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The Mystery of the Aussie Leedy Full Dress Drums Last viewed: 1 day ago

Posts: 1725 Threads: 135

I picked up this 1937 Leedy Broadway Dual Full Dress snare from an Australian seller a couple of weeks ago. It was the third one I'd try to buy in the last year, all in Australia. Then I saw Steele's post about the Oriental Pearl full dress snare and bass he found near his Sydney workshop. And then there's Mike Curotto's OP snare that was discovered in Wagga Wagga NSW.

I figured these were bought back to the Lucky Country by servicemen and women but the odd thing is you really don't see many drums from the other big American makers of the time in Australia and it's also odd that it's the full dress drums I keep seeing. It's not like you see that many FD Leedys in America.

So, any theories?

Andrew

Golden Curtain
www.myspace.com/garagelandnz
Posted on 8 years ago
#1
Posts: 1725 Threads: 135

these are the other two Australian drums I missed out on in the last year

Andrew

Golden Curtain
www.myspace.com/garagelandnz
Posted on 8 years ago
#2
Posts: 5295 Threads: 226

Beautiful drum there!! Nice score!!

Cheers

1976 Ludwig Mach 4 Thermogloss 26-18-14-14sn
1978 Ludwig Stainless 22-22-18-16-14-13-12 c/w 6-8-10-12-13-14-15-16-18-20-22-24 concert toms
1975 Sonor Phonic Centennials Metallic Pewter 22-16-13-12-14sn (D506)
1971 Ludwig Classic Bowling Ball OBP 22-16-14-13
1960's Stewart Peacock Pearl 20-16-12-14sn
1980`s Ludwig Coliseum Piano Black 8x14 snare
1973 Rogers Superten 5x14 & 6.5x14 COS snares
1970`s John Grey Capri Aquamarine Sparkle 5x14 snare
1941 Ludwig & Ludwig Super 8x14 snare
Posted on 8 years ago
#3
Posts: 2753 Threads: 132

I'm going to venture a guess that Canadian George Way was very much involved with seeing that these great drums made it to another Commonwealth country during his long stint with Leedy.

No matter how far you push the envelope, it is still stationery.
Posted on 8 years ago
#4
Posts: 1725 Threads: 135

From leedybdp

I'm going to venture a guess that Canadian George Way was very much involved with seeing that these great drums made it to another Commonwealth country during his long stint with Leedy.

That's an interesting theory.

I also wonder if the Full Dress designs didn't catch on and a bunch of unsold stock was shipped off to a market far far away. It certainly happened here in New Zealand where some very oddball items show up from time to time. Usually items that were a tough sell in their home market.

Andrew

Golden Curtain
www.myspace.com/garagelandnz
Posted on 8 years ago
#5
Posts: 2753 Threads: 132

Many of the odd ball sizes of drum shells and odd ball drum wraps that Rogers, Ludwig, and Gretsch wanted to unload ended up at Walberg & Auge. W&A made some great drum sets out of unwanted surplus components from leading drum companies. So, Fayray's theory also sounds possible.

No matter how far you push the envelope, it is still stationery.
Posted on 8 years ago
#6
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