It must be a crazy good feeling to own that drum and see it in use in old pics and all. Would love to hear more as well as to how you came to own it. Again, thanks for sharing!

Curtis

one thing I've found...

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/13/nyregion/he-loved-the-circus-for-the-music-not-the-trapeze-act.html

only a few sentences here and there..

W. Ray ("Red") Foyld, who was with Merle Evans for twelve years under the big top and an addition of eight years in buildings,

was during all of that time Merle Evans' right hand bower, is conceded to be the most gifted of all snare drummers.

Many musicians have credited Floyd with adding greatly to their knowledge of and facility with the snare drum.

some more...

http://books.google.com/books?id=XhyNTolr6CsC&pg=PA462&lpg=PA462&dq=merle+evans+band+1950+red+floyd&source=bl&ots=-FfNHfAAme&sig=jRD9EmCxLzFBU99k419vQ5i6b4Y&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fbcrUor1IOm2yAHQoIH4Dw&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=merle%20evans%20band%201950%20red%20floyd&f=false

Nice. That lead me to read the hall of fame piece on Buster Bailey on pas.org

So many vintage drums we don't know the life story of. This is really cool.

Olimpass, Great article about Buster Baily. I knew he sat in with the circus band sometimes. After Red left the circus the drum was given to Rudy Bundy who was the treasure and VP of RB but had been a big band leader then played in the RB band and was then music director before managing the books.

Rudy was a great friend of my dads and from the same small town in Ohio.

The drum came from a family collection. I am honored to have it.

Thank you Mr. Armstrong...please read the some more link I've put in the last post. It has info on the Leedy drum being made for him and more cool info. pg. 43. some pages are intentionally left blank or withheld. I'm glad I could help with some research. All the best!

Where did you read about Leedy Making the drum?

I couldn't find it on your link.

I couldn't believe it when I took the head off and found the note from George Way. Like they say on the antique road show: "Provenance"

page 43...nothing more than you've already stated but it's written in here.

Congrats on such a wonderful drum!

OK Thanks I found it.

16 gauge gut snares. It was a LOUD drum. ( and still is)

Made to fill the big top unmiked.

That's great info. Pretty impressive that the entire

New York Phil percussion section came to watch him play.

I also read that he had a great one handed roll that he did using 2 sticks

like extended fingers.

Any known recordings or video of Red?

Here is the Merle Evans Band.

The bass drummer used a pair of 22" cymbals

with one mounted on the BD. And could play all day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXxztZs82yE