Greetings! I saw your post, and had to reply. I've lived in Kenmore, NY for all of my 31 years, currently five blocks from where the Kent Drum factory operated. I own a 1966 blue sparkle Kent, and thought I'd share my story. I'm a bass player, but my older brother has been a drummer for over 25 years, and like most people who grew up in this area, his first kit was a Kent. Back in '98, I dropped out of college and went full-time as a butcher. One of the regular weekly customers was "Mr. Kent," and after my guitarist friend/manager of the meat market introduced me to him, I had a good talk with the retired owner of E.W. Kent Drum Company. I gave him my address and asked him if he could send anything, like old brochures, etc. He sent me a greeting card, apologizing that he didn't have any memorabilia that he could spare, explaining that Japanese competition and a fire had forced them to close, and wishing me well. My brother restored my blue sparkle Kent, put some Evans heads on it, kept the original heads with the company logo, and tuned it up. It sounds great, and was purchased for $20! I still have the greeting card, but I'm not sure if Mr. Kent is still alive. I thought it was interesting that he remained in the area, and as it turned out, he was a businessman who never played the drums! As others have stated, some of their kits were great, and some were not so great. My big bro has an orange sparkle, and the drummer in my current band had a blue swirl. Not much for tech info, but thought I'd say hello...just about every drummer in Kenmore and Buffalo has a soft spot for Kent drums...
Kent drums
Hi all, I'm new to this forum so forgive me if Ive started at the wrong place, but this thread seemed the most relevant to my enquiry!
I have purchased through ebay the following kick drum (these listings have ended as I have bought them):
and snare drum:
The listings made out they were either Ludwig or Slingerland and I thought the condition of the shells was very good and warranted purchasing and restoration, and then playing!
Since delving further into the sellers store out of curiosity, I noticed he had very similar looking drums, all sold separately, and it looks to me they are all part of the same kit (one photo shows the other drums inn the background). However, these other separate drums are without a doubt 'Vibratone' shells...
(listings are current as of 26th Jan 2012):
Now my research into Vibratone, led me to Kent drums, which led me here, and I have read the whole forum thread about Kent drums, and read through numerous links like the Coopers vintage drum kent museum etc to try and see if I could identify the kick and snare I just bought, but no luck!
All Kent drum info seems to talk of production post 1950, but the kick drum lugs and shell size seem to me to fit an earlier production era.
I also have learnt that Kent, as a cheaper option to the big four companies at that time were prone to irregular manufacturing processes and quality.
All images of Kent drums online are of the 'newer' style 'pearl shell' finishes, and none show a similarity to the ones I just bought. Looking at vintage Ludwig catalogues the paint finish does look similar to 1920's style shell finishes. I just cant tell withought actually having the drums here if it is a home-made copy of the style or an original finish, and the listings have no mention of stamps or badges with them.
If anyone can shed some light on the drums I've just purchased I would be extremely grateful!!
Looking at the shells I have a good feeling they will clean up nice and sound good after restoration, but I don't want to feel like Ive been ripped off thinking they were vintage Ludwig and have been sold a turkey.
Id really appreciate any comments or thought regarding these drums.
Thankyou!
:)#
Here are some pics of my Kents. Scored from c/l last summer for 15 bucks. They were a mess but cleaned up like new. I must be crazy but I dont see the pics of your drums in this thread. Good luck to ya!
Jeff C
Thank you!
Jeff C
"Enjoy every sandwich" Warren Zevon
drumdriver: welcome to the forum.
Post some pictures of your drums. Please don't do the eBay links since those auctions go away in a while... There is nothing more troubling when doing research than finding 'the link' and it turns out to be an eBay link from three years ago...
Thankyou, yes fair enough about the links. I've spent some time putting together some pics and uploading them to make things easier.
Here is the bass drum I have bought, am told it is 27&1/2 inches, and Ludwig. No badge or images of stamps, but an older era looking shell construction than 50s?
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg275/drumdriver/Ebay%20vintage%20drums/Bass_drum.jpg
And here is the snare I have bought, am told it is Slingerland (?-seller seems to be fibbing now?), 15" X 6", again no badge or stamp pics. Seller thinks the lugs are not original. I was excited because the kick and snare looked matching to me in the old ludwig shell paint from the 20s/30s, and was keen to restore them and play them as a kit, which is why I bought them:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg275/drumdriver/Ebay%20vintage%20drums/Snare.jpg
I then found way back in the sellers ebay store these items for sale, and well, was a bit disappointed! The plot thickens, or the mystery deepens as they say...
Seller describes this as Vibratone 14" X 10" tom, and well that looks right to me, but it has the same shell as the kick and snare!
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg275/drumdriver/Ebay%20vintage%20drums/Tom.jpg
-And this as a Vibratone 15" X 12" Floor tom. (This has way crazy/short legs!)
*BTW seller says of every drum "they seem to have been painted"...again, same shell as kick and snare, there are other drums in the background, looks like the snare maybe and something else!?
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg275/drumdriver/Ebay%20vintage%20drums/FloorTom.jpg
I thought Id ask the forum first of their opinions if the kick and snare were Ludwig?
Its hard to tell from pics of course, it definitely looks now like some sort of home-job in one way or another...does anyone know any info about Vibratone, in case the kick and snare turn out to be that?
I would ask the seller directly, but as he is awaiting for me to pay for shipping, I don't want to ruffle any feathers before I complete a transaction.
I'd like to feel more informed before entering into a discussion with him.
Cheers guys!
I thought this thread was on Kent drums. I never saw the pictures from the origional post by drumdude.
Jeff C
Thank you!
Jeff C
"Enjoy every sandwich" Warren Zevon
Hi Jeff, yes this is primarily all about Kent drums- my research into these is what led me here, I couldnt see the original pics either in the first post.
My post is related, as I read that Vibratone were made by Kent, and Im trying to uncover the mystery with drums I have just purchased on ebay which are/or seem to be part of a 'Vibratone ' kit.
Good job on cleaning yours up! Did you get a floor tom as well? Reason I ask is because I want to compare the legs/lugs with pics in my post, as the floor tom legs look ridiculously short.
Cheers,
Danny
No I did not get a floor tom with mine. Pretty sure mine was origionally sold as a combo, bass , snare and hang tom. I would like to get a blue sparkle floor tom sometime.
Jeff C
Thank you!
Jeff C
"Enjoy every sandwich" Warren Zevon
The two Vibratone drums were made by Kent in the 1950's, shells with no reinforcement hoops. The other two drums look like Ludwig drums? To me it looks like someone had these four drums and re-painted them to make a set, this is just what I see.
Mouse
Thanks Mouse, yes its starting to look like that thankfully.
This would explain why the seller has separated them in the listings then, my fear was he was parading Vibratones as a 1920s Ludwig. So I hope it turns out that that is the original paint job on the kick and snare!
Perhaps I should post separately my enquiry about the kick and snare for some Ludwig enthusiasts who may be able to tell me what they are.
Cheers!
- Share
- Report