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Take 2..."How Can This Be?"

Posts: 77 Threads: 17

Coming back to the 70's Brass Supra with Modified Badge I just bought. I have received tons of replies to my question of, "How Do I Really Know This Is A Brass Drum?"...It weighs almost exactly what my 1965 Allloy Supra weighs, but definitely has a "B" stamped over the muffler.

So, here is where I'm at now, and what I've found:

OK....

So far, so good....just took the hoops off of the "B" drum, and also from my 1965 Supra. DEFINITELY a huge difference in weight...I even brought both hoops to my 9 year old daughter....had her close her eyes, and put one in each hand, over and over, switching on and off...100% Never missed one!!! The hoops on the '65 are much heavier,(COB) while the ones on the "B" drum (COS) are lighter. There was really no need to "Weigh" them, (but I did) because the difference was so completely obvious..Bathroom scale barley moves for the COS....and registered almost a full pound on the Brass...(as good as one of those scales can be..)..point is, one weighed more

Off to the refrigerator and, yes..the magnet STUCK to the "B" drum hoop, and NOT on the '65. So, I'm happier, and my daughter has gotten a "Lesson" in metals!

Who's hurt!!!??

Gonna remove a lug, and head out to Home Depot for a file!!!

Back soon guys!!!

Stix

Well, a trip to Home Depot was not necessary. A friend was by and gave me a very small drill bit. (No..I didn't do any drilling...all by hand) I took a lug off of each drum. The "B" Supra and the '65 Supra, and my findings are as follows:

The lugs are identical on both...Spacious interior # 2230 on both

The shavings from the "B" drum are, INDEED GOLD IN COLOR!!! (This is a good thing)

The shavings from the '65... Silverish...Alloy.

That being said, I' like to bring two things up that I think are of importance.

1. It seems that the accepted way to do a "Shaving" is to scrape "Inside" the lug hole. I barley started and found it to be unnerving. Then noticed the little "White Circle" left behind once the "Cups" were removed. I decided to scrape in that spot, not ever going into the hole. If you have a steady hand, and keep the scraping within the circle, the scraping is hidden once the lug is put back on! This allowed me to be a bit more aggressive in scraping, not having to worry about mishapping the hole itself. I don't know if anyone has used this method, but I found it to be a great way to perform this task.

2. Again, something I've not run across. The shell on the "B" drum is THINNER than the alloy. I'm not talking something that you'd need a fine instrument for..I'm talking NAKED EYE apparent! Both drums side by side and looking into the holes..there is a huge difference in the thickness of the shells!!! No doubt, the "B" shell is far and away, thinner than the Alloy. (Is this yet ANOTHER variable in the weight controversy???) Was Ludwig, in their infinite wisdom trying to keep the drums around the same weight, or.....Saving more money???

I would love to hear from anyone who has any info on this..Oh, and one more thing..Like I say..I was pretty aggressive in the scraping, knowing I wouldn't hurt the integrity of the drum...Just how far "Down" does one go to be sure they're past the copper?

Hope to hear back from all of you...and, really...THANKS FOR THE HELP

Keep it Funky!

Stixofire

Posted on 16 years ago
#1
Posts: 1113 Threads: 60

Personally I think the shell is definitely brass. The "B" stamp is a sure sign. If anything you would be debating if it's bronze or brass when you see the stamp. Some pics would sure help. Also, I think the scraping of the hole is a much better place to test. You're only slightly going to scrape a tiny bit.

"Failing to prepare, is preparing to fail". John Wooden

Blaemire / Jenkins-Martin drums.

http://www.jenkinsmartindrums.com/
Posted on 16 years ago
#2
Posts: 68 Threads: 21

if it looks like a chicken, clucks like a chicken, and tastes like a chicken... chances are it's a chicken. I think it's brass!!

Posted on 16 years ago
#3
Posts: 59 Threads: 17

Thanks for posting all this. It's a really good education for me, and maybe others too.

So...The weight test isn't always a sure thing. Looks like the stamped "B" may be a sure thing?

Posted on 16 years ago
#4
Posts: 159 Threads: 24

For future reference, an easier way to tell from brass hoops to steel instead of guesstimating the weight is to just compare the hoops soundwise. By that, I mean hold them up by the tip of your finger and tap it with a stick. With COB hoops, you will hear a nice bell like tone, where as the steel ones just kinda go clank.

little trick I learned from Tommyp

(on a side note, maybe that can work on the shell itself too.)

Bopworks Hickory Jazz Drumsticks
http://www.youtube.com/user/mgimino
Posted on 16 years ago
#5
Posts: 77 Threads: 17

Thanks for all the input....I'm still learning....Yes,I was one who was "Sure" that a brass drum was always heavier....Seems this is not always the case.

Posted on 16 years ago
#6
Posts: 77 Threads: 17

From MichaelSJ

For future reference, an easier way to tell from brass hoops to steel instead of guesstimating the weight is to just compare the hoops soundwise. By that, I mean hold them up by the tip of your finger and tap it with a stick. With COB hoops, you will hear a nice bell like tone, where as the steel ones just kinda go clank.little trick I learned from Tommyp(on a side note, maybe that can work on the shell itself too.)

Thanks for that tip..I shall be on it in the morning!!!

Posted on 16 years ago
#7
Posts: 77 Threads: 17

From shepfu

if it looks like a chicken, clucks like a chicken, and tastes like a chicken... chances are it's a chicken. I think it's brass!!

LOL!!! I'd say you're right on....!!!!!! Just that I was sure that a "B" drum would be heavier..and I was thrown by the fact that it wasn't...then with all the help, bit by bit..hoops and all...it turns out to be a chicken for sure!

Take care,

Stixofire

Posted on 16 years ago
#8
Posts: 77 Threads: 17

From MikeChandler

Thanks for posting all this. It's a really good education for me, and maybe others too.So...The weight test isn't always a sure thing. Looks like the stamped "B" may be a sure thing?

Right! I'm finding that the weight thing isn't the end all.....I was concerned since I paid handsomely for this drum, and it weighed about the same as my Alloy Supra...thoughts of..."Have I been had?" were surfacing...

That being said, if you look at the original thread, "How Can This Be?" you can see all the great input I got from the great people on this forum...

This is the place to share and learn...Great group!!!

Keep it funky,

Stix

Posted on 16 years ago
#9
Posts: 1334 Threads: 235

"B" = Brass...."BR" = Bronze....sounds like a brass shell to me...or did I mix the B/BR up....what do I know, I'm a 1920s-30s guy...

Mike Curotto :2Cents:

Posted on 16 years ago
#10
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