lynn, your rk is a Krupa model, the reason the rims aren't stamped is at this time they had stop doing it in the 50's, also none of the clamps are stamped rk. only slingerland.

Thank you very much, Mark!

So, do you think the hoops were replaced with 50s hoops? The badge on the BD dates to '45 - '46. Or, were they not stamping then either?

Also, do you know why the muffler would be mounted in a different panel? Is it possible that Barrett Deems requested it that way?

Thanks again!

Lynn

The aluminum badge era was a transitional era and Slingerland was just beginning to get back in regular production after the war. So it's not uncommon to see older parts mixed with new, un-stamped hoops (bottom hoops were often un-stamped anyway). The positioning of internal mufflers changed over the years, so that is not unusual or custom. As Mark said, Slingerland gradually stopped stamping hoops in the early 50's.

Not sure but I think the drums were originally silver sparkle. Kind of hard to tell from the photos.

Thank you very much for the information!

The more I look at it, especially under certain lighting, it looks like it was originally gold. I can't get a picture with my phone to show the color that I'm seeing with my eyes, though. I'll continue to try. Maybe I can sweet-talk my wife into finding the digital camera I paid a few hundred dollars for that she doesn't seem to want to use. Mind Blowi

Thanks again!

Lynn