OK, the snare drum is a 15" X 10" Slingerland #100769 which would put it in the 1975 era.

The Bass Drum is a 1940's WFL Bass drum with Mahogany Wood and Maple reinforcement rims.

Maybe that helps.

I think you will find a LOT of people are into the bass drum on ebay, as long as you put Ludwig/WFL, 26, virgin, and Bonzo in your description Keep on Pl

That bass drum has been painted on the outside and varnished on the inside. Just to give you some contrast: I tried to sell a blue/silver 22" Duco bass drum -transition badge and disappearing cymbal arm in original condition and I got NO bids on it priced at $50.00. I wouldn't expect to get a lot of money for either one of your drums to be honest. The 15" is a marching drum with full-length lugs (both traits are currently undesirable).

Just to clarify. the Bass Drum was professionally covered with a white hard outer shell, which was the only way to really protect the original wood. Same with the polyurethane used on the inside. This drum has a wonderful deep resonance.

The 15" Slingerland is an absolutely amazing sounding snare drum. I would use it anytime for hard rock or alternative rock music. Sounds great in the studio.

But, I would agree about the popularity issue. Classic drums aren't for everyone.

Just to clarify - The hardest drum to find to build a Bonham set is a 26" bass drum. This is an authentic WFL/Ludwig 26 bass drum that looks at least 14" deep. So this should appeal to anyone looking to build their own Bonham set. It has both rims, and doesn't look to have a tom mount: even better for someone building a Bonham set. I don't think you'de have any trouble getting lots of bids on ebay.

A 22" duco bass drum will only appeal to someone looking for an exact match for their partial set - it doesn't have the "Bonzo" appeal.

If it was professionally covered, then do the heads fit well - no rubbing and straining to get them on?

It also appears that there has been some previous damage around where the bass drum spur mounts are. That looks like a square patch of wood around that one mount on the interior to me.

While it may be true that the 26" bass drums are desirable for creating a Bonham kit, this particular drum has been greatly altered from its original condition. I'm not sure if Bonham ever played a white wrapped finish 26" or not, but if he didn't, then the value in its potential Bonham-ism is knocked back even further. Green sparkle? Yes. Clear maple? Yes. Orange Vistalite? Yes. White? Hmmmm...I'm not so sure.

It's also hard to tell from that photo as to whether or not that is a "virgin" bass drum or not...but I suspect it isn't. I'll bet it was drilled for a rail consolette at one time and then patched and the shell re-wrapped.

And the lugs are a hodge-podge of different kinds. It appears that some are Classics and ???what the other ones are??? Zephyrs???

This is an original 26 X 14 WFL Ludwig Bass Drum, circa 1940s.

The Lugs are on the play side are the original and on the outer side have newer Ludwig lugs, I'm not sure what year they were made. Hardly a serious problem, although it IS an alteration. In order to use this drum at all, you would have to alter it.

The legs were with the drum when I bought it in the early 70s with the older style spur holders. Yes, this was probably an alteration, but anyone playing a drum set will need them. The wood on the inside is there for reinforcing the spurs, and it's mahogany wood. So, if it's not from the original drum design, it's at least consistant.

Sealing the shell is a necessity in my opinion. I got the idea of sealing the wood from Bonham himself. He did the same thing to get a bigger sound. It was a practice that was widely used in the 70's. These drums are exposed to weather, so not to seal them puts you in a precarious situation.

I understand that drum collectors would not like this. I was a drummer, not an antique dealer, and therefore was looking out for what I needed from the drum, so I could use it professionally. It's held up, unbelievably well, IMHO.Yes Sir

Yes, I'm sure it is a very wonderful player's drum...just not much value to most collectors. Therefore, it's a difficult task to value that particular drum. Lots of drums that sound great can also hold very little value. I have played old vintage Pearl kits made from lauan wood that sounded fantastic...and are worth absolutely next to nothing. Unless the cosmos happens to connect you with the right buyer looking for just such a drum, I would say the drum is worth $50-$75...probably about the same for the snare drum, too.

Well, the next time you purchase any drums like this.....if you can ever find them.....be sure and let the forum know what you paid for them.

I've seen a lot worse drums than this sell for a lot of money. I've also seen and played a lot of brand new drum kits that were worth nothing to anyone in quality, even though they cost a couple of grand in dollars.

If you want to recreate Bonham's sound, these drums will do it. Or you can just sound like ever other drummer out there with your Yamaha drum kit.

Food for Thought. :D