So the first Camcos were 1961 correct? Before that it was George Way and when did DW/tama take over, mid 70s right? so the last Camco was mid 70s?
George Way - 1957-1961
Camco Oaklawn - 1961-1971 (June of '71)
Camco Chanute - 1971-1973 (June '71-August '73) ran by Kustom Company
Camco Los Angeles - 1973 - 1978
All 4 eras are different from each other with Oaklawn and Chanute being the most similar and LA being the most different.
Great info here,
I'm quite hopeless when it comes to counting plies on shells.
What are we looking at here,...?
George Way - 1957-1961Camco Oaklawn - 1961-1971 (June of '71)Camco Chanute - 1971-1973 (June '71-August '73) ran by Kustom CompanyCamco Los Angeles - 1973 - 1978 All 4 eras are different from each other with Oaklawn and Chanute being the most similar and LA being the most different.
Ok so camco went for 15 years starting in 61. Dennis Wilson started with gretsch then went to camco and switched back n forth to rogers throughout the 60s til going with zickos in the mid 70s and then ending with yamaha. Doug Clifford endorsed camco as well.
What happened to Camco, why did the company only last 20 years? In fact of that 20 years it's 1957-71 until the company is ran by another company.
What happened to Camco, why did the company only last 20 years? In fact of that 20 years it's 1957-71 until the company is ran by another company.
17 years to be exact, 1961 to 1971 Oaklawn, 1971 to 73 Chanute, and LA era from 1973 to 77. Marketing and or the lack of, I think was the primary reason for the demise of Camco. That's just my opinion, based on the fact that they were the choice of the worlds top studio musicians and recording studios. I don't know of a drummer today that would pick another set to keep over his Camco's or GWs if they could have only one kit. That alone, says everything...Of course there is always the exception to the rule, like Orangemi.
It is the unfortunate mistaken nature of business to assume that a higher quality product will be successful simply because it is higher quality. If people don't know about your product, it will eventually fall by the wayside. I saw the Camco ads at the time when I was a kid and was never impressed. The Fifth Dimension and the Beach Boys (my apologies to kookadams) were not what I considered glowing recommendations. Also, I never saw a kit in a music store that I can recall so the assumption was that they couldn't be that great. There were a couple of stores in my area that carried Premier and everyone had Ludwig, Gretsch, occasionally Rogers and, of course the MIJ's. Later the Pearl and Tama kits showed up as well as high end Yamaha gear. Never once saw a Camco kit. Tough to get excited about something that, for the most part did not exist and that is a shame.
Great info here,I'm quite hopeless when it comes to counting plies on shells.What are we looking at here,...?
Good question? What did Dan say? I was always under the impression they were mid 60s 6/6ply. I am with Dolfan, remove one of the tom mounts so you can clearly see the number of plys...Also the pictures I have are the same ones Dan the CoffeeMan posted here on the forum that included the replica 7x10" Tom.
I don't know of a drummer today that would pick another set to keep over his Camco's or GWs if they could have only one kit. That alone, says everything...Of course there is always the exception to the rule, like Orangemi.
I would certainly pick them as the best sounding mostly maple w/re-rings shell design...Cool Dude
