Big Daddy,

Yes it is my understanding that the early Leedy / Slingerland drums are Mahogany Interiors and they have maple reinforcement rings. DrCJW mentioned this back when I first posted about these drums "Dating a Leedy/Slingerland kit".

They are really nice condition and the interiors look really clean too. All of the drums on the Fiesta set are the same way (Mahogany interiors & maple rings), and it looks like this set also has Mahogany with maple rings.

Beebop,

No I didn't heist a bank but I did reach into savings to pay for this stuff (it hurt, but it was worth it). I am really trying to make my dollars count towards stuff that is really good - instead of buying stuff that isn't quite right and then spending the same money fixing it up. I have done that too much, and when I add it up, there isn't that much difference in the end between buying a prime kit that is what you want in good condition vs buying something that isn't quite right, but it costs less money up front, but alot more to fix it up.

But on these 2 kits, I lucked out to find a good trustworthy person who was able and willing to sell some really nice vintage kits to me. These were prized pocessions of his at one time and they are the same to me.

I am really happy about these drums!

I am looking for some advice, opinions on this Mardi Gras set. The owner was able to include 2 other toms that are Leedy Mardi Gras drums, but they are configured like a Ludwig Club Date. He suggested that I take the larger of the 2, which is a 15" or a 16" (I will have to ask again), to be reworked into a regular floor tom by removing the center lugs, filling in the holes and redrilling for the regular floor tom lugs. To be done by a professional - Jack Lawton.

He included another plain black Leedy drum with the lugs and tension rods for parts, pictured at the bottom.

The drum already has floor tom leg holders and I would end up with 2 matching Mardi Gras floor toms. This sounds like a great idea, but I wondered about 2 other options.

1. I bought a Slingerland late 50's (I think) floor tom that could be used, but I don't know how you can reuse the wrap from 1 drum to the other especially if they are slightly different sizes. Will it work? and would the fact that it is an original floor tom and did not have to be redrilled, make it more desirable?

2. Leave the drums as is and use it that way. What type of drums are these single row centered lug drums?

Any ideas or thoughts.

Thanks Mike

[QUOTE=MikeJtone]Big Daddy,

I am really trying to make my dollars count towards stuff that is really good - instead of buying stuff that isn't quite right and then spending the same money fixing it up. I have done that too much, and when I add it up, there isn't that much difference in the end between buying a prime kit that is what you want in good condition vs buying something that isn't quite right, but it costs less money up front, but alot more to fix it up.

I think this is great advice to all collectors, especially new ones. If you buy, complete, collectible, un-modified stuff, it will almost always hold its value, and probably increase. Re-wraps, modified, re-worked, and pieced together sets usually end up costing more than they're worth.

With regards to those two center lug "stage band" style drums, I'd leave them as is...there's probably a bass drum out there that will eventually turn up.

I think trying to remove the wrap, or re-drilling for different lugs would ruin a real collectible.

If you don't want them, let me know. Rich

Rich,

I think I am going to follow your suggestion and leave the drums alone but hold on to them, perhaps there is a Bass Drum out there that belongs to these toms. I wonder what kind of set this would have come from, the floor tom is a 12X15" (we think) and the rack tom is a 12 or 13".

Right now I will use that Gold Sparkle floor tom with the 1958 Slingerland Capri Pearl drums that I have and see if I come across a Radio King or Gene Krupa snare from that time frame in the matching Capri Pearl, there was one on Ebay that sold in December -

and

If I ever find a Leedy Mardi Gras "club date" Bass drum then I would have 3 sets complete with a matching snare - I could end up with 4 matching sets in very beautiful colors.

I never expected to accumulate 2 nice & complete vintage sets, like it appears that I have, at this point in time. I hope that DrCJW checks these out and can offer some insights. I wonder how long Mardi Gras was used on Leedy/Slingerland drums and their collectibility or desirability & rarity vs. the Rogers Mardi Gras drums.

Those center lug drums are Slingerlands (not Leedy)...the 13" and 12 x 15" toms were the standard size when Slingerland introduced the "stage band" style drums...they added 8x 12 and 14 x 14 center lug drums, and eventually discontinued the 15" one...I'm sure it was listed in their catalogs through the sixties.

I may know of a 20 or 22" "regular" bass drum in mardi gras if you're interested. Rich

Would you be interested in selling that black Leedy drum.

If you are my email is [email]bentstraw@gmail.com[/email]

I would like to see more pictures though if its too much of a

hassle dont worry about it though.

Rich K, Yes I am interested - Let me know.

Well I am still waiting on the Leedy Mardi Gras, it looks like late next week is when it will arrive.

Since I have been waiting, I was able to buy the Slingerland Fiesta Cocktail set that was on Ebay from its new owner and a Leedy Fiesta tom that was also on Ebay, so now I have 3 more Fiesta pieces. I guess I am a Fiesta guy.

I also bought a gold Slingerland floor tom and had some questions about it....The finish looks perfect, even under the lugs, so I was wondering if this were a re-wrap. Any other ways to tell? The shell is definitely vintage and that is why I bought it, I wanted what I thought was a late 50's floor tom from Slingerland. The bass that was with this floor tom had a Black & Brass Chicago Badge with the loop on the "S", and it looked just as clean. So I am not sure, maybe it is original: if this is original wrap, it is in outstanding condition!

That is what I think I got, even though there is no date stamped, there is a white crayon like "P" hand written inside the shell, that is the only marking. It also has the crosses or 'X' lug screws & washers. Any thoughts on whether this is a re-wrap and on the dating on the tom would be appreciated too...Thanks Mike

I included a picture of the Bass Drum auction that was the mate to this floor tom.

THE SELLER of the Gold Sparkle Floor Tom contacted me and told me that this was not a re-wrap...This finish is immaculate!!!

Well Now I have just got the MARDI GRAS set and now everything that I was waiting for has now arrived! I am very interested in dating of this set, and trying to find out some quirks about it - I hope someone can shed some light here - DrCJW or whoever would understand these details.

First the kit is a 22-13-14-14 matching snare. The dates are stamped on the 22" Bass - Nov 16, 195? (9 I think)

13" Tom - Nov 17, 195? (8 I think or could be 9)

14" Snare - no date or month shows, but the year is 1960.

14" Floor Tom - Has no stamps what so ever.

The lug screws on the floor tom are all crosses, the leg mount screws are flat hex head with a single slot. The bass & the tom have all crossed heads as does the snare. The bass, the 13" tom and the snare all have the Blue & Brass Chicago badge without the "48", the floor tom does not have a badge, or a vent hole (nor does it have the P 020 stamp or date stamp like the others). The badge on the bass is loose and spins freely. All the toms & the snare have the 2 padded muffler.

HERE ARE THE PECULIARITIES:

The bass drum has leg mounts like my 58 Capri Pearl Slingerland bass same flat trapezoid shape with a 1/4" spur, & the wing nut tightening screw - where my Fiesta Leedy has the more rounded mount with the 3/8 inch spur.

The 14" Floor Tom is with a 22" Bass & 13" mounted tom. The floor tom has no date or wrap stamp inside the shell. The floor tom has the more 60's like hex headed / single slotted screws to secure the leg mounts.

The snare has a slight ridge that goes about 1/4 way around the shell about an 1 1/2" below the top edge, it almost feels like an Acrolite shell with wrap over top of it.

Other than these mysteries, this is a really beautiful set. This finish is outstanding, but I think the condition of the Fiesta interiors is better than these interiors, I noticed some rust on some of the screw heads. But this is a great kit!

I also received these 2 additonal drums called a stage band style, the great thing about it is that there is a 12X15 floor tom that actually looks alot like the Capri Pearl bass & tom that I have been trying to match. For now this will give me a floor tom that looks alot like the Capri set (which the guys at the drum shop initially told me were Mardi Gras, I can see the resemblence).

Anyhow any dating ideas, ideas about the peculiarities or comments about the set are very welcomed.

These are pictures of the interiors and peculiarities.

Picture 1 is the Bass drum leg mount

Picture 2 is the 13" tom

Picture 3 is the 14" Snare

Picture 4 is the 22" Bass drum interior

Picture 5 is the 14" floor tom interior