Some used orange sparkle Norma drums were my first at 14
Since I started collecting mijs I have picked up a Norma kit or two
and a few partials and orphaned singles
Of these drums I have noted some to be Star built all the way 1st. pic
as the familiar hardware alone is enough to easily I D them.
But then there are also the Norma badged kits
that have the Gretsch cloned lugs? 2nd pic.
nothing like the Star made version at all.
the snare drums on these same kits have a Slingerland clam shell inspired throw
and the bass drum T rods and claws are total 60's Slingerland copies
The Del Rey kits and also Rocket drums are all the same or similar build
I am still not 100% sure what maker is responsible for these kits ?
But knowing they are not Star or Pearl my best guess so far would be Hoshino K.
but I have recently learned that some other drums I had lumped in with Hoshino K turned out to be Sakae built. so who knows?
There is also this line of Norma badged center lug kits that used lugs that looked somewhat like a Ludwig bowtie 3rd pic
(my drums have no badges but the only other drums I have ever seen of this style all had Norma badges)
though they are as cool as all get out from a visual standpoint at least
unfortunately the build quality is very flimsy on them even by MIJ standards
I have them down as being Hoshino K built as well ...I think ?
The Norma music scale badge pressed from thin metal is identical
on all the drums no matter what the actual maker
Its interesting to me that it is the only badge that has never changed
I noticed also that many of the Hoshino made examples
have no actual grommet installed at the vent hole to finish off the "O" in the word Norma.
only the two usual nails on each end of the badge serve to secure it to the drum.
