That is very cool - amazing.

Thanks for posting.

That Gettysburg snare was likely played by a young boy during battle to drum instructional cadences to the troops as they were in the midst of the chaos of battle. The field drummers were usually around 15/16 years old. They would hammer out different cadences that the Generals would order and the troops could hear the drums over the noise of the battle and depending on the cadence (which beat the drummer played,) the troops would respond accordingly. Using the drummers was how the Generals communicated with the troops during battle. That drum, that piece of history, is most certainly possessed of great soulful spirit.

It's a wonderful acquisition for your museum. That drum is worthy of exhibit at the National Smithsonian or the Gettysburg Civil War Museum. You guys are so lucky to have it. A photo would be wonderful to see.

Mike Curotto is your man. As knowledgeable a drum historian as you'll find anywhere.

John

Hi Tim, The J.G. Richards Co was a music house that sold drums ete with their name badges on the drums.The drums could be a number of names that sold the drums to them your drum could be a Leedy,Conn,Stone,Ludwig, ete,ete..A better photo of the T-rods would help out by pin pointing the maker of the drum.The electric motor that works the bass pedal leads me to think that this drum could be one that came out of a player piano type of thing-: can't recall the name of it}-.The front painted head looks to be a home painted job to me most of these heads would have the paint go all the way to the edge of the head...Could you post a photo of the motor and pedal?..Mikey

Tim

An aside:

I recently bought a book written about the young Drummer Boys of the Civil War. You may have heard about it or read it already but if not the info is below.

Interesting book - lots of nice old photos and stories.

It must have been hell out there on the front with nothing but a snare drum between you and the flying bullets = HARSH.

Here's the BOOK info for those that may be interested:

TOO YOUNG TO DIE Boy Soldiers of the Union Army 1861-1865

written by Dennis M. Keesee

Hardcover

Published 2001 Blue Acorn Press Huntigton West Virginia

ISBN 1-885033-28-1

Pg 38 of The Trades, March 1919

http://books.google.com/books?id=1ZxQAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA4-PA38&lpg=RA4-PA38&dq=J.G+Richards+drums&source=bl&ots=w27PwR3xt_&sig=Zfaau4VbgCbXEcJxd9q7G8gDFmY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NpQVT9OwH7LJ0AH95K3dCw&ved=0CDsQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=J.G%20Richards%20drums&f=false

ps: no relation lol

Found this picture: http://www.leedydrums.com/since1895_2.html

Third picture on the right, bass drum in the back middle.

This is the style of drum we have in the museum. The windmill, the moon and the lake design. The scene is not identical, since it is hand painted, but that's the drum.

- Tim

How about that pedal to the right of the bass drum? Any ideas on the make? This might help identify the drum.

-Tim

A full pix of the pedal would be helpful. Anything stamped or engraved on the pedal? Dates, numbers, etc?

Here are some more pictures. It looks like the pedal is a "Riches". I can't find any information on this brand.

The lugs have "Pat. 1-9-12" stamped into each one. I thought the electric cord was for a motor, but there are actually colored lights mounted inside the drum. So there is no motor assembly.

There are also the initials "KRG" at 11 o'clock on the front head above the mural.

- Tim