Welcome to a great forum Klundern. You've definitely come to the right place. Any advice you need, and even parts, can be found through this helpful forum.

I've been restoring some of these old MIJ kits for a couple of years now, and have learned a great deal by going back and searching the older threads, and often posing questions on new threads.

In my opinion, what you seem to have there, could be a Hoshino kit. This is a third Japanese manufacturer, not as renowned as Pearl, or Star, but definitely a contender in the stencil kit game. Still lots of grey area in the vintage MIJ debate, and I believe that there was possibly some kind of merger with Pearl and Hoshino at some point, but I digress.

Hoshino is commonly identified by it's unique 'shark tooth' lugs. These were slot style lugs, (no springs)usually found on thicker shells without re-rings. Yours are not these. Pearl, and Star both made 'Slingerland' style lugs for their stencil kits, with identifiable differences, and I have also seen one or two variations, perhaps for upper scale marketed kits. I can't say definitively by these lugs, but the bass drum t-rods appear to be Hoshino. Thinking perhaps, that it might be an earlier Hoshino kit before they went to the more recognizable, thicker shells with the sharktooth lugs. I may be wrong, but it is my guess.

One of the main attractions to collecting these old Japanese kits, is the variety of cool, original wraps. If you have a kit, (as you do) without the original wrap, there is really no collectibility value. You can make them sound pretty good with some work, (lots of tips here at VDF) but it won't amount to anything more than a player kit in the end, at best. That being said; *DON'T START DROPPING SERIOUS $ IN RESTORATION*. Don't get caught up in trying to find matching lugs for example, though, if you are to find them, VDF is a great place to start. In fact I might even have some to spare. Money aside, it can be great fun restoring an old set of drums, and learning what makes them work. Have fun with them, and take inventory of what you need, and post it here. You may get off pretty cheap, which would be optimum I would think. Good luck.

I'm thinking those are Crown drums-BIG tension casings. Are the bass rods larger threads than usual? That's another indicator.

Thank you daddy nowhere - you're advice and knowledge is much appreciated. Its too bad they're worthless, but I really didn't expect much more of them. I've already enjoyed taking off all the old hardware to clean the shells and really seeing how drums are made - how all the hardware hooks on and what not. I'd love for this to be a player set, and if somebody ever asks me what kind of drumset, I'd probably answer "A Vintage 1960s Drumset made in Japan". That's what it is. If you think I could get some good sound out of it, I'd be happy to restore it. I wasn't going to but any serious cash into it either - just enough to make it playable.

As for what I need, I already posted a 'wanted' thread in the buying section of this forum, but I'll tell you here too - I need a second bass drum hoop (20"), about 12 more bass drum lugs (finding matches for mine has proved to be difficult) and 12 tension rods for the bass drum. Well, I need tension rods for every drum, but any tension rods will serve for those. Otherwise I'm all set - maybe put a wrap on it and call it good. Of course it needs new heads, but that'll be easy. Any ol' head will work.

So yea, if you see any matching bass lugs/tension rods, please let me know! Once I have those I'll begin on restoration. Thanks so much!

In reply to Treverson, no, my bass drum lugs/threads are normal size, just interesting patterns. Thanks though!

Well, I wouldn't exactly say worthless. As far as value... yeah, not much. However, your idea of turning these into a sweet little kit for playing is perfect. That's where the worth of the kit will shine. And, if you're so inclined to play 'em, you'll have a blast on the cheap.

Patience will be the way with these. The parts will show up, or you may end up replacing all the lugs with ones that are available. Hoops the same. Keep it as original as you can, but don't break the bank trying. Just R & R and restore it, and have fun!

Pleased to meet'cha.

Sounds awesome - I was thinking the same thing. This actually gives me a chance to make the drumset 'mine' a little bit...you know? I don't NEED to get a certain wrap or certain lugs, so I can have a little fun with it (but I am choosing to keep it as original as I can, like you said). Thanks again for all your advice - it really is appreciated.