The set was originally sold to me as a 4pc...20,12,14 and snare. My knowledge of Rogers drums is nil so I had the tom tree put together by a friend who has vast experience with Rogers and told me what it now has is correct. He also found the second 8x12 tom and explained to me what a Top-Hat is. I was assured all is correct and priced accordingly based upon the condition of the shells, the wrap and hardware.

It's a very cool setup and one that I am tempted to try eventually. I'd need to find another 8x12 with the script setup for use on the right hand side. I would say you were pretty lucky to have found that extra 12" drum with the correct orientation and matching brownish coloring.

Drumfactory,

Good to see you here again! I know my original offer to trade was declined. In my original post, I stated that I was considering offering a second Ludwig set on top of the original SBP set for trade. I have no idea if you are even interested in a trade of any kind, but I was looking to my friends here for some advice before I called you. I would have never thought to ask if it was an original configuration, so that is something that is good to know.

That really is a beautiful kit, and I am going to make the drive up some day to meet you and check out your place.

Sorry for any confusion!

Randy

no confusion Randy. I think at this point I prefer outright sales as I am tripping over drums here and really do need to make some room.

Not sure if it was you I spoke with or another member here but ever since the format for posting pictures changed here I can't post anything I have and if I can't post pictures then I may as well move along as everything I have here is acquired with the intent of selling.

I do have a Facebook page with a Photobucket listing of 37 sets available and many more that I don't have either ready or just not yet posted. I am about to receive another 1964 black oyster super classic with matching Jazzfest, which will then give me 4 Super Classic and 4 Downbeat keystone black oyster pearl sets, all with either matching Jazzfestival or Pioneer snares. I am collecting them for another yard picture like the 2 I took with Super Classic, Downbeat and Club Date sets which I did manage to post here once upon a time and 6 stainless kits, 3 of which are Octa-Plus and one was a 26,15,16,18 (gone now).

Once the picture(s) is taken I will then sell a few of the oyster kits...

Feel free to visit Gary Bender's Drumfactory on Facebook if interested in what's here. I'm pretty sure several of the members here were at the Chicago Drum Show and 3 of you did stop by to kick it for a minute. I have a huge Ludwig 14x28, 12x15, 16x18 and 18x20 3ply Walnut cortex that I brought to the show and had nibbles but no bites. That set isn't in the Photobucket link yet but is up on my Facebook page.

I retired from my real job last year and am keeping this drum show sort of casual as I don't want it to turn into something I don't find enjoyable anymore due to too much "traffic" as it is just me here and a ton of drums and the international response from Facebook is greater than I had anticipated. Vintage Ludwigs are extremely popular world wide I quickly found out.

The Tophat to the very best of my knowing was not made in the Dayton Era it was a 14x20 with the dogbone double tom holder 2 8x12's and a 16x16 with a extra knobby mount near the top for a stick tray I bough mine in 1964 and it was one of the last from Cleveland and it had beavertails and faucet type tension rods but I have never seen one with the newer Dayton style tension rods....

notice the knobby on the FT.

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/Magwa/RogersHolidaySet.jpg[/IMG]

Drumfactory,

I understand not wanting to trade and not needing more drums. Good luck with your business and if I can send anyone your way, I will certainly do so. Your inventory looks amazing! Thanks for replying here.

MikeT,

Thanks for the info. That is the reason I was asking here in the first place, to learn about an outfit that I wasn't familiar with. Awesome photo of your kit as well! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks everyone for your help,Randy

The Dayton era continued until the move to Fullerton in 1969. When the Dayton era first started in 1966, the drums were still flat grey inside and continued as identical to the Clevelands for a period of time, maybe 6 months or more. The Top Hat rig was used for a while until the Londoner mounts came along prior to 1967. Around this time, the newer t's and claws came in, so a transition set like this could easily exist.

However, didn't the seller just say that the kit was converted by someone to a Top Hat configuration? Where was the original tom mount? Are there extra holes?

Original Top Hat kits had only the one mount in the front of the drum, no additional mounts were standard.

If this kit is not original, it certainly affects the value. How much is anyone's guess considering the condition - but it needs to be taken into account...

Just sayin...

Dan,

Interesting points you've brought up. Possibly an originally virgin bass drum that the mount was added to create the Top Hat set?

The set was "converted" to a Top-Hat by changing the single tom arm to the present, correct tom tree pictured. No other "alterations" and the set is original and gorgeous.

I have sold drums for about 15 years now and will state that HAD the bass been "virgin" and the tom mount added I would have most certainly stated that in the very first sentence. ANY extra holes would have been in the second sentence. This set is as it looks, a fantastic example of early Rogers drums in damn near museum condition.

Thanks for looking.

If that mount on the bass is original to the drum, the kit must have started out as a Top Hat. Somewhere along the way, the longer arm for a single tom was probably substituted and only one of the toms was retained.

If this is the case, it is more accurate (and beneficial to you) to say that the kit was returned to it's original configuration - rather than 'converted' .

No need to take offense to my comments, I'm on your side. Ask around about me, I'm only trying to help.