Yes the date is there, the first thing I did when I got home was look into the vent hole and there it was clear as the sun, June 18 1969. This drum is so nice I can’t believe its mine.
Bill, you and I think alike. I thought the same thing about the keystone badge and the P-85. I was surprised to see the P-85 and round muffler knob. So I am guessing Ludwig was in the process of changing badges and like you said used what they had. So this drum may be quite unique.
The kid had sent pictures of the drum but not of the strainer side. At first he said there was no badge, and then he looked again and said it was there and it said Chicago on it. I could see by the high resolution pics that this drum was in very good shape and decided that I will be buying it no matter what, considering the price. For what I paid it could have a Ronald McDonald strainer and it would have been a deal.
Do the drum head logos look original?