I wouldn't touch up the BD hoops unless they look real bad. "Normal" wear looks cool IMHO. If you do touch em up though, Krylon satin black, not gloss.

Can't help with the rest, but someone will...

Cool kit!

Mitch

I've got several early 60's bass drums with natural interior while the toms were painted white. That's very common for the period. I have a 22 Club Date bass circa '64 that has the Wfl style spurs. Also have the same in a '61 issue. So that makes sense. That rail placement is also seen on many early pre serial models as well. I can't help you much on the badge stuff however.

I use black sharpies on hoops that need touch up. Takes just a little bit of time. Usually two applications needed on the bare wood portions. You'll be amazed when you are finished. I like it better than repainting original hoops.

Mike

Thanks for the reply. When it comes to hardware, if Ludwig had it, they used it, even years later. In 1965 I purchased a new 12/14/20 Ludwig set in black diamond pearl from Sam Ash's huge new store in Hempstead, NY. The rail attached to the rack tom via the slotted diamond mount. I didn't realize it back then that by 1965 it had long been superceded by the newer model with the rod and tom bracket.

The sharpie sounds interesting, but wouldn't they give you a flat, rather than matte appearance. I guess it depends on the degree of cover up required.

The problem is the shells and hardware are in excellent condition, and after polishing, the set looks like its much newer than it's 55 years. The amount of spots where the paint is off makes the hoops look a bit shabby.

Paint ...as dwntown farmer mentioned...

2 light coats will do perfectly .....

I like to repaint hoops with black lacquer spray paint as that's what they used originally. It has to actually say "lacquer" on the can. New lacquer will dissolve the old lacquer a bit and the new coat will meld with the old one. Also, unpolished black lacquer has just the right amount of sheen to it as the originals weren't polished after painting either.

One caveat though; If anyone has put enamel paint on the hoops over the years then you need to avoid using lacquer as it will "eat" said enamel just like paint remover. You can spray enamel over lacquer but you can't spray lacquer over enamel.

Yes that would be reason enough to touch up in my books too - if there's no real visible wear elsewhere on the kit, then patchy hoops look wrong.

Mitch

About your badges, it looks like your bass drum badge that looks more bronze in color looks like it was polished maybe with some brass cleaner or fine steel wool. I have done that to some stained marked up badges and they came out looking like that. Actulally wished I had left them alone.

They were both almost black when I got them and I used Brasso on both. Even when they were covered with grime they looked different from one another and under close inspection, which may not be as evident in the photos, they are clearly not the same badge. Even the grommet holding them on are different colors and have slightly different shapes. I took a number of shots in the same lighting and in different lighting and the results were always the same. The two badges seem to be made from different materials, one very brassy looking and one more like bronze.