Marching bass drums are no different from any other drum, so what I'd do is get some clamp on spurs and play it.

I'm using a 26" kick but would love a 28" or 30". Nothing like a huge old bass drum with calf heads. An old drum like that might be the best bass drum you'll ever find - old growth wood, no plastic glue and built by people that actually cared (what a concept).

Plus they look great on stage.

Sorry Mastro,but this is a marching snare drum.I should have been exact,but im sure if they are small lugs and not the long ones i could find a shell to build a new snare drumCool Dude

Do you have a pic? Is it Leedy and Ludwig, WFL, or Ludwig (early 50s or late 50s?). Ludwig made a number of different models of marching snares, and some can be worth a few bucks - others are just 3-ply mahogany outers with single tension and wood hoops, which are relatively easy to find, thus not worth much.

If it's in decent shape the parts alone are worth well more than $40. Whether it makes sense for you or not depends on what you want to do with it.