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Was gifted a Blaemire snare

Posts: 321 Threads: 75

My good buddy Scott Atkinson called me the other day and told be he wanted to stop by...he had a gift for me.

So as it turns out he is the sly fellow who bought both of the Blaemire snares that were at Sam Ash Ontario Mills. He posted about his restoration of one, and this one he gave to me. I think I know the reason he did this for me, but I will have to wait about a week to reveal why. Scott is one of those good guys that enjoys giving as much as receiving.

I took the snare (snatched would be a better word!) from Scott and did a bit of restoration on it. All of the lugs and hardware were in pretty good shape and only needed a bit of polishing. The shell was another story.

The shell was not plumb at all. Whoever sanded this after they got it from Allen did not use a vertical sander like Allen did, and like I currently do. It was lumpy to say the least. Weirdest sides I have ever sanded. They were like a roller coaster ride. The beds were off center, narrow and not as deep as I like. After I redid the edges and re-cut the beds Greg M hand sanded the beast and then I cleared it.

There were no extra holes and I am sure this is just how she was set up from the get go. Interesting choice of hardware. Looks all Camco except the Ludwig P-85 throw off and the 1920's Universal style butt plate. Can any one confirm the hoops as Camco? The snare side hoop has the oval cut out for wires. It was a joy to work on.

This is how she came out.

Thanks again to Scott for a great gift.

[IMG]http://www.iknowcss.com/jj/Camco-Blaemire%20snare%20001.1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.iknowcss.com/jj/Camco-Blaemire%20snare%20005.1.jpg[/IMG]

"Blaemire Archaeologist"
Posted on 11 years ago
#1
Posts: 9005 Threads: 266

Gotdam, Jinx... that looks killer with the Camco hardware on it. Scott must hold you in very high regard, Jerry. That's the kind of gift you give to a brother. Kudo's to Scott for being a generous soul, and congrats to you on another save of a rare drum shell.

Jinx, do you have any idea how many drums Allen made while he was in business? Can't be more than a couple thousand and that's on the high estimate side. Just curious about 'how rare' these shells really are.

John

Too many great drums to list here!

http://www.walbergandauge.com/VintageVenue.htm
Posted on 11 years ago
#2
Posts: 321 Threads: 75

From Purdie Shuffle

Gotdam, Jinx... that looks killer with the Camco hardware on it. Scott must hold you in very high regard, Jerry. That's the kind of gift you give to a brother. Kudo's to Scott for being a generous soul, and congrats to you on another save of a rare drum shell.Jinx, do you have any idea how many drums Allen made while he was in business? Can't be more than a couple thousand and that's on the high estimate side. Just curious about 'how rare' these shells really are.John

I ask Kirsten Blaemire that question more than once as she kept the books. She said that they had no idea where the books are now (sort of a hoarder situation in that home now) and that she really cant even guess at how many were made.

I guessed it to be as few as 1500 and no more than 2500.

He did this more as a hobby after he retired from the Navy. He did not work every day of the week and most probably did one shell per day as he had to leave them on the mandrel to cure over night before he took them off.

So lets say he did 2 or 3 a week but not every week for the 25 years. And lets say he did not make all that many in the first five years.

I get somewhere in the neighborhood of 1900.

Its a good question....wish I knew more.

"Blaemire Archaeologist"
Posted on 11 years ago
#3
Posts: 10714 Threads: 579

Clean living has it's virtues, Thx for sharing it with us.

Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!
Posted on 11 years ago
#4
Posts: 1113 Threads: 60

Looks great Jerry! How does it sound? It's a shame we didn't get to hear how it sounded before the restoration.;)

Hey Scott, that was an awesome gift buddy, way to go! :cool:

BTW, when we were sanding this shell, the smell brought back some great memories. There's nothing like the aroma of sanding original Blaemire shells.:)

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

Blaemire / Jenkins-Martin drums.

http://www.jenkinsmartindrums.com/
Posted on 11 years ago
#5
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