These two Hoshino kits Crown (8 lug toms)and Matador have the wider older version of the lug

This blue sparkle Dorado has the newer thinner version but still with the eight lug tom

this Dorado kit was unfortunately found as a partial

and with the mounting system modified to newer pearl 7/8" stuff

there was little I could do about it but to love them up as they were

Also since eight lug Japanese hoops are sort of rare and being as though the eight lug resonant side hoop was missing

in order for the kit to appear a little more complete for my display

a four lug Taiwanese made (TKO) hoop stands in for now

Well don't I feel like I don't know where I am,lol.

There is widespread confusion with this Hoshino company Jay

It just happens that I have run into a lot of their stuff over the last couple years

I tell ya, the guy who one day manages to get all of this Japan stuff in order without any debate will be a genius. Though, I think there will always be a level of guessing, but that makes it fun. But just when you think you have an idea. Nope,lol

Boy you sure said a mouthful there Jay

And I am right with you on that

Jay, you are right about that!

In regards to the lug construction, my Crown kit has the small "keeper" that accepts the tension rod. Not much thread area to hold onto the rod. Not a real problem for the lower tuning of the rack tom and bass drum, but caused many of the snare lugs to break from higher tensions. I had 6 snare lugs that looked identical from the outside, but utilizing lug nuts and springs, plus a mounting spacing of 2.25" instead of the original 2" spacing. The original holes were plugged and re-drilled for the new lugs. I'll post pictures of the snare soon.

-Mark

So - aside the obvious Crown & Vibra. Do we know any other Hoshino names for certain? I think an " Vivant " sticker was on one of the shells I'd bought, and I recently saw it on another. I'm gonna try and make this crazy dream happen.

Also I notice that the " Hoshino " badges lack saying MIJ. Such as the Crown,Vivant. Is that a tell tale of Hoshino?

Matador, Crown, Aria, Polaris, Decca, and Marquis are a few Jay

This is part of what gets me perplexed. The Drum Guide has Polaris drums linked with Apollo drums made by Pearl. Is that correct? I would assume no if Polaris was made by Hoshino.

Jay my Apollo kit is Star all the way

there may have been some Pearl made Apollo drums

After Star became Tama and no longer made stencil drums

I know I have Star made Stewart drums and also Pearl made Stewart drums the latter used a thin foil facsimile of the original Star made oval badge

this Kimberly kit is another Hoshino build

the lugs on it would serve to further confuse things

as they look very much like the typical Star made Slingerland clones

but are not exactly alike, also the swivel nuts are a larger and a more course thread pattern

In the final pic the orange sparkle 13" drum in this mixture of drums

is a Decca note it has the very same lugs as the subject Vibra tom