Pics of stamps in the 13 and 14 toms

Very nice! Looking good. Are you lacquering the shells? That is what is going to strengthen them. The area where you have the damage in the shell, at the lug bolt, can be repaired. I gently push in on the damaged area then work epoxy into the surface, then clamp it back ito position with anything you can get to push it back out and round. Usually just a couple of clamps and some pressure will do, a small block of wood, anything really.

Yep, 3or 4 coats. Do you think the stamps are dates?

That is hard to say. It could be. This would be the first time I have ever seen this type of stamp in Star shells. I have some Majestics that have some stamps in them, but they seem more random that a date. 4468, I think is what they are stamped, mostly. One of the shells has a difeerent number, I think the snare is different than the rest. This is really perplexing to me as I have not seen this before. The was no serial number requirem ent pre-64, and I am thinking those snare lugs were gone by then, but I can't say for certain this is the fact.

First time for me to see stamped numbers in a Star shell, too.

Really 13 and 14 (not 12/13) rack toms? (Guess the bass drum has 20"?)

Ralf

Ralf. The original kit was 22,13, 16, 14 snare. The 14 tom is a Norma shell, it was with the kit and it is a 5 ply. The stamp on it is 31265. The Stars are all 3 ply. (The stamp on the 13 tom is 3365) It looks like the 14 was added later to the kit by useing an L arm thru the cymbal holder on the bass drum. I think this drum is going to sound pretty good, it don`t sound too bad without a res head on it (I have to get 1 ordered) I think there will be a learing curve on tuning these babies. The 22 bass sounds great.

I am thinking these stamps my be ID marks from a school or other entity that had to inventory and track them as a unit. I only have seen ink stamps, these appear to be etched into the wood somehow.

They are ink stamps for sure, "hi quality" pics are fooling your eyes! LOL hahaha. Thanks guys, Tommy

It wasn't the "HQ" pix, I assure you...