Please, Ludwig guys, this may be a question you can answer. I recently purchased a Ludwig mallet with a box of other hardware. I was very pleased with the items! Cool stuff! My mallet has a bottom plate stamped "Ludwig Drum Co., Chicago, U.S.A." The bottom plate can't come off the shaft because the tip of the shaft has a bit of a lip. The beater of course slides onto this secure bottom plate. I cannot understand how the beater is secured at the top of the shaft however. The upper plate is missing but, the shaft itself is NOT threaded. A nut over the missing plate would not secure the beater. It slides on and off. How was the felt beater attached at the top? I am still learning about all things Ludwig so this may be a very naïve question to ask the experts. I honestly have never seen a mallet without a screw or nut securing it to the shaft. Thanks VERY much.

Brian