Tiki...

A pic or two would be of GREAT BENEFIT here... but I will get you going in the right direction based on what you have described:

The serial on your Tower paper tag is pretty low, which would suggest that your drum is probably an earlier model. The Tower snare drum came out in 1962 and originally had the B&B ( bread and butter ) lugs on it. It sounds like you have the "Universal Throw-off" strainer based on your description... PLUS... you have stated that the outside of the shell is finished in Mahogany/Lacquer. This is also indicative of the earlier Tower models. So, what does this all mean?

It sounds to me like you have a 1962 or 1963 Tower model snare drum, because, in 1964 Rogers updated the Tower to include the NEW Beavertail lugs, and the Sta-Tite strainer/throw. Mahogany was still offered as a finish choice, but Pearl wraps were becoming prominent.

Needless to say, a pic or two would show me instantly exactly what you have. You could certainly have a 1964 or later Tower too, which would be a lot easier to get lugs for, and cheaper. By the way, I have a 1965 Tower snare drum in WMP and it plays/sounds great. As a matter of fact, there is very little if any difference between the Tower snare drum and the upper end Powertone! Shells and hardware, save the strainer, are the same!

Hope this was of help!

Tommyp

TommyP, thank you for the information. I felt that because of the low number on the tag that it is probably an early model. I will post some pictures soon. Glad to hear that your Tower snare sounds good. Gives me some hope that I will have a good addition to my collection of drums.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond. Have a good one!

Tiki.........

Here a a few pictures to checkout.

Thanks, Tiki

Hi Tiki...

What's the old adage? A picture is worth a thousand words? In this case, a picture is worth a MILLION words! Okay, here's what's what:

The strainer/throw on your Tower is indeed the "Universal" as I had thought... the butt is also correct. This coupled with the LOW serial number on your tag PLUS the Mahogany exterior finish dates this drum to approx.a one year window... My thought is 1962 to 1963. In 1964, Rogers changed the lugs to the NON crack prone Beavertails, and the Sta-Tite strainer.

The lugs currently installed on your Tower are indeed, Slingerland... The original Rogers Drawn Brass lugs, also referred to as Bread & Butter lugs, were very soft brass and incredibly crack prone... actually, prone is the wrong word... thay ALL eventually cracked under use. The NEW Beavertail lugs didn't share the same bolt pattern as the B&B's, thus they couldn't be upgraded/changed out. It would appear that the Slingerland Sound King lugs DO FIT!, as I'm not seeing any evidence of "hole buggering" around the screw heads/washers. :-)

This is a nice drum, and one of the earliest I have seen given the serial number and the Universal strainer. It also appears to be in excellent condition. There is a way to return this to it's CORRECT status, and enable it to also be a player without fear of lug cracking... but it would be a "tad" costly... around $175.00 actually. That would be entirely up to you! If you are at all interested in that, send me an email, and I will give you the details. Otherwise, play it and enjoy it as it is!

Very nice drum otherwise Tiki!

Tommyp

Hi again Tiki... Actually after a detailed CLOSE look at the screws/washers, there DOES appear to be a bit of "hole buggering" in the mounting of the Slingerland Sound King lugs. You would have to take the drum all apart to really see what's up with the shell. I still think it could possibly be saved and returned to it's original Rogers design/status.

Tiki...

I sent you a PM... Check your mail box on the Vintage Drum Guide Forum.

Tommyp

[Attachment: 554]Here is that picture.

Thanks.........

okay, dating on the internet has totally gotten out of hand! It is a beautiful drum , however.

Ya know, as soon as I posted that message I was thinking that someone would look at that and make a comment!

I'm gonna hafta watch what I post here.Funny Post