J,, first off Welcome to the VDF, Now are you sure that's the correct measurements of your drum? also post a pic of your drum please! so is this a snare drum or a tom?

Starting in the late 1950's, coinciding with the introduction of plastic heads, drum manufacturers standardized on a slightly undersized shell. A modern 14" drum shell will typically measure 13 7/8", but a 14" drum built before the late '50s will measure exactly 14". Because of that, if you grab an off-the-shelf head and put it on an old drum, it'll be really tight if you can even get it to fit at all.

Aquarian makes their American Vintage line of drum heads specifically sized to fit these old drums. But they don't offer a 12" snare side head to fit your (kids'?) drum. You'd have to custom order that.

Or I suppose you could tuck some calfskin heads for the drum. If it's older than the late '50s, that's most likely what would've originally come on the drum.

I've never heard of a 12x12 Slingerland snare drum of any kind, and it's a first to hear about any Slingerland drums with a five ply maple shell from the 50s, or any other time.

Please post some pictures

Also point us to where you saw these, it will help, too.

ok, here's the pic!

I'm not EXACTLY positive about the Diameter, there's not much I can find about these snares.

but a cheap Aquarian head went on REALLY snug, Too snug if you know what I mean?

It seems large but, I'll let you tell me what I've got exactly, I roughy measured it as 12'' deep, so maybe It's less if you don't count the hoops?

I see the picture of this snare right on the forum page (on the floor to the right of a matching bass drum with a white "slingerland" skin)

but I believe the head is a 12'', because I can get the skin on a wooden oldschool "onyx" coloured *** "winston" snare (with pearl hardware)

well, I can't take the chance of ordering something wrong.

..and THANKS again!

your drum is a 60's model and it's probably a 12x14" measure the rim from inside edge to inside edge it's probably 14" , regular heads should go right on this snare drum! and a remo snare side ambassador would be a good start bottom and ambassador white coated top head!!

ok, you were right about it being a 14'' (this is something I SHOULD have known), and the Remo skin did the trick, but I had to go with an Evans resonator on the bottom, came to a total of $46.87 and I was almost In tears while my debit card was processing, that's more money than I've had In a LONG time, I can't get into financial details, but I'm struggling, and This snare will always be there for me when I'm in a blue funk.

I couldn't afford a new Snare-wire, the original one is pretty much toast, but will still do If need be.

It's not a very wide wire, therefore the snare has a very "wet" tone.

so what type of Wire should I be going for do you think?

In terms of what is most "true" to the snare itself.

I can't always tell, sometimes a cheap item is just as good as a very expensive one.