Depending on the kit ( ie: "Pro-Beat" or "Hollywood" ) they would have

come equipped with either the heavy duty "Atlas" or the durable "Classic"

line.

Still constructed from triple plated flat steel with good old rubber tips.

By late 1975 the Atlas went tubular and sported the ridiculous swivelling

feet generally found up to that point on dinette sets.

In 1980, these were upgraded with chunky rubber feet ( better ) but

larger "hand sized" knobs made of plastic.

They were called "Hercules" and the Atlas returned as the middle-weight line.

I have a Hercules Hi-Hat which is remarkably smooth, but this design was

not so hot in the durabilty department.

The aluminum tubes would dent and the plastic knobs prone to cracking when piled on top of each other in transport.

The flat base Classic became the "Lightweight" line as the massive hardware of the 80's came about and has remained essentially unchanged to this day.

Except that the style is now popular again and offered by both DW and Gibraltar.

Cheers!

Here is the Catalog information for the 1973-'74 time frame.

Up first, The Classic Line............

[IMG]http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL770/2917504/13511532/287744472.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL770/2917504/13511532/287743005.jpg[/IMG]

Next, The Atlas Line............

[IMG]http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL770/2917504/13511532/287744495.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL770/2917504/13511532/287743225.jpg[/IMG]

As was mentioned, the Atlas did get Tubular Legs (Steel, not Aluminum) with Swivel / Button feet around 1975-76 but this configuration only lasted for a very short period time, maybe a year, before the Hercules Line was introduced that used Tubular Legs & Rubber Feet (Crutch Tips.) The early Herc Stands were nothing more than the old Atlas Line with Tube Legs & Rubber Feet, the Tubes (tapered center tube,) Metal Tension Knobs (bottom Tube held in w/Clamp type) & Tilter were straight up Atlas. It was around 1977-78 that the Hercules Line came into it's own with a beefier Tilter & Black Plastic Tension Knobs and remained this way with a few tweaks here & there, like collars notched for Memory Locks, until they were phased out in the mid-80's..........

LVDC

Thanks very much for your help. Now it's just a matter of finding the hardware in good condition !

Steve

Steve, your best bet is going to be eBay, no way around that. I spent the first few months of this year reconditioning nothing but Ludwig Stands & Pedals, primarily Atlas & Hercules, and still find myself working them. Right now I'm working a mixed lot of WFL Stands & Pedals with a few Atlas & Herc's thrown in for good measure..........

Based on my experience I've found that even with some cosmetic issues they usually clean up and look pretty good, especially from a distance. The two major issues in my book are how much wear the Tilter Ratchet has and are the Legs / Base "Wind Chimey," a term I guess I made up because whenever I say it people look at me funny. It's just my way of saying that when you pick up the stand with the Legs locked into place where they would be when set-up they wobble / wiggle around. This isn't as big an issue as stripped / excessively worn Tilter Ratchets, which makes a Stand unusable or, at best, less than secure, since you can usually position "Wind Chimey" Legs in a stable position with the weight of the Cymbal holding it there.....

One good thing about Stands is the fact that you can mix & match their components. You could have one with serious issues to the Base with the rest in excellent condition, or vice versa, and come up with one excellent Stand out of the two.........

Just some things to consider. Good Luck!

LVDC

Model #1402 Atlas cymbal stand shows legs with a bend in an upper section of each one in some catalogue photos and a bend in a lower section in other photos. Does anyone know if there were 2 versions of model #1402 ?

There were at least two versions, at least I have / had Atlas Stands with bends in either the upper and lower section of the Legs. I'm not sure which came first but I think the type with the bend in the upper section did. I wouldn't be surprised to find other varieations if my "Hercules" experience is any indicator. I probably have / had only about 9 or 10 of the Atlas 1402's so my sample size is too small to get a good feel for how many changes the Atlas Line may have gone through................

LVDC

Thanks, LVDC.

Steve

I have one 1402 with the bend in the lower part of the legs...

Matt

Matt,

From what I've found, the one you have seems to be the most common one. Also, the design of this one is more similar to the Atlas snare stand.

Steve