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Camco identification Questions Last viewed: 23 hours ago

camco tama
Posts: 2 Threads: 1

Okay, Team Vintage Drum Forum-

I'm hoping you can help me ID this kit:

Camco three shells:

BD 24/14

Rack 14x10

Floor 18x16

Maple, ply count unknown (I don't want to pull off a head this morning to look)

Weird Stain: "tobacco sunburst" coca-cola red fading into dark-ish yellow exterior. I've never seen another pic of a Camco in this finish.

Purchased this set from a drum instructor in Vancouver Washington in 2000. There was a fourth drum -a 10 inch rack- that I stupidly didn't buy because I'd maxed out my allotted cash for the purchase on the three larger shells. Bad move on my part, because the 14 tom doesn't play/contrast as well with the 18 floor as could be hoped.

So, if you look at the attached photo (and for some reason I could only attach one of my pics) you'll see an LA era Camco badge on top of the virgin bass, and the legendary turret lugs in evidence, and this is the same for all three shells.

But is it really a Camco? No serial markings/stamps anywhere, strange stain finish, strange sizes for a late-era Camco kit, no evidence of white paint or white-ish shellac on any of the shell interiors.

I know the end of the Camco story is murky, with rumors about hostile takeovers and stories about Japanese shells being fitted with Camco hardware and sold as Camcos.

So- do I have a Camco or am I playing a really nice Tama set from 1979?

Also- who's got that missing 10 rack tom? One of you guys does....

Thatnks in advance. CS

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Posted on 10 years ago
#1
Posts: 234 Threads: 85

It is one of the Hoshino/Camco kits made in Pennsylvania after Tama got some of the Camco name rights. I have had a few of these kits and still own a bop kit of them. Great sounding drums and well built but not real popular with the Camco crowd. Mine sound as good, if not better than the Oaklawn Camco bop kit I also own.

Posted on 10 years ago
#2
Posts: 2 Threads: 1

Good catch!

Just typed in "Hoshino/Camco" into the google box and saw many photos of drums with that same odd three-color stain fade.

So- do my extra-big shell sizes indicate these are japanese shells and not leftovers from the LA era?

Also- wikipedia mentions these Hoshino kits had similar hardware to Camco, meaning: NOT Camco lugs. You think that's the case here?

Well, for what it's worth, they sound great and are still good looking 35 years-plus on, they're just not the drums I thought they were.

And in all fairness, there's no way that the drum instructor would have sold me three actual Camco shells in 2000 for the $550 I paid for them.

Thanks for the help.

Posted on 10 years ago
#3
Posts: 59 Threads: 28

Carl,

Huge discussion in my post of my kit. Look in the gallery for my Hoshino Camco kit - sshader. Lots of debate and a bit confusing. But good nonetheless.

Stu

Posted on 10 years ago
#4
Posts: 662 Threads: 33

Not Camco except in name but, by all accounts, still great drums. Embrace that.

Posted on 10 years ago
#5
Posts: 2264 Threads: 83

From nopork

Mine sound as good, if not better than the Oaklawn Camco bop kit I also own.

Hm interesting and rather bold claim, I must say. I'd love to play them side by side some day and try to hear the difference.

The greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you. - Joyce Meyer
Posted on 10 years ago
#6
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