Thanks for the input fellas.

Dave, I think you're right, the badge looks like it's been caught and folded forward against the grommet. If the wrap is original, and it seems it is, then it has survived very well. And all i did to clean it was the usual Novus on the wrap, polished and waxed the hardware (you know you're cleaning when it's nickel - that stuff turns everything black) and a light beeswax wood polish on the inside. It was pretty clean to start with.

Famousdave - Dave was the owner and I bought it off him. Good to know it's a Gene Krupa RK. I figured the muffler knob was wrong but one of those will show up one day.

Purdie - I dare say I'll do some recording with this drum in the near(ish) future so I'll post some samples then

Does this drum have a date stamp inside? Based on the newer sparkle and the type of three point strainer, I think this drum is from around 1962.

Wouldn't that make it easy. Unfortunately it hasn't. The only reason i thought it was maybe older than '62 is the nickel hardware which doesn't seem to have been an option in the catalogs from the 60s. But you know how it is with catalogs... 62 is good with me though. Thanks

In the photos, the lugs look chrome.

Found this tidbit of information on the finish on VDG. Refer to the 5th example of Sparkling Gold finishes in the link below. Also the Chicago badge has the loop in the "S" placing the badge between 1956-'59. The lugs seem to look nickel to me when comparing it to the batter hoop which is obviously chrome. Looks like a great snare. I wish I could have it.

http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/drcjw/article_4_finishes17.htm

Ok, maybe i'm wrong on that too or maybe it's my awesome polishing. The plating has a yellow tinge, is not as shiny as normal chrome and when polishing it produced huge amounts of black residue on the cloth. the top hoop is not original and is chrome whereas the bottom hoop is original and has the gold/yellow hue to it. I googled it at the time and it seemed like nickel from the description but I can't say I'm 100% sure though. I've tried to capture the difference in the photos.

Ah, good timing. I have the drum right next to me and it does look like the example in the link. Thanks!

Don't thank me. Thank VDG.

To be honest, my eyes couldnt see the "S" very well in the photo. The strainer threw me. Obviously, when the original strainer was removed, a "two point" strainer was installed, thus the extra hole. Later, someone put a more correct three point strainer on the drum which has the newer, one piece handle.

So....late 50's drum with early 60's strainer, I guess.

It is hard to see. I could see it in the 3rd pic with a bit of zooming and reading glasses.