That's exactly what Ludwig had in mind, specifically going up against Tama, although this line was certainly not inexpensive. I spoke with a gal who worked at Ludwig from 1973-84 (thanks again Dave Heim!) and I recall something about the kits being around $1000, a premium price for a 'budget' kit back then (or now for that matter!)

Schools were certainly a target, but the drums were available to anyone who knew they existed during the year or so they were around. According to the employee, Ludwig didn't have much literature between '80 and '84, so that series got skipped over.

FYI, the catalog marked "Percussion 80" actually came out at the end of 1978, and would have debuted at Winter NAMM 1979.

Bermuda

Its very interesting to learn the history of all of the major drum companies. Its when we stumble onto something like this kit that makes you stop and think of what do I really have here. I drove 400 miles (round trip) to get these and during the drive I asked myself several times, why am I doing this? Well from the response of this thread today I think the trip was worth it. Pretty darn cool to have a drum set that never even made into a catalog. I would have never guessed this kit would have sold for 1000. in the late 70s, if it really did then I wonder what its value is today, and let me make this clear I am not asking for an appraisal because they are not for sale. All of the good, cool vintage drums that I find are keepers. I do sell the cheep kits that I paint but the real vintage kits, no way they blong to me. In the future I would consider a trade but for now I think the right thing to do is to keep them with the palastic lugs and look at them while I play my other kits.

Jeff C

Jeff: You wonder what those are worth? Well, I'd say about twenty bucks... look, I'll shoot you a money order and you just ship 'em out here. Who would want a pile of old nasty 'can't even play 'em with plastic lugs' drums laying around anyway. I'm doing you a huge favor. Heck, since I've talked to you on the phone about these, I'll man up and even throw in a 'Sound Percussion' high hat stand. It is a little rusty, but heck, what a deal, right! Eye Ball

Bermuda: First off, let me just acknowledge that I've enjoyed your beach wear for years...

The catalog thing would explain why I've been scratching my head about these. I've poured over mine and Dana Bentley's (Bentley's Drums in Fresno) trying to find an entry for these. Now I know why you can't. I had noticed the enigma about the 'Percussion 80' catalog a few months ago... Dana has a pristine copy with some dates that discuss '79 and suggest an earlier printing date, but no entry on the Educator line of kits.

Thanks for the info, if you've got any other ideas about these please shoot me a PM or tag along on this thread. As I've said, I'm not up to these yet, or the Combo's, but I will be eventually, and it seems I'm going to have to discuss a few things with folks to arrive at a consensus about the Educator kits.

Hey Craig, can you shoot me a pic of the hi hat stand, Im interestred!

Jeff C

Laughing my gluteus maximus off...

Lets not forget about the Rogers drums made with black and chrome plastic lugs.I don't recall the name of the line.I think they came out in the late 70's.Another line of drums that the drum company did not push on selling.Like the Ludwig Educators line of drums..Mikey

Thats interesting, didnt know about those. Anyone here have a set?

Jeff C

Hi Mike; I actually ran into one of those kits in the mid to late 80's in an out of the way second hand store in Grover City (now Grover Beach, down Pismo way). I wasn't even looking for drums, just exploring. I had the Camco kit, and was thinking of restoring them, but wasn't really playing at the time... just kind of goofing off. I had lost touch with any drum stuff for well over ten years, and was surprised to see the Rogers with those lugs. I remember the lugs had tape on 'em that was peeling off (chrome or aluminum tape?). Anyhoo, my thoughts were how cruddy they were. I know I could have picked the kit up for nearly nothing... forty bucks comes to mind, but I passed since they were nasty quality and condition.

Later, much later, someone told me that the kit was probably cardboard. From the look of the shells, I wouldn't have doubted it.

Craig

Hi Craig, I have seen a few of these set's in the pass.But not for a long time.I seem to recall the shells were wood and the tom mounts bass drum spurs were memriloc mounts.Yes the lugs were black plastic with the chrome tape, the inserts were metal nuts.Funny thing i have some of these lugs in stock bass and tom sizes.I also seem to recall the line of these drums were R-320 not the R-360s or 380's....Mikey