# 3 is a Deri. It will have either a European beech or birch shell. Unusual to German drums, Deri/Rimmel used birch a lot for shells. It likely has a rather heavy r-ring. #4 is a Tromsa. This is the lug that they started using in the late 60's, through the 70's.# 1 and 2. That style of drum, with the floating heads and single tension is a popular style in Germany used for marching or tanzmusik drums and every company made various versions of it at one time or another. Sometimes the tensioners are on the top and sometimes son the bottom. Using a tempered ring, around which to furl the bearing edge is also a common feature on many metal shelled drums. # 1 is a relatively modern drum and has some features that say 1960's. I'm guessing it is a Lefima, which at the time was nationalized and using common parts and facilities with Trowa but that is a guess, based on certain features. # 2 is an older drum. In the period when it was made, and I suspect the 1930's there were many other German drum makers, than the 7 or so that distilled out in the 50's, so it is a bit of a guess again to put a name on it, without a clear catalogue presentation. Also, some of the components for drums in Germany were made in fabricating plants that then sold the same components to several makers, so several companies could have the same wing nuts or throwoff, etc. Oddball; fact check It was not Tromsa who took over the Sonor factory. Tromsa was a family owned business which was an acronym for TROMmel SAttler, the German for drum, followed by the name of the family. They were in West Germany , in a city called Russelsheim. It was Trowa that the Sonor plant morphed into in East Germany. Later, the family owned but nationalized company Lefima also got into hot water with the authorities and from an economic standpoint , it made little sense for East Germany to have two drum factories, so Trowa and Lefima were merged into a new company called Tacton.
Thanks for the very detailed reply, calfskin. The two drums with offset lugs arrived today. The green sparkle looks classic! The photos really don't do it justice. It came with coated Remo Sound Master heads, top and bottom. I took it apart to check the inside. This snare has glue rings, but they're not very thick rings. the shells seems to be 3 ply. The wood is a light colour. No idea, but sure smells good. :)
The metal shell is indeed a brass drum. I knew the moment I lifted it out of the box. The magnet test confirmed it. Steel hoops, inward flange, like stick saver. I have to tune these drums up and give them a whirl. I'm happy with them. I picked up some other stuff too. A 12" Lefima wood shell snare with snare bag and some Sonor Champion or Swinger hardware. (Hi Hat stand and bass drum pedal) I got a couple of extra lamb's wool beaters which was nice! I've got my eye on a few more snares including a Sonor Singer wood shell in Rose Marine Pearl? Nice! And this Kori snare too.
