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Advice on purchasing an RK snare from the 40's Last viewed: 57 minutes ago

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I have the opportunity to buy an RK snare from the mid 40's and want some advice on pricing. The wrap is a badly faded and green BDP, it is missing the original snares and the tone control is gone. It is either a 6.5 or 7inch with the two sets of top and bottom lugs (versus the 1 set of center lugs) and no extra holes.

What is a good price for the drum?

How much will the replacement parts run? The correct snare and tone control?

I don't have any cloud badge Slingy's in the collection and I am tempted to purchase even though I don't love the finish.

1954 Gretsch Name Band Outfit White Marine Pearl
1964 Ludwig Downbeat Kit Champagne Sparkle
1964 Ludwig Jazz Combo Kit Gold Sparkle
1964 Gretsch Jazz Progressive Jazz Progressive Kit
1965 Ludwig Club Date Kit BDP
1971 Slingerland 13,16,22 in Black Sparkle
1979 Rogers XP-8 Super Londoner Tobacco Sunburst
1982 Rogers XP-8 Black Londoner
Numerous Snare Drums
Posted on 10 years ago
#1
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A correct RK tone control can be had on eBay in the $40 range. Snare wires might be hard to come by depending on what strainer the drum has. The early brass cloud badge models(late 30's to pre-war) with the clam shell strainer has a single screw on each strainer. These snares are impossible to find. If it has the 3 point, you're in much better shape.

As far as value, condition is everything. Make sure the re-rings aren't separating. That became common in the aluminum cloud badge era.

Some pics would be nice, but based on what you've given us so far, I'd say $300 is all the money.

BTW-its probably 7 x 14

Drum Kits
1965 Ludwig Clubdate Oyster Blue
1966 Ludwig Clubdate Oyster Black
1969 Ludwig BB Blue Oyster Keystone Clubdate
1971 Ludwig BB Black Oyster
Early 60's Camco Oaklawns Champagne Sparkle
Posted on 10 years ago
#2
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'Clam shell' Replacement wires from pure sound are easy to find, and not expensive, you can again now get the 3 point replacement wires, they are pricey, I can't remember the exact model number for them. Wow 300 dollars for an RK snare I've never come across one as cheap as that?! And tone control could be nearly twice that on eBay, I suppose eBay is actually way expensive then?.

I love the jazz era
Posted on 10 years ago
#3
Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!
Posted on 10 years ago
#4
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Pardon me, I was incorrect, the later clam shells have the single screw to attach the snares. These are easy to find as stated above. The early clam shell strainers have a hook/clip on each side. These are impossible to find replacements for. I found a set for a RK I no longer own. They were so tight, I couldn't operate the throw. Sounded great though! As you can see, I even had to widen the slot size to fit the strainer on both sides.

Here is what I mean:

[IMG]http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/schmegeggie/Gate%20Clamshell_zpsvkw2f3xg.jpg[/IMG]

Again, these are the earliest RK clam shells, pre-war, brass cloud badge. Snare gates have screws, not rivets.

BTW - I sold it for $515, very nice drum, chrome was excellent.

[IMG]http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/schmegeggie/RadioKing1_zpsbaa797e7.jpg[/IMG]

Drum Kits
1965 Ludwig Clubdate Oyster Blue
1966 Ludwig Clubdate Oyster Black
1969 Ludwig BB Blue Oyster Keystone Clubdate
1971 Ludwig BB Black Oyster
Early 60's Camco Oaklawns Champagne Sparkle
Posted on 10 years ago
#5
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Awesome! You guys are right in the nick of time. I am looking at this thing for the second time in about an hour. The drum does not have the Clamshell strainer so from what I am reading that is a good thing?

I actually have a Slingy tone control from that period that someone used in place of a Pratt Muffler on my WMP Gretsch kit. I have been meaning to take it off and putt the Pratt in anyway. Not sure if it is the exact tone control but it should work for now regardless. Good heads up on the re-ring separation because it is an aluminum cloud badge drum. I'll check that out and try to get it for $300.00. Thanks again for the input and if I snag it today I will post pics and hopefully get more input.

1954 Gretsch Name Band Outfit White Marine Pearl
1964 Ludwig Downbeat Kit Champagne Sparkle
1964 Ludwig Jazz Combo Kit Gold Sparkle
1964 Gretsch Jazz Progressive Jazz Progressive Kit
1965 Ludwig Club Date Kit BDP
1971 Slingerland 13,16,22 in Black Sparkle
1979 Rogers XP-8 Super Londoner Tobacco Sunburst
1982 Rogers XP-8 Black Londoner
Numerous Snare Drums
Posted on 10 years ago
#6
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From skapunk_edge

Awesome! You guys are right in the nick of time. I am looking at this thing for the second time in about an hour. The drum does not have the Clamshell strainer so from what I am reading that is a good thing?I actually have a Slingy tone control from that period that someone used in place of a Pratt Muffler on my WMP Gretsch kit. I have been meaning to take it off and putt the Pratt in anyway. Not sure if it is the exact tone control but it should work for now regardless. Good heads up on the re-ring separation because it is an aluminum cloud badge drum. I'll check that out and try to get it for $300.00. Thanks again for the input and if I snag it today I will post pics and hopefully get more input.

with the 3 point strainer you'll be using standard wires, as the metal band ones are no longer available, I hated them anyway they choke the drum, standard wires are the way to go.

Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!
Posted on 10 years ago
#7
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Thanks Vintagemoore! I actually found a thread yesterday researching the drum where you and some others were discussing that topic. Good to know. Sounds like as long as the reruns are okay I can get this thing up and playing without picking up any replacement parts. Would the tone control on the aluminum badge drums have the black felts? That is what I have on mine that I am going to use.

1954 Gretsch Name Band Outfit White Marine Pearl
1964 Ludwig Downbeat Kit Champagne Sparkle
1964 Ludwig Jazz Combo Kit Gold Sparkle
1964 Gretsch Jazz Progressive Jazz Progressive Kit
1965 Ludwig Club Date Kit BDP
1971 Slingerland 13,16,22 in Black Sparkle
1979 Rogers XP-8 Super Londoner Tobacco Sunburst
1982 Rogers XP-8 Black Londoner
Numerous Snare Drums
Posted on 10 years ago
#8
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Vm2000, do you mean just the metal tab( original) wires choke the drum, or are you also saying that the replacement ( pure sound) special extended wires do as well. - are you recommending just using ordinary wires while not using the extended snare 'mechanism at all?.

I love the jazz era
Posted on 10 years ago
#9
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From Olddrumgeek

Vm2000, do you mean just the metal tab( original) wires choke the drum, or are you also saying that the replacement ( pure sound) special extended wires do as well. - are you recommending just using ordinary wires while not using the extended snare 'mechanism at all?.

I'm saying the extended wire with the metal tabs, Not the tabs that the snare wires are welded into. Mark cooper runs all his Radio kings an leedy broadways this way as do I,

Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!
Posted on 10 years ago
#10
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