Hi Johnny.

First of all, we need to know if the shells are pre-international or international size. The finish, wear and lugs seem to indicate that they are pre-international. Because the lugs, the position of the tom mount and the damper hole that appears to be at the level of the badge on the kick drum, I'd say it's early 60's. If so, the hoops should be painted metallic gray. Tom rims are not original and rods shoul be slotted. Floor tom does seem completely original from what the legs, brackets, lugs, rims and rods indicate. The tom damper is 70's but may be a later replacement since hole spacing is the same for early two felt type. The bass drum cymbal stand is original from the 60's and is complete with the hard to find tilt.

Everything said is approximate, since Premier did not print production date on the inside of the shells and began using serial numbers in the late 70's if my memory serves me well.

This kit seems appropriate to restore the bass drum legs issue and to be part of a collection, but not to use as a workhorse because if size is pre-international, the supply of heads is quite limited as well as expensive. Hope this helps if you are thinking of buying it. Regards.

Nice kit. The hard left tom mount says to me no more recent than early 60's.

Back in the 90's, I had the same kit Ringo used in the root beer swirl finish (mahogany). Tom mount was located more like the typical Swivomatic units on a Rogers bass except slighly inside the top left lug because the lugs run most of the depth of the drum. Mine was probably mid-60's but never really knew for sure. In any event, it was probably the "58" outfit shown in the 1965 catalog but with the larger 16x16 floor tom.

Yep. The term used by Premier was "Mahogany Duroplastic". It is the kit that I have:

Mid 60's 20 "/ 12" (pre-int) / 16 "(pre-int) +14" x4 "snare + hihat stand, kick pedal, snare stand, two cymbal stands and bike style stool. No cowbell and no bass drum cymbal mount though. Bass drum has two dampers (beater and reso heads) and toms and snare came with the two point red felt mufflers.It's in the process of being polished to make it shine and I have to finish the kick hoops, but it's a project I always leave behind. This kit sounds amazing and it's surprising how light the kick drum is.

They are early to mid 60's. Three ply Birch with Beech Re-rings.

The rack tom is definitely a pre-international sized shell. I can tell because it has a triple flange hoop instead of the original diecast and there is a lot of space around the shell and head hoop. This was a common hack to allow you to fit a standard size head on the shells that were slightly smaller. That also accounts for the rod splay.

The others appear to be international size but the bass has had Pearl type spurs added. Very poorly, I might add.

I wouldn't give too much for them. Premiers just don't bring the money that they should, and given the condition, missing parts and pre-international sized tom, you will have a hard time ever selling them for what you paid for them.

Having said that, if that really is a 14" floor tom, those are pretty rare so are more valuable than the common 16".

old Metric Birch 68-67 on down....

So you finally got that kit, JR!

The standard tom head should be tuned ok thanks to those flanged non-original rims.

Yeah, you better use a snare stand for the tom. Congratulations, the kit looks pretty. That 14" floor tom must to be sweeeeeeeet!!!

I think that may be the first 14x14 I've seen. Awful to think you let go of that cool Whitehall though.

The Whitehall's are cool, but the Premiers are much better drums by a huge margin.

As far as Tom placement, they made extensions to allow better placement. I see them on eBay pretty often. Might be worth keeping an eye out for one.. Despite what this guy says, they are not that rare and I have seen them cheaper and in the US.

http://https://www.ebay.com/itm/124956719258?hash=item1d1800389a:g:To0AAOSwWo1hBs-0