Hi,

Here's 3 more restored and added to the collection. I've had these drums for a while so in honor of the Ludwig Drum Company's 100th Anniversary I present them to you as a family.

The Ludwig Family circa 1912:

1911-12 4x14, 5x14, 6.5x14 nob Ludwig & Ludwig Standard Models

I decided to keep the restoration/preservation of these 3 drums to a minimum, a "soft" cleaning/restoration as we call it.

Shells/Hardware:

The drums were in very good shape given the fact that they are pushing 100, (we should all hope to look this good at 100 yrs. old!). I used Simple Green to clean the years of schmutz that accumulated on the shells and hardware. All of you know that I constantly preach: "rust does not sleep"...so any rust was handled by my trusty Dremel tool, soft steel brushes and 0000 steel wool (note to the Purists: don't get your undies in a bunch, no damage was done to the hardware with the 0000 steel wool). The 4x14 came to me missing the top rim so I had to have one fabricated. My machinist Abe Abello came through once again, notice how he nailed the "ears". If I hadn't pointed this out to you the top rim would have passed easily, that's how good Abe is! A thanks also goes to Les and Brian at Avenue Plating for the nickel plating.

Badges:

The 5x14 and 6.5x14 both have the round Ludwig & Ludwig badge that has the center hole to attach the flip down strainer. The 4x14 has the "dog tag" badge that sits right below the hole to attach the flip down strainer. I'm thinking that the "dog tag" badge came first followed by the round Ludwig & Ludwig badge.

What do you think?

Calf heads and original gut/silk wound wires rounded out these restorations.

Enjoy!

BTW...I'm looking for a 1912 L&L 6.5x15 Standard Model to finish out another L&L Family project...

Mike Curotto