Super B...

The "Powertone" line was Rogers top line kit back in Fullerton, 1970. Before the sale of the Rogers Drum Company to CBS, that line/model drum was called the "Holiday" which was also their top of the line model. Besides the model name change from "Holiday" to "Powertone", the shells remained the same with regard to make-up, ( Keller shells in a 5 ply maple/poplar layup ) excluding the fact that they were now being sprayed with the speckled "trunk paint" instead of the flat grey. It is possible to have an early Fullerton badged kit with the flat grey paint, but the majority were the speckled "trunk paint".

The Swivo-Matic tom mounting hardware is correct for this era drum kit.

You say that it is a three piece... What sizes are they? And, that configuration sounds a tad odd for 1970. I'm not sure that a three piece kit was even cataloged then. It may be a four piece that is missing the floor tom. Regardless, they are still Rogers! and the reward is some nice sounding drums. Some pics would help me dial it in closer for you.

You are correct by the way, Black Strata was in fact the Rogers wrap that looked a lot like Ludwig's Black Oyster pearl.

As to value, again, pics will help.

Hope this was of help to you!

Tommyp

Tommyp,

Wow, thanks for the info, I was getting scared. I'm working on the pics, I have to move one kit to set up the other. This drum set has a 13in rack, 16in floor, 22in kick, and a 14in metal dynasonic snare. The 3 wood drums have the grey speckle paint on the inside and the fullerton sticker. The mount on the bassdrum is only for one tom. I have the Rob Cook Rogers book, the Black Strata was offered in 1967, the move to Fullerton was in 1969, and there was a slight mention of the Powertone line, but, it's hard to pinpoint what the hell I have. If this helps, the floor tom leg mount has drum key type lugs, the same on the swivomatic. The kit is sweet, I'm just more confused now, after I purchased the Rogers book, on what I have. When the wife and son go to bed, I will move stuff around, so, I can get some pictures done. Again, thank you for you information, I need help on this one. On a side note, the Rogers book is great, a little sad, due to the fire at a factory, selling to CBS, then going out of buisness, it seems Rogers made a great drum.

Hello again Super B...

Well, in reality, you actually have a FOUR PIECE kit as the snare drum is always included in the drum count. Being that the snare drum is the COB Dynasonic, the focus is on the other THREE drums... ( and I figured they would in fact have the speckled trunk paint! ) So, I WILL be able to pin-point what you have!

Now that I know the sizes, let me ask you this: Do you have a Knobby cymbal holder mounted on the bass drum in the typical ride cymbal position? Do you by any chance have an EXTRA Knobby cymbal holder mounted on the bass drum in what would be a splash cymbal location? ( in front of the rack tom ) The reason I ask is this:

The answers will help me dial in the kit that you have... because it COULD be one of three: The Buddy Rich Celebrity, The Buddy Rich Headliner, or the Roy Burns Starlighter. There are subtle differences between all these cataloged kits. Let me know when you get a chance. Also,

While I think Rob Cook did a fabulous job on his book, it isn't perfect... there are certain areas that aren't accurate. It DOES get you close though, and of course the Rogers story in general is fascinating! The Rob Cook book plus other Rogers media/knowledge help date a lot of this stuff. Let me know on the other stuff when you have a moment. Take care!

Tommyp

First off, Tommy, you the man! I just finished taking pictures, I should be able to upload on friday. Ok, yes, the bass drum has a "knobby" cymbal holder monted on the bass drum. No, there is no extra cymbal holder, only one. The sticker in each drum are like the Cleveland sticker, with the border, but, say Fullerton, Calif, in the lower right corner. I have serial numbers for all the drums if that helps. This has been fun, it's like being a private detective. So many twists and turns, I can't wait to find out what I have...all I know, the drums sound and look great.

Hey Super B...

Well, based on the information you have supplied... ( and pics will be great too! ) ... I believe that you have a Rogers Roy Burns Starlighter kit. The main reasons are the way it is set up with regard to hardware, plus the sizes. The other "factor" here is the COB Dynasonic. The BR Headliner kit could be ordered in the same configuration as yours, ( although the idea on the Headliner kit was smaller sizes ) except the snare drum that went with that kit would have been the Powertone... but ... there are of course exceptions. Someone COULD have ordered the Headliner kit WITH a COB Dynasonic in place of the Powertone, but then it would have been a copy of the already existing Roy Burns Stralighter, which the dealer probably already had sitting on the showroom floor. The BR Celebrity model is out due to the missing splash cymbal Knobby. So, after narrowing it all down, I would say that they are The Roy Burns Starlighter's. Nice drums, and top of the line.

Regarding the tags: The fact that they look like the Cleveland/Dayton tags means that your kit is an EARLY Fullerton, as the tag design was eventually changed on the Fullerton manufactured Rogers drums. In my opinion, your drums are the more desirable of the Fullerton Rogers, and we already know how they sound... GREAT!

Looking forward to the pics, and thanks for the kind words as well! Oh, of interest: Rogers continued through the 70's with the Roy Burns Starlighter model, but of course by the late 70's the hardware had changed to Memriloc.

Tommyp

Wow, the story seems to be getting better and better. Ok, here are some pictuers, but, my bad picture taking hinders the true beauty of these drums. The wrap is pretty clean, except on the bass drum rims, and there is some decay on the rims on the toms. Again, thank you Tommy p, you have been great.

Hey Super B!

NICE pics... NICE DRUMS! You know what would really set this kit off and complete it? Try and round up the rest of the correct hardware. In this case:

1 Swan Leg floor cymbal stand

1 Swivo-Matic HH stand

1 Rogers snare drum stand ( now called the Sta-Tite ) or the Rogers Giant

1 Swivo-Matic foot pedal

1 "L" arm cymbal holder for the Knobby BD cymbal mount

If you wanted to, this could be done one piece at a time over a period of time, and you would end up with a real nice COMPLETE Rogers RB Starlighter kit that would have a good amount of value as the hardware does add a lot to the final total. Anyway,

Regardless of what you do, or not do, enjoy the drums! It's a very nice kit. Got Rogers?! :-)

Tommyp

I do have this hardware...hihat stand, tom stand, and 2 cymbal stands. I'm tough on hardware, so, I don't use the Rogers' gear, I do not want to break it. So, you think it's a Starliner? Did the Starliner come without the cymbal holder, 13,16, 22 sizes, in the Powertone line? From the Rogers book, it seems, real close to the Citadel 67-70, but, the sizes listed are 12,14, 20. Again, thanks for the help, I would be so lost.

(on a side note, I have posted some pictures of this Rogers kit, on my myspace page and I'm getting hammered for using the Evans heads. It's pretty funny, because, I'm a remo coated head dude, it was just some clean heads that I had available. Even one of my close buddies ripped on me. Too funny. So, in advanced. I'm cool with Remo)

Super B...

I thought you did say that you HAD the "L" arm bass drum mounted Knobby cymbal holder? Upon closer examination, it does appear that your kit DOES NOT have that mount... regardless ... it's not the Citadel because the sizes are all wrong on your kit for it to be a Citadel. I still think that it is the Roy Burns STARLIGHTER... ( not Starliner ) ... which is based on the rest of your kit including sizes. Drums were ordered with/without certain items all the time, but were still specific cataloged models. This may be the case with yours I think.

I gig full time and play ALL Rogers, including hardware. I haven't ever had a failure! Rogers made probably the best hardware during this era... it was certainly copied enough! I doubt that you would break the hardware unless you were a total "basher" and were playing very heavy type material. The choice not to use the Rogers hardware is cool though!... and completely your call.

I'm amused with your being taken to task for playing Evans heads. You can play whatever heads YOU want! Who's to say what you should play or not play... Jeeze! What... just because Rogers drums came with logo heads made for them by Remo, you HAVE to set up the drums with them? That's ridiculous. I really am amused by the pettiness of that Super B! I have two drop dead gorgeous Rogers BR kits, both in WMP, and I play ALL Aquarian Satin Finish Coated heads on both... nobody has ever said a word... because head choice is personal. They're your drums... play whatever heads YOU want!

ENJOY those drums! Got Rogers?! :-)

Tommyp