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Old Brass Snare ID help needed

Posts: 9 Threads: 1

Hello everyone,

Let me first say as this is my first post, that this website and forums are an incredible resource that has helped me a lot in figuring out what this drum is.

Yeah, yeah I know turn down the suction and get to the point! :)

I have what appears to be an old Ludwig 8 lug 14 x5 brass snare. So far looking at things here could it be a 20's or 30's? I did the magnet test and no cling at all so it would appear to be brass from where the paint is worn. Now I found no pictures at all on any snares with black paint during that time, so perhaps some heathen has just painted it black, it does look on the inside like a factory job. Maybe some one elses crazy attempt to make it look like a black beauty?

I cannot find any marks or badges rims or anywhere on it, it does have straight style rims and what I think are 20's or 30's claws. And lastly the bad news is there is no hardware for the snare throw off or butt end. It looks like perhaps there was a 4 screw throw off on it originally, or maybe someone put something else on it at some point.

Any enlightenment from you all would be greatly appreciated on what I consider to be an odd bird. But I know someone out there will have a better clue than me, I'm certainly not an expert. Also everything I have learned so far comes from here.

Thanks again,

Dirk

[IMG]http://bonzoestewjo.com/EbayPix/snare/DSC_0001.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://bonzoestewjo.com/EbayPix/snare/DSC_0002.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://bonzoestewjo.com/EbayPix/snare/DSC_0003.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://bonzoestewjo.com/EbayPix/snare/DSC_0004.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://bonzoestewjo.com/EbayPix/snare/DSC_0005.jpg[/IMG]

Posted on 14 years ago
#1
Posts: 9 Threads: 1

Oh yeah and there is one other unidentified hole 1 lug over to the left from the snare butt side. Perhaps for a damper?

Here are the last 2 pics.

[IMG]http://bonzoestewjo.com/EbayPix/snare/DSC_0006.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://bonzoestewjo.com/EbayPix/snare/DSC_0007.jpg[/IMG]

Posted on 14 years ago
#2
Posts: 10714 Threads: 579

Dirk. it is either a ludwig or leedy, and may have been a dual strainer model, can you take a better pic of the Tension rods and rims clips?! leedy has a brass shell in both black and white paint.

Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!
Posted on 14 years ago
#3
Posts: 9 Threads: 1

Wow thanks for the rapid reply, I'm blown away with the knowledge base you folks have here.

Do you think it's 20's or 30's?

Are the strainer parts hard to come by?

Would I be better advised to try and restore it or just let it go as is?

And lastly won't I be losing value if I try and clean it up with the deruster you guys suggest, or will I?

Thanks again,

Dirk

Oh yeah here's a closer pic of the tension rods and clips.

[IMG]http://bonzoestewjo.com/EbayPix/snare/DSC_0001B.jpg[/IMG]

Posted on 14 years ago
#4
Posts: 721 Threads: 30

Looks alot like my mid 1930's Slingerland.

[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b249/PapaJourney/100_2929.jpg[/IMG]

Joe


“I did not trip and fall. I attacked the floor and I believe I am winning.”
Posted on 14 years ago
#5
Posts: 10714 Threads: 579

From Dirk Diggler

Wow thanks for the rapid reply, I'm blown away with the knowledge base you folks have here. Do you think it's 20's or 30's?Are the strainer parts hard to come by? Would I be better advised to try and restore it or just let it go as is?And lastly won't I be losing value if I try and clean it up with the deruster you guys suggest, or will I?Thanks again,DirkOh yeah here's a closer pic of the tension rods and clips.[IMG]http://bonzoestewjo.com/EbayPix/snare/DSC_0001B.jpg[/IMG]

Dirk. Wait before you do anything to the shell cleaning wise, the tension rods and rim lips could be either Conn or ludwig era, conn owned, leedyl ludwig ludwig etc and used a lot of the same parts on each drum! like PopsOldSkins slaingerland he showed notice how short the heads are on the tesions rods yours are longer not like these he showed you.

Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!
Posted on 14 years ago
#6
Posts: 9 Threads: 1

Very cool stuff, obviously this is tough, at first look it sure looked like the Slingerland.

It sure looks like some Leedy's from that generation too. I noticed from looking around that indeed the clamp, rims and lugs from that period sure all look similar.

And no worries, I'm not doing a thing with it until I learn more.

Any other things I can tell you that might help ID it?

This is like history detectives and antiques roadshow all in one, except for drums. :) And that's also why I asked about restoration, I know how taboo cleaning old furniture can be from watching those shows, it's all about the patina. Not that this one is in great shape at all, it's obviously been quite well used.

The lugs are 2" without the head, so just the shaft part. Also measuring the center to center mounting holes on the lug brackets is also about 2" apart.

I would hate to show you heads that were on it, they looked like one with suede leather and the other is what looks like a conga head, I think some hippies might have converted it years ago for cooler applications. LOL

Many thanks again for all your expertise.

Dirk

Posted on 14 years ago
#7
Posts: 812 Threads: 53

It seems to have had at least two throw-offs on it, both of which used four mounting screws like PopsOldSkins Slingerland. I seem to recall that Ludwig (or Leedy) also had a throw-off with four mounting screws (?). Maybe that's why there's two different sets of holes...but, which came first?

Posted on 14 years ago
#8
Posts: 9 Threads: 1

Yes and interestingly the lower right hole was used in both configurations, that seems odd too. I had figured there have been at least 2 on it, but it's funny there are only 7 holes on the throw off side.

Dirk

Posted on 14 years ago
#9
Posts: 1334 Threads: 235

Your drum looks like a 1920s-30s L&L Black Lacquer Pioneer Model...

The hole patterns look like and original P-338 and a later P-85...the "SD 9" could be a school marking and gives more credence to the P-85 change over as these school drums get thrashed over a course of time...if you really want to do it right then have your local welder plug up the extra holes...replacement P-338s go for 100.00+ (I have some for sale)...this is a 200.00-400.00 drum so it's your call re: the extra holes.

The drum is not going to lose value if you clean it...Hardware: Simple Green to clean, Cape Cod Polishing Cloths to polish....Shell: A little lemon oil will clean up the black lacquer...put some good heads and Puresound wires and see what happens...it's a crap shoot with these old drums.

Mike Curotto

Posted on 14 years ago
#10
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