The same type of cradle has been employed for centuries to support wine barrels. Perhaps that was it's origin. Often they are oak.

Thanks everyone for your interest and comments. It's always fun to get something out of the ordinary, and I thought this bass qualified.

THANK YOU TERVERSON!!!. Thanks to your comment, I researched carousels and calliopes, and you were dead right! This is apparently a mounted bass drum (probably Leedy as others have pointed out) off a Wurlitzer carousel calliope. I was able to find several pictures of similar basses (same rims and bolted to the same type of cradle). Just imagine, this bass drum was never intended to be played by a human!

A web site directed me to a music professor who restores calliopes. I'm going to contact him and forward the pictures. I think it would be really neat if this ended up where it belongs, on an old Wurlitzer machine, rather than being modified as a kit bass.

Thanks again for the lead! I'll repost if I have success finding this an appropriate home.

Mike C.

There are Wurlitzer drums out there made by Leedy..so that makes sense....