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Ludwig 80's Badges Last viewed: 6 hours ago

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First post, folks. So here goes. A Ludwig mystery. Help2

I own a late 80's Ludwig six-ply classic kit in mahogany stain which I purchased new in early 1990. Purdy. Lived most of its life in cases. Thing is, the two smallest mounted toms are Chicago keystone-badged (with serial numbers) and the other three drums in the kit are Monroe keystone-badged (also with serial numbers).

Everything I've read says that the last Chicago-badged drums Ludwig made were in 1984-85, but the Monroe-badged drums are shell stamped "689" which I believe means June 1989. There are no legible date stamps on the Chicago-badged drums.

Is it possible that Ludwig would have kitted drums made from both locations, and that many years apart, together? Or is it possible that the Chicago-badged drums were actually made in Monroe?

Any help you-all can provide to solve this mystery is greatly appreciated.

Posted on 10 years ago
#1
Posts: 617 Threads: 7
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I don't think Ludwig trucked down too many drum shells to NC in late 1984, considering what they threw away before the move (dumpsters full of NOS parts as the stories go ).

They did take badges though. I remember getting B+O badges from the artist rep; badges that they'd taken to NC from Chicago.

That might be how/why your drums were badged?

Posted on 10 years ago
#2
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Hmmm. That would be interesting if they were, effectively, using up old Chicago badges in NC. Doesn't explain the shell stamp difference, though, which suggests that the drums were made in both locations.

I bought the kit at Frank's in Chicago and I doubt if they would have built up the kit vs. the factory.

Thanks for the post, BEC.

Posted on 10 years ago
#3
Posts: 2010 Threads: 19
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Franks was big on ordering sets without hardware so they could install whatever type (or brand) the customer wanted in whatever size configuration was desired. I'd think Franks would be a source much more likely to build up kits from pieces, possibly ordered over a span of time, than a typical music store might.

Posted on 10 years ago
#4
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Thanks, K.O. That's the likely explanation.

Stay warm down there.

Posted on 10 years ago
#5
Posts: 6524 Threads: 37
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Did the trash guys pick up that dumpster yet ?

It`s a drum,.....Hit It !!

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 10 years ago
#6
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imagine going through that dumpster....

Posted on 10 years ago
#7
Posts: 617 Threads: 7
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Not dumpster........dumpsters! I was told of one dumpster full of the square downbeat lugs. Ouch!

Posted on 10 years ago
#8
Posts: 6170 Threads: 255
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I heard the same kind of stories about the old Gretsch factory as well. Stuff like this keeps me up at night!

Mike

Posted on 10 years ago
#9
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