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Rogers Holiday

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Hello I am glad to finally be a member to the forum, though my research has brought me here many times.

There has been for the past few months, an ad for an early 60s Rogers Holiday Cleveland era in Mardis Gras finish. I have seen a few of these kits here and there usually 3 or 4 with snare, this is 20 12 13 14 (matching snare) 16, possibly Showcase model? At first it was priced out of my league, but this gave me time to research as much as I could. Fast forward to last week I finally had enough saved $1800 to where I called him up and asked questions.

I asked the normal questions such as shell condition, serial numbers, and the snare I backed into a bit. He stated he wasn’t really a drummer and really has limited knowledge, but was willing to give me any detail I wanted. He said he used to be a flea market broker in English town NJ around the 80s and 90s; and, these drums were acquired by him. He told me about two toms 12 and 13 having a different shade than the rest but said this was common for that time, maybe transitioning I’m not sure. Also about only 1 cracked B and B kit that was on the real side of floor. He was kind enough to send me any pic I wanted but they were of flip phone quality. I arranged for a meeting a couple days later (as he’s half an hour away), and he obliged to the local mall parking lot. It was now up to my research and my own eyes and judgement to guide me.

When I got there, a man in his mid 60s introduced himself. He opened up his van and it took everything I had to keep my composure. There

They were, the wrap was stunningly smooth and shiny I picked up one of the toms and noticed it had two coated ambassadors - everyone of them did for that matter. I didn’t bring a key which is a lesson learned; and instead, viewed through the air holes. I picked each and everyone up and did the same. Inside the grey interiors were perfect squares paper tags each saying Holiday and the Cleveland origin. One had a pencil etch I couldn’t make out. Two shells had 4 digit serials while the others had 5 staring 31xxx. Everything checked out. The floor had a knobby for a cymbal arm, not included. Snare strainer was clock faced, and the bass drum had only one SwivoMatic port at the middle for a two armed SwivoMatic bracket, which the left arm is stripped (I am ok with this).

Concerns onsite I had, were that I was kicking myself for not being able to at least take key to inspect. Another slight were that two toms had the large dense confetti with sparse galaxy (these to me looked like the original), the bass, floor, and snare have a smaller less dense confetti spread with a more dense galaxy making the shell hue look almost midnight-ish or purple.

Taking inventory, it all seemed too perfect, and this in mind, onset the realization I may have gotten over my head in open and vintage trade.

So my concerns are:

Is there any way this could be a repro or significant remodel?

As far as the wraps, I know Walopus and Precision made wraps in this finish. Does anyone have these wraps that can discern one way or another?

Was Precision an original supplier during this time as their company dates to the early 60s?

Also, notice the Rogers logo on bass drum. To me it looks a little close to the mounting bracket. Or was this a factory inconsistency that I should live with. I notice on most other online images of Rogers logos, they have a little gap that seems standard maybe 1” away from the bracket mount.

Could this be an extravagant mirage or the real deal?

What things should I look for that I did not address?

Thanks in advance

Posted on 5 years ago
#1
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This would have started in 60-63 as a Top Hat set up, 20-12-12-16 with snare. Cannot answer for most anything else, I don't know what the paper tags say, or the interior colors. Mardi Gras is far too expensive to fake. If there are that many BB lugs uncracked on a set, someone has either taken very good care of them for 55 years or spent quite a bit getting lugs in excellent shape.

Rogers Drums Big R era 1975-1984 Dating Guide.
http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=24048
Posted on 5 years ago
#2
Posts: 2753 Threads: 132
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Did you buy them? I think that you should have bought them. $1,800 seems to be a very fair price for both seller and buyer. Did you find many cracked lugs?

No matter how far you push the envelope, it is still stationery.
Posted on 5 years ago
#3
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From leedybdp

Did you buy them? I think that you should have bought them. $1,800 seems to be a very fair price for both seller and buyer. Did you find many cracked lugs?

No did not buy - Just not certain about it, yes and with the price, everything seems too perfect. Only 1 cracked B and B and that was on the ft reso. It also has been on the market for quite some time and price keeps lowering. He said he’s had bites but if they aren’t buying that has me hesitant as well. His full disclosure is what made me notice the Rogers logo on bd. Said he had a collector that had mentioned it... It looks odd but not that bad, at least to me.

I just looked at another Mardi Gras kit on 2ndending.com that says “Please note that Mardi Gras kits usually had a silver sparkle inlay in the bass hoops, while this one has red. For an additional $20, we can switch out the red for silver.” Notice in the above images, the kit that I looked at had the sparkle inlay hoops.

What stopped me from confidently buying there was, I needed to inspect interior and I had no key to remove rods to inspect further. This was my first go around at going private; moreover, do not know what to look for in rewrap job. What should I look for - patched holes, unusually tight seams? Did Rogers have two kinds of Mardi Gras wraps that were close together in the early 60s as he states?

I shouldn’t judge as he said he was a flea market auctioneer in his profession, cautiously, I want to get expert opinions and advice before I buy, and they are still listed.

Posted on 5 years ago
#4
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is this man in NJ ?

these look legit to me from these photos ... would love to see some interior shots

Posted on 5 years ago
#5
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From The Ploughman

This would have started in 60-63 as a Top Hat set up, 20-12-12-16 with snare. Cannot answer for most anything else, I don't know what the paper tags say, or the interior colors. Mardi Gras is far too expensive to fake. If there are that many BB lugs uncracked on a set, someone has either taken very good care of them for 55 years or spent quite a bit getting lugs in excellent shape.

Thank you sir. On every drum, I did see the grey interiors, paper tags as stated above they were perfect in every way, shape, legibility, and said “Holiday” “Cleveland, Ohio”.

From my understanding, snare wise, only the dynas and Powertones come with SwivoMatic strainers, is this correct? Or were there other Rogers snare lines that had them as well? Would their throw offs interchange without extra drilling etc...?

Posted on 5 years ago
#6
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From Gvdadrummasum

is this man in NJ ?these look legit to me from these photos ... would love to see some interior shots

No he’s from there. Yes me too, it was a stupid assumption to think I could go to a site without having a drum key.

Posted on 5 years ago
#7
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that's probably a Holiday model snare ... the predecessor to the Powertone

they too would have a permatension strainer

was it 8 lug ?

gorgeous ... you should call him and buy it

I would in a second if he was local

Posted on 5 years ago
#8
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I have just asked him for some pics and he sent me these.

Contents:

Two snare pics, (Except serials, inside every shell, all tags look exactly like this condition wise) (my apologies I couldn’t remember the serials the snare has 2xxxx.)

bass drum with logo (does the Rogers logo on the bass drum look to close or out of place)

floor tom cracked lug

Posted on 5 years ago
#9
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From Romulus

I have just asked him for some pics and he sent me these. Contents:Two snare pics, (Except serials, inside every shell, all tags look exactly like this condition wise) (my apologies I couldn’t remember the serials the snare has 2xxxx.)bass drum with logo (does the Rogers logo on the bass drum look to close or out of place)floor tom cracked lug

yup Holiday model snare as I suspected

the number is foggy but looks to be around '62/'63

which would make sense with the permatension strainer without the black logo paint

tall boy hoops

gorgeous !!!

Posted on 5 years ago
#10
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