Does anybody know what company was the first to offer drums with Keller shells, and what year it was?

You would think I could get an answer to these questions, considering I have worked for the Keller Companies for the past 27 years! (although not in the Keller Products part of the company. I am the director of maintenance for their flight dept.) I have only been given a tour of the shell making division once, a long time ago. The company does not give out information easily, not even to employees.

I have asked this question directly to my ultimate boss Richard Keller, who in turn asked his father Robert Keller Sr. (recently deceased), but they were only willing/able to give me approximate dates of early `60s, and that Rogers was one of the first.

They did say that tambourine shells were one of the first percussion products they made.

I want to know who was the very first major drum manufacturer, and exactly what year.

Some drum guru out there must have literature mentioning early Keller shells.

Richard himself has a nice vintage set. Ludwig! You would think he would have something with shells made by his familys own company.