" This particular tone control is just the 2nd design that WFL/Ludwig used as it directly followed their 1935 design. "
In 1935 WFL and Ludwig were two different entities...Conn owned both Leedy and Ludwig & Ludwig; Wm. F. Ludwig was starting WFL.
The tone control in question looks like the ones that Leedy and Ludwig & Ludwig
used in the '30s an '40s.
Hey Rich K!...
Yes... the changes within and the sale of the Ludwig name during this period can be confusing! Ludwig Sr. got going again under the name WFL in 1937... and of course the Conn Co. still owned the Ludwig & Ludwig name at that time. The name WFL stayed in place until 1955 at which time the Ludwig family was able to buy back their name as Conn was getting out of the drum business. A lot of times I use the WFL/Ludwig names together to make it easier for the novice to understand that these are the drums produced by the ACTUAL Ludwig family. Is it absolutely and historically correct to do that? Well technically, no. But I think it does make it easier to understand for the uninitiated Ludwig fans.
Because so much of the history/design of these competeing drum companies is intertwined during this period, it's of no surprise that "parts" and/or designs were, how shall I say... borrowed. The muffler on my 3X13 BR Be-Bop is a WFL, and it was introduced in 1938. Is it near or identical to the Ludwig & Ludwig or Leedy design of the time... I'm sure it is!! There seems to be a lot of crossover here and there during this period.
Tommyp
The mufflers are the same...All made by Walburg & Auge.
... and the discussion continues!...
It's a pretty well known fact that W&A manufactured a LOT of different items/hardware for just about every American drum company back during the period we are discussing, and afterwards too for that matter... that is true! What makes it interesting is the fact that the drum companies DO NOT credit W&A as being the manufacturer/supplier of these items... and tone controls/mufflers are not exempt. I decided to dig through my catalogs and have a look see. Here's what I found:
Ludwig doesn't even SHOW a snare drum tone control/muffler in any catalog until 1955... however, exterior mounted bass drum mufflers ARE SHOWN and available as far back as 1935, which is how far I went back. Leedy & Ludwig DO SHOW and offer a snare drum tone control in 1953 though, although WFL does not... but WFL OFFERED THEM if the customer was so inclined!, and for no extra charge either. As mentioned previously, the dealers did a lot of these after purchase installations, and with W&A being the largest manufacturer of this stuff, it's no doubt why a lot of these tone controls are the same.
As I had stated a couple of posts ago, ALL of these companies were sharing/buying "parts" from other manufacturer's, and as vadrums mentioned, Walburg & Auge was the main supplier. It's easy to see how a lot of these parts on the different companies drums "look" the same... in a lot of cases, they were! Things changed later on as the companies started manufacturing their own designs/hardware.
Tommyp
Tommyp,
Here is a pic from my '36 L&L Silver Anniversary Catalog...
vadrums!...
Great shot of the EXACT tone control we have been speaking of! Needless to say, I don't have a copy of the 1936 L&L Silver Anniversary catalog, so that was neat. It did however send me back to the archives...
I found a pic/description of the 1st style Ludwig tone control back in the 1933 catalog... this is the one with the "bar felt pad" and not the oval. So then I had a look at the 1937 Ludwig catalog, which is the next one I have sequentially, and sure enough, there it was. Then it seems to disappear for a few catalogs... ( unless I missed one, as I don't have them all ) ... reappearing in the 1955 edition, although with a new design. Neat stuff to hunt down! The actual question though has been answered: All the companies outsourced on a lot of hardware, with as you mentioned, W&A being the main supplier. Just fascinating stuff!
Tommyp
Tommyp,
Here is is muffler in one of my '36 Silver Anniversary snares...
vadrums!...
Well... THAT is a beautiful drum! The fact that it is a 1936 is downright amazing as it's condition is just outstanding... and... of course, that is also THE muffler! :-) Can't say that I have ever seen a 1936 L&L Silver Anniversary, let alone played one... and I bet the drum just sings too. EXCELLENT!!
Tommyp
You're Welcome...& so right! These '36 Silver Anniversary drums (of which I have four of..6 1/2 X 14 NOB Standard, 5 1/2 X 14 NOB Standard, 6 1/2 X 14 NOB Super-Sensitive & a WMP solid Maple 5 1/2 X 14 Standard) ALL sound amazing! I've had many a top name drummer use these for live work.
