Does the badge read "Chicago" or "Monroe NC". I don't reacall seeing the brass drums with etching like that directly into the brass. If it has the Chicago badge it could be from around 1984 prior to the move to Monroe NC. I think Ludwig stopped making engraved drums by 1984 though. The black beauty drums returned sometime in the 90's. I think maybe 1992 and the engraving was done by John Alderidge. You could go to the notsomoderndrummer.com website and probobly ask John himself. He might know more about it. Did you get a good price?? Looks like a very nice drum. Congrats.

-Kurt

Thanks so much, it does say Chicago on the badge, so that will help, I didn't know about that. i'm mostly a Gretsch guy. I will try John as well. I got it for 100.00 because i complained that the rims didn't match and the muffler was gone. i'd say a good price. Thanks again for your in time and effort.

That makes sense that it is a Chicago badge because the engraving looks like the machined engraving Ludwig did around 1979-81 on thier black beauty's. That is an odd drum for sure. Having that badge would seem tp put it in the 1984 time frame but I thought they had stopped engraving drums by this time. Interesting. I am curious as to what John thinks now.