Hello from Shelter-in-Place Central, SF Bay Area, CA USA,

The Corona Virus Craziness is here but the hobby continues...

I got this drum circa 1998 from my good friend and fellow drum collector Mike Echart. I’ve included some provenance authenticating the lineage of this piece of Ludwig Drum Co. history.

This drum can be found on pages 20-21 of my book: VINTAGE SNARE DRUMS THE CUROTTO COLLECTION. I never did an article on this drum so here goes.

[B]1926-27 5 x 14 10 LUG LUDWIG & LUDWIG 12 PT. FLORAL ENGRAVED DeLUXE STANDARD MODEL (WILLIAM F. LUDWIG SR.’S PERSONAL BLACK BEAUTY)

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FROM MY BOOK:

“...it is unique in that it was one of William F. Sr.’s personal snare drums. The drum remained in the Ludwig museum/boardroom until c 1990 when WFL II agreed to sell it and a few others as a way of getting them to the public. WFL II’s wife persuaded Mr. Ludwig to curtail this gesture but only after four or five drums were already sold. Note the “Ludwig” engraved top rim; this rim was not a standard item on L & L engraved DeLuxe Models with metal shells.”

MORE INFO:

1. The engraved “Ludwig” on the top rim was only seen on Stipelgold or Ludwigold models...but if you are the owner of the Ludwig & Ludwig Drum Co. anything is possible.

2. This drum remains in the exact condition when it was originally sold.

3. Noted Black Beauty authority (and the original buyer) John Aldridge was kind enough to write a letter of authentication just in time for the 1999 NAMM Show.

4. WFL II was kind enough to sign the notarized letter of authentication at the 1999 NAMM Show. As an aside to this: as some of you know WFL II could get a little “salty” at times and occasionally was a tad hard to deal with. He had 3 pens in his suit pocket, a green pen, a black felt pen and a blue pen. He looked at me with that look of “are you going sell this drum after I sign this letter of authenticity?” I sensed this so I immediately said “this drum is going to stay in my collection, I will not be flipping this drum.” He looked at me with a slight smile, took out the blue pen and signed the document. I was told later on that a blue ink pen is the correct pen to use when signing an official document.

I hope that you enjoy this piece of Ludwig Drum Co. history.

Mike Curotto