This is my complete line up now. Maybe I should retire while I am ahead, it can only go downhill from here!
Set 1. Leedy Fiesta 22-13-16 matching snare - Shelly Manne Outfit 1958.
Set 2. Slingerland Capri 22-13 (1958) 15" Slingerland Mardi Gras stage band floor tom (1962)- and a 5X14 COB Dyna Sonic snare 1968.
Set 3. Leedy Mardi Gras 22-13-14 matching snare - Shelly Manne Outfit??? 1959 or 1960???
Set 4. Slingerland Cocktail Set 16-14 (1962) with Leedy Fiesta 13" Tom (1965)
Wow....what a gorgeous and well-chosen collection! Fantastic!!Burger Kin
Update March16:
O'Lugs,
Thanks for the compliment on the sets! I really like to hear that from seasoned drummers and admirers of these great old drums! They are so cool, I can't stop looking at them - now I have an update to the Slingerland Capri set. I got a Capri 14" floor tom that matches the other drums very nicely. The drum is dated Dec 20, 1958 which is just 1 month after the original shells!
There is something unusual about the floor tom in that it has a middle 4" wide reinforcement ring. Is that unusual?
I also got a 6 lug Slingerland snare with a Chicago badge without the loop on the "S" in Slingerland. It is dated August 22, 1959 and it is a little darker with a black & slight purple cast to the finish, close to the other drums, but not an exact match. I am not sure what the model of the snare is though. 6 lugs, with a mahoghany interior and a simple 2 point strainer.
I am still looking for a Radio King or Super Krupa snare that has the same Capri finish and the Chicago badge - dated for 1958. But for now that Capri set looks pretty good and close enough of a match.
Anyway, this has kept me busy looking most of the winter and I feel pretty good that I have got 3 pretty nice, consistent and almost complete vintage kits in these rare but beautiful finishes. These drums do sound really good, my favorite kit would have to be the Fiesta Shelly Manne kit - I love how that floor tom & snare sounds on that set.
This is the updated line up:
Set 1. Leedy Fiesta 22-13-16 matching snare - Shelly Manne Outfit 1958.
Set 2. Slingerland Capri 22-13 -14 (1958) -with somewhat matching 6 lug snare (1959)
Set 3. Leedy Mardi Gras 22-13-14 matching snare - Shelly Manne Outfit??? 1959 or 1960???
March 16 update - Additional Pics (1. Capri Snare, 2. 14" floor tom interior, 3. Capri sanre, 4. all the drums)
Well, it really looks good to me now -
but David, I am still looking to get a matching Radio King or Super Krupa snare for that Capri set as well as a matching 16 inch floor tom if possible.
I hope DrCJW drops back in to check out all the updates.
Spring is on its way!
You must really like confetti.
Gary,
I do, (like those confetti type finishes) plus I like the rariety too. I do like the sparkles as well, but these 3 pearl finishes are really the favorites. The Capri, Fiesta & Mardi Gras, I think that they are really unique and beautiful. There is one more finish that I am liking and that is the Black Galaxy from Ludwig.
I also like the sound of these drums, it is a lot more warm down to earth. I really like finding out about the history and background of these vintage kits too.
But this all got started when I sold that nice Ludwig Champagne Sparkle kit that I had back in the summer (if you remember that) - since then I bought and sold 2 nice Rogers sets and ended up with these 3 sets!
Back then I thought that I was just going to trade 1 kit for another and save some money, now look what has happened! It is like an addiction, but a good one as long as I don't go overboard. It can be expensive too.
