Ralf, am I mistaken in thinking Hoshino is now Yamaha? I was under the impression they were bought by Yamaha for the drum making ability.

The company Yamaha aquired for it`s drum manufacturing was named NIKKAN. I have one of their 5x15 snares. I think I remember they aquired Nikkan in 67-68?

[IMG]http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn87/Osakabop/okemihan-img240x400-124229627420090.jpg[/IMG]

@ Jonnistix:

I don't know anythink about a link between Yamaha and Hoshino. That would be new to me ...

@ OsakaBop

According to a German vintage guy, Yamaha started 1965 with the development of their first drumset, that was so called 'D-22'. (My source: http://www.drummermagazin.de/0209_re/Firmen/firmen_001.php)

Brand 'Nikkan': never heard of. I think it seems to be completely unknown in Germany (also in a drummer forum in Germany, where I'm member as well, it never blipped up).

Ralf

That's a cool badge - Can you contribute that to the web site? Do you have a larger photo of the badge?

David

Will send you a nice badge photo for the badges page.

Hi Ralf, I am really happy to meet you and get all the great knowledge you`ve got. With Nikkan being purchased by Yamaha- 65 is a little bit earlier than I had remembered hearing about the aquisition but it`s common knowledge hear in Japanese drum circles. Let me try to find that actual documentation in Japanese- my wife is Japanese and had found that information on a historical website in Japanese kanji- possibly the Japanese Yamaha site itself. But, I have no doubts that it was Nikkan that was purchased and became Yamaha`s drum manufacturing division. Here, even on Japanese drum auctions for Nikkan drums it often says "pre-Yamaha"

I wish we could move this fun conversation out of your awesome STAR thread. I feel like we have taken this thread away from your original intention. STAR drums are awesome and I look forward to finding a kit for myself sometime soon. That Hoshino kit I bought on Thursday night (photo in a previous post) - I thought I was buying a STAR/Hoshino kit before talking to you. Know I know the difference. I am looking forward to taking that kit apart and really finding out about it and posting it up- BUT in a Hoshino thread and not in your cool Cool1LoLoLoLoSTAR thread!

'... I wish we could move this fun conversation out of your awesome STAR thread. ...'

Wouldn't it be a great idea to start another vivid thread:

'Nikkan drums and it's turn to Yamaha in 1965' ?:cool:

- and another one for Hoshino?!

'... STAR drums are awesome and I look forward to finding a kit for myself sometime soon. ...'

- No doubt that you find one. If anyone here is really sitting at the source: it's you (and therefore I envy you!).

Ralf

I just found another kit here in Europe.

It's in copper (like mine), but it has the elderly long-not opposite-lugs and a rail consolette. And: it seems to have the greyish Zola-coating inside (?).

Very rare: the KingBeat snare drum (only known in chrome shape until now) has a copper (wrap?) finish outside ...

Maybe another indication for a very late STAR drumkit (round silver badge) combined with already Tama feature/s (Zola coating) but elderly Star hardware (from the stock): just to get that parts sold out?

Ralf

Nice! What`s a date for that kit? Pearl started using solid metalic wrap colors like that in the early 70s. So, I guess this is also an early 70`s kit. Did star make an 18" bass drum?

Yes, Star started in the beginning 70s with the metallic wraps over wood ('COW') as well. If we find a Luddie-fan who may state when Ludwig started with 'COW' drums ... we may add one or two years ... then we have the first Japanese copies ...

And: no, I think Star never made a 18" bass drum, just 20" and 22".

Ralf

Hi

As I proceed in my refurbish of the Star acryllic kit I got a few weeks ago I would want to share some points with you all. The kit is 20x16"BD, 12x8"TT, 13x9"TT and 16x16"FT. However, the 12" is not a Star, but a Tama. It looks completely identical in all aspects except for the badge. I realize it is a common occurence as Tama originated in Star and for the first couple of years probably resembled them quite much. My point is rather on the configuration of the "original" kit, 20" BD, 13" TT and 16" FT. To my rather conventional eyes it seems like an odd combo. Either I would expect a bigger BD or a smaller TT. But that´s just me. And secondly, does anyone know where I could find lugs for the toms. I need 4 of them, plus a few extra of the rubber inlays used to keep the lug nut from falling out (that´s no biggie though, I could always cut some pieces myself).