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Identify Black Beauty

black beatuy dating indentifying ludwig serial number
Posts: 1 Threads: 1

Hey all!

First time poster here and hope you guys can help me out.

My local GC has a used Black Beauty 14x6.5 on sale and I'm trying to figure out what year it's been made.

The badge is a keystone badge that reads "Made in U.S.A" at the bottom and the number on top reads 13876 (which means somewhere in the 60's?). There's a stamp on the inside that reads 091912 (does that mean September 19 2012?) Because that wouldn't line up with the serial number...I'm confused.

Attached are some pics so maybe there's something I'm missing. Any help appreciated.

Cheers!

Posted on 5 years ago
#1
Posts: 629 Threads: 45

That's a modern drum, so the 2012 date makes sense. Serial numbers on Ludwigs made after the late 1980s are random and can't be used to date the drum.

Posted on 5 years ago
#2
Posts: 2010 Threads: 19

The Black Beauty series of brass (sometimes bronze) seamless shell Supra style drums was introduced in 1977 so a 1960's production date is out of the question (several other details would likewise rule out the drum being that old).

Appears to be a fairly modern drum. 2012 is a distinct possibility. I thought they went to using the re-introduced smaller keystone badge design on snare drums in 2014-15 but it could have been a year or two earlier.

Posted on 5 years ago
#3
Posts: 268 Threads: 44

Should be a great sounding instrument - hope the price is right for ya.

thejohnlec
Ohio Valley
Posted on 5 years ago
#4
Posts: 6363 Threads: 223

Very easy to tell from the grommet that the vintage badge was added to make the drum appear to be much older than it is!

-Mark

Posted on 5 years ago
#5
Posts: 1074 Threads: 3

From idrum4fun

Very easy to tell from the grommet that the vintage badge was added to make the drum appear to be much older than it is!-Mark

Shouldn't a vintage badge say "Chicago, USA"? This badge says "Made in USA".

Posted on 5 years ago
#6
Posts: 1322 Threads: 22

From slingerfan

Shouldn't a vintage badge say "Chicago, USA"? This badge says "Made in USA".

Yes I noted that as well. I do not recall when these new keystone badges were introduced but I suspect this drum is not more than several years old. If the price is right it is probably worth getting it, but it certainly is not vintage.

Mark
BosLover
Posted on 5 years ago
#7
Posts: 629 Threads: 45

I had a 2014 LM402 with the same badge. I don't recall that it had a serial number though.

Posted on 5 years ago
#8
Guest

From idrum4fun

Very easy to tell from the grommet that the vintage badge was added to make the drum appear to be much older than it is!-Mark

False alarm on the grommet. This is not a vintage badge. As a few people have already pointed out this is the badge in use by 2012. Ludwig changed from the larger Monroe keystone and back to a smaller one which just says Made in USA.

Here is a previous example in this thread from 2013

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112094

where the drum did not have a serial number. Bermuda also mentions a 2007 Legacy reissue and other details.

Interesting badge, I hadn't seen that one (Made in USA) before. But, here's what's been happening with some of their badges.For a LONG time, the standard Supras & Black Beauties got the largish, flat, brass colored Monroe Keystone badge with a serial number.The Legacy line issued in 2007 had a reproduction old style (60s) Keystone badge with a serial number.Last year, their US drum lines got a recycled brass, cast badge, and the leftover Legacy/Keystone old school badges were put on Supras and Black Beauties (which actually looks really classy!)Now, they make a ton of Supras & BBs, and have since probably blown through the remaining older Legacy numbered badges. So this Made in USA badge might be new. Serial numbers are now being applied to the inside of the drums on a piece of paper (a la Ludwig c1972... Rogers... Gretsch...) so that explains why the badge wouldn't have a number.So if your drum has a label inside, it must be pretty new, and I'll guess these new badges must have just come into use.Hard to imagine that it's a fake though, especially coming from a Ludwig dealerBermuda

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Posted on 5 years ago
#9
Posts: 617 Threads: 7

So many badges these days!

I don't think it was "blow through" numbered badges and then change.

They stopped using numbered badges when they started using numbered stickers inside the drums, on Legacy shells anyway.

Perhaps 4-5 years ago?

Posted on 5 years ago
#10
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