Today I went to a pianist friend of mine. He's originally from Miami. His father who had passed a few years earlier had been a career drummer/percussionist. He invited me over to go through some boxes of gear that his dad had used that just arrived. Cut to the chase he pulled out a Keystone badge/no serial numbers brass 5x14 Supra. Amazing, and some nice cymbals, mostly 60's A but there were two things I'd like help IDing.

These Zildjian 20" orchestra piatti. Extremely heavy and dark sounding with the "G" stamp on the back edge. Amazing looking. I'm assuming the initials are most likely the guy who his dad got them from.

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/agopsalott/KStamp-1.jpg[/IMG]

And his medium heavy Z suspended cymbal.

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/agopsalott/Picture7-1.png[/IMG]

I have really enjoyed the history and cool material shared in this thread.

Thanks!

Lynn

Yes great thread. Bill!? Can ya help a brother out?

How cool!!

Yes I'll gladly help you out here. Even though I've know you to be a hardcore Cymbalholic,.....I won't hold that against you…..Even so, I've always regarded you as a hail fellow well met. And besides, we're all "brothers in the bronze" around here. So here it is:

That 2nd cymbal looks like an A. Zildjian & Cie. It's the earlier version of the trademark, so I would estimate that its from the early to mid 1970's.

And the first one, the Constantinople K. is from the 1930's. Judging from that particular trademark type I'd say that its from later in the 1930's. And that's a VERY cool and rare one. Boy did you ever hit the jackpot with those finds.

Bill...thanks! You're right I am a Cymbalholic but am posting here in your thread because there is still no one over there who could answer these questions with any certainty. Thanks very much.

Not sure what to do with the '70's sus cymbal but I've got to get the piatti set and take some good pictures. With your info, they are the oldest cymbals I personally have seen, and just reek of old world hand craftsmanship. As a drumset player they're far to heavy to be of use to me so the plan would be to sell them to the right guy. Undoubtedly an orchestra percussionist versed in the symphonic repertoire. Not to put you on the stop but I have to ask. Any idea what they're worth?

Thanks again Bill.

Sorry, I guess I wasn't clear. There are two. It's a set of orchestra piatti.

Good points Bill, thanks. Just to be clear, the piatti is a set of two of the older Constantinople K's. They share the same stamp, and are heavy with the same hammering and lathing. Looks like a matched set. The A. Zildjian & Cie is a single suspended cymbal. I need get some good pictures so you can have a look. Thanks.

A pair of 20" 1930s K Constantinoples?!? Holy cow. Does the other one have the same engraved initials? Can't wait to see some pics!

-Bill

O.K.

Then I guess I REALLY misunderstood. Well in that case this find is cooler than cool.

If I was looking to sell them I would start at $2500 and the sky's the limit on the high end value.