If you think it's a nice shell and you want to complete it...........then ya, get some wood hoops made up. If the shell is really nice (nice tone) it would make a cool custom floor tom. I'd tuck some calfhide on it too. Sure, it might cost a few hundred for the hoops, t-rods, claws and calfhide heads but I think it would be well worth it.......if the shell is nice of course.

Damn it - it is a nice shell. Who makes custom hoops? :Santa:

For the diameter difference I'd use bass drum lugs in combination with the single flange hoops (16") and clips as suggested by neorich.

Paul,

I looked closely at the pics.. looks real bad to me.. not up to your usual standard at all.. Crazy size.. heaps of work.. and lots more bucks to fix this one.. Its a dog.. I know you are a busy guy.. so I am offering to take this horrible old shell off your hands..

I know how relieved you are now feeling..but it's Christmas & I just want to help..

Cheers

Keeping with the spirit of this post - I would like to help too.........but the shipping would kill me haha.

I still think some custom made wood hoops and tucking your own calfhide heads is the way to go on this one. The shell screams it.

Agree with Gary.

But i suppose it could be reached some easier by another way --- after wrapping the shell you'll get a bit larger dia and put a simple 16" hoops and heads --- also you can use an additional gaskets under the lugs to correct a coaxiality of bolts position.

I think that it will be a nice warm tone if you'll re-cut the shell to a rounded edges.

George

I did put a 16" head and rim over it and wondered that myself George. It already has a rounded edge. These drums were like copies of Gretsch. Didn't Pearl make drums with oversized heads - like gong toms? And they worked? I don't need to crank it up, so I was thinking with gaskets, it might be ok with a 16" head. The custom hoops and calf combo would be great, but really, it's a lot of money for one drum.

You are so generous, I'll keep it in mind though if it's all too hard. ;-)

Lots of good input here - I really appreciate the replies.

I'd look at it this way.

These drum shells don't come along all that often and to make a nice custom drum out of it would be very special - not only to look at and play, but as a conversation piece for years/decades to come. $300/$400 or more investment to have a very nice - one-of-a-kind drum is a very reasonalble price to pay for a beautiful floor tom. Try to buy a 14" Vintage Gretsch floor tom (RB)....you're looking at well over a grand.....even a 16" is near $1K and in some cases $1000's (I know I just bought one).

If I had your drum.........wood hoops, nice claws, calfhide heads.....= awesome with a natural or lacquered finish. A good opportunity for a very nice long-range project.

Just saying..........

It is only 1/4" over 15". That means you only have to trim 1/8" with a router off of the shell, down about 3/4" from each bearing edge. You can then use 15" heads and 15 " hoops with 9 clipovers. I hate to do this kind of things to drums but it might be the most practical solution.

Well, I do know that it's definitely "a long term project". This glue will take a lot of work. Also, I don't think this drum is Rose Alder (frequently used in Drouyn drums - this is a Dandy shell, which were the first line of drums made by Drouyn & Drouyn) It's quite soft and even scraping it is tricky.

One thing I am delighted to discover is that my theory of dating Dandy/Drouyn is looking pretty good. I found a stamp inside this shell and the job lot begins with 55. I'm betting this shell was made in 1955 and it was made with more than a nod to Gretsch USA. The size is still as baffling as ever.

How does the mind of a great drum inventor work? Different to us! I contacted Don Sleishman about this shell and his answer was "Great! Get it cut up into hoops and use it on a 15" shell!" He is a real legend.

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