I'm betting the previous owner sealed the what looks to be luan shell with a primer sealer paint.I did this to the toms on my Royce/Export set and it did increase resonance slightly.I didn't paint the edges,though.I waxed them.

Otherwise-let me know when you get sick of those.....very nice.Pearl was really at their game then.Nice finishes and unbeatable hardware.Those sizes are cool,too.If they were BDP......

A friend of mine bought a pearl kit,78,79 that had the same badge and mounting hardware as yours,they were wood outer with inner fiberglass,the fiberglass inner was whitish color,I can,t remember how thick the fiberglass was,but the drill hole for the mounts might be a good place to look.