Just think of the second, smaller throwoff as a "trolling" throwoff. It lets you sneak through the musical lilypads without getting tangled in the weeds.

I'm kidding, I have no idea! I think Weckl popularized that in the 80's.

edit: just realized you meant a throwoff on each end. I was referring to the snares with two complete sets of wires and throwoffs. As regards the throwoff on each: I still have no earthly idea!

Of course it might be done for aesthetics in some cases, but I think this is mainly done to overcome a geometry issue. On some shallow (or narrow - like a 12" diameter) drums, the strainer won't drop the snares far enough away from the snare head near the butt. I'm not familiar with the Peavey snare, so I can't comment specifically.

Herb

Not sure about the two throws, but I can understand why you'd want some adjustment on the butt side. Makes centering the snares a breeze. In fact, if I had a choice, all of my snares would have adjustable butt plates.

A double throw means you could release the tension with either hand.

Maybe that's the reason?

Of course WFL made dual throw off snare drums in the late 30'-early 40's. Usually one snare was a 10-strand regular while the other was a set of six silk wound snares. The WFL drums were popular for Dixieland jazz and Ray Bauduc from Bob Crosby's band was their endorser at the time. I have seven of those drums as I love the look and sound of them. Don't really know why you would want dual snares nowadays.

I guess we'll have to get o-lugs to clarify - I thought he meant a throw off on both sides of a snare, or across from each other. Not the same as your beautiful WFL drums...

Herb

I mean a throwoff at one end and a throwoff at the other end -not side-by-side or one-over-the-other...one set of snare wires + two throwoffs, in other words. I'll be taking some pics of my drum over the next few days. I'll post them.