That is a stunning find! The attached historical significance is ultra cool. Congrats on a museum worthy treasure.

You might find additional info by searching google books. This is not a normal google search... I have located all sorts of things using this search method.

www.google.com/books

Congrats on finding the drum! Very cool, thank you for showing it to us.

Jeff C

wonder why it was called a "floating head drum"??

Leedy History

The Leedy Drum Company

The strength of the Leedy legacy stands as a tribute to the founder, Ulysses G. Leedy. U.G. Leedy began his career as a professional percussionist in the 1890s. His personal need for instrument improvements led him to begin crafting his own. A good example is his first product, the folding drum stand. (Snare drums were hung on slings or placed on chairs until Leedy developed the stand.) Fellow musicians, quick to recognize the value and quality of Leedy,s creations, convinced him to start a business. With only $50.00 startup cash, Leedy set up a small shop in his Indianapolis apartment in 1898 and began making snare drum stands, then snare drums. Within two years he was able to buy four lots and build his first factory building.

Below: Leedy's First Shop:

Below: Early Leedy Products:

Below: Leedy Factory Circa 1910:

The success of his business caused U.G. Leedy to curtail his professional career, although he continued to play an occasional concert, and gave free lessons to youngsters at his home on Saturdays. The Leedy product line quickly grew to include drum heads, xylophones, orchestra bells, and accessories. The factory expansions were almost continuous and the products became more widely distributed when Leedy began to wholesale his gear to shops across the country. One such shop was the one owned by William F. and Theo Ludwig; the exclusive Leedy sales agents in Chicago.

By 1920, Leedy annual sales were in excess of $250,000.00 and as the world,s largest manufacturer of percussion equipment, Leedy made it all. Except for cymbals, the Leedy Drum Company manufactured everything that it sold, which was a claim no other company could make.

Below: Leedy Factory Circa 1920:

Below: Leedy Machine Shop Circa 1925:

Below: Leedy Exhibit 1927:

Below: Leedy Window Display 1933:

U.G. Leedy was an excellent judge of character, and hired departmental managers who maintained his high standards. When he realized the need for a full-time sales manager, he sought out George Way. Way was at the time operating his own drum company in Canada, but Leedy convinced him to give that up and move to Indianapolis. The personable Way was not only a percussionist and salesman, but also an engineer and artist. Many of his contributions changed the percussion industry forever, such as the floating-head concept, self-aligning lug, and pearloid covering on drums. Way created a promotional publication titled Leedy Drum Topics which included playing tips, endorser news, and product introductions.

Way's concepts and rough drawings were often perfected in the engineering department by the talented Cecil Strupe. Strupe was Leedy,s chief Mechanical Engineer and shop superintendent from the early 1920s through the mid 1930s. (In 1937 Strupe left to join William F. Ludwig and William F. Ludwig II when they founded the WFL company. (As a WFL employee, Strupe developed the triple-flanged hoop.)

Floating Heads

Leedy's Way invented the double-flanged hoop, resulting in the "floating head".

That's a fantastic drum with some very cool history. I bought a 28" Leedy a little while back and found a signature and date inside from 1914. The owner was with the Ringling Brother Circus in the mid to late teens. Story here:

http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=35422&highlight=leedy+circus

I really love these old drums with an interesting history!

Steve

That is cool. Leedy evidently supplied RB/B&B with drums for a long time.

These drums got quite a work out every day.

I found another picture of the Sarasota bass drum.

Fantastic providence, Great living history here, thanks for sharing it with us.

great story/history

Ultra cool find!