gretsch to write something in my custom drums and they did. This is probably not the case with your drum.....but you never know. The mystery continues..."stumped on the stamp."

No kidding. I've searched the net high and low and found zip. Hey Gary could you please check out my other thread with pictures of this drum and let me know what you think of the snare beds ? I saw you restored a Dixieland at one point and was hoping to get your take. Here is the link http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=23431

I did not do much to the Dixieland drum. The edges and bed were good I think. I've never played around with fixing or redoing snare beds. I will look at my photos and the drum to tonght though.

My Dixieland came to me with only about 1/2 of the Red Sparkle wrap. I was going to rewrap it but when I cleaned the glue off I found some very nice wood and did not have the heart to throw a wrap in it. Just Tung Oil... a few coats...rubbed it out a bit and applied some clear gloss lacquer to the outside and on top of the silver sealer inside. I thought - the drum is altered now so what the hey....and applied the clear lacquer coats inside. I think it makes for a brighter sounding drum.

I will compare the snare beds though and let you know......