A good list, O-Lugs! I think for Rogers, I'm going to go with Swivo-Matic, rather than Memriloc hardware. I just feel that Swivo hardware was a real game changer. I believe there was some English bloke in a small 4-member group that used a Swivo tom holder in place of the Ludwig rail consolette! LoLoLoLo

-Mark

Agreed, both are extremely innovative, but the Swivo concept is far and away the more significant of the two. There's not a weak link in Swivo across the board, stylistically or functionally. It is the quintessential hardware design.

I was going to list the Swivo stuff, too....but I think that the Memriloc stuff changed EVERY other hardware design that came after it more than the Swivo stuff did. Literally every company adopted their own version of a memory lock. No one else attempted to copy the Swivomatic idea (that I'm aware of)...but the Memriloc idea, yes. If Rogers had figured out a better way to utilize the Memriloc system without those huge pipes, then it would have been much better. But even then, most all of my Memriloc stuff lasted through years of road abuse and "helpful" people packing up and unloading. :)

I can't argue that the physical beauty of the Swivomatic line was/is unsurpassed!

Ahhh...but the diescast collet noses are often prone to breaking. And when that happens, there really isn't a quick fix.

I'll put my vote in for Ludwig & Ludwig's "Super-Ludwig" parallel snare system starting in 1924.

The "Camco" chain-drive BD pedal began as a upgrade done in drum shops. After the break-up of Camco, Hoshino produced the Camco chain-drive pedal in the early 80's.

Rogers Swiv-o-matic hardware, when introduced around 1960, all the other manufacturers had not progressed from their rail and spade hardware. It was so good, simple to adjust and sturdy, drummers would order un-drilled drums from another company and have the Rogers hardware installed at the shop.

I believe that Leedy introduced the swivel inserts/self-aligning rods for lugs and the "floating head" rims.

Very true! But remember, the Ohio-era Swivo utilized machined collet noses. It wasn't until the Fullerton era, around 1971-72, that the bean counters needed to cut costs, forcing the noses to be cast, rather than machined.

Pearl was one company that copied the Swivomatic tom holder. Offered in 1969, the single and double arms were called the "Free Adjustable" and worked extremely well!

Star (Tama) went even better with their "Fre-O-Matic" tom holder shown in the 1972 catalog!

-Mark

Great information! I had no idea they had copied any of it. And just to be sure everyone knows...I LOVE the Swivomatic design. Yes, the machined collets were the shiz!

I would add Hollywood by Meazzi

The "Camco" pedal was designed and manufactured by a company named Martin. They called it the Fleetfoot pedal. It had the cam and leather strap. They made the pedal for several years, although there doesn't seem to be a lot of information out there about the origins or how long they made it. At some point Camco acquired the design and tooling and started marketing it under the Camco name. Camco also made the pedal for Gretsch with a Gretsch branded footboard and sold as the FlexiFlier.

The chain sprocket drive modification was the invention of Al Duffy and Frank Ippolito and they had it patented in 1972.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US3797356?oq=3797356

Ludwig invented and patented the triple flange drum hoop. Slingerland didn't want to pay royalties to Ludwig so instead of bending the top flange outward, they bent it inward. Ludwig sued but ultimately lost the case.

Everyone uses triple flange hoops. Slingerland was the only company to use the stick saver, and while some of the MIJ stencil manufacturers copied them, ultimately the triple flange hoop was by far the bigger and more successful innovation.