Those are Camco by Tama drums, made after Tama bought the Camco name in 1978. Very short lived, but the drums do surface from time to time. Elvin endorsed these for a few months before switching to regular Tama.

The drums don't usually command a lot of money. I would think in the more rare and desirable sizes of 18-12-14, they would be worth between $1000 and $1500.

Thanks,

Bill

Also a bit vague as to whether they were US shells or Japanese. During their very short period of production, Tama Camco stuff seem to have used shells from both sources.

But, as mentioned, while fine drums, not a huge amount of collector cache. Cool sizes though and that should keep the price up if you want to sell.

Thanks much. It is an 18/12/14 kit. So even though the badges say "Made in the USA" the shells could be made in Japan? Interesting.

So am I correct that 1978 would be (one year) before DW purchased Camco's machinery for their drums?

Oh ok. Just read this at Wikipedia:

In 1977, Drum Workshop (DW) and Hoshino Gakki (the parent company of Tama Drums) jointly purchased Camco's assets. DW would receive Camco's inventory and manufacturing equipment, while Tama would receive the Camco name, the original design blueprints, and engineering rights.

This explains the nearly the same but slightly different lug design plus the reference to the Hoshino badge. Still no clue where the shell were made.

I don't see why it wouldn't be made in USA if it says it is. BTW those are very fine looking drums.. Is that an inlay? Additionally, I wouldn't necessarily have 100% faith in Wikipedia. It is not always accurate.

If Elvin played that line, then wouldn't a set in those sizes with the USA tags be worth quite a bit?

I've had many a discussion on those drums, as I have a 5-piece. Do your drums have re-rings on them? Hard to tell from the pics. They look like the same shell I have, except I don't have that nice inlay and mine do have re-rings.

General consensus is that those are Keller shells.

I have a set of concert toms (6"&8") that have the same finish. I have broken 2 lugs on these drums. I have never broken a lug on any other drum so be careful. I also have a Camco Oaklawn bop kit that are the same sizes as yours in green sparkle. The Oaklawns are entirely different from the Tama Camcos. If yours are made with Camco shells, they would be L.A. Camco shells, which are different from the Oaklawns. Yours do look great, but be careful of the lugs.

Nice kit

I have plain maple finish, 22undrilled,12,13 and 16. Your shells don't appear to have re.rings, neither do mine.Mine also have the paper serial number stickers inside.I'm not sure where shells were made but I had a set of the original 80's Tama Superstars in same maple finish and from memory I'd say shells very,similar.

Where ever they were made mine sound great(as did the Tamas).

Gary

No re-rings. Thanks for all the info.