leave the drum intact don't strip or part it out as you've learned it's a rare monkey.

Iagree wiyh VM2K, Thats a very early WFL. Nice find.

I agree leave it as is AND I want to see this kit with a 28 inch bass drum please..... :)

I don't know about this one. This isn't so clear cut. Yes, it's a rare bird, but only because of that badge. I'm still finding these single tension bass drums (WFL, Ludwig, Slingerland, and Leedy) sitting in dusty closets in schools throughout Connecticut (I'll give you some leads if you want). Worth every penny you paid for it, but who's going to buy it from you, and for what purpose?

Now if you did convert it to a 14x26 rope drum without altering the shell, it would breath new life into a beautiful drum without irreparable damage, and it could always be converted back to its original configuration fairly easily. More importantly, as a rope drum it would be played again just as a fine drum should be, rather than collecting dust in a closet.

Well, the decision is yours, but if you did decide to convert it to rope tension, let me know. It sure would look fine marching through the streets of Hartford on Veterans Day.

Mike C.

My original thought was to convert it but to do that I would have to remove the hardware and plug the holes and put holes in the hoops to accept rope, thus altering it forever. I think that what I will do is relist it for sale for a week or even offer it up in trade to anyone that might have some other old drums like this laying around that they might be willing to sacrifice to save this one. that seems to be the important question though, "Who will buy it?" I completely appreciate that it is a rare drum but it is just going to sit and collect dust it I leave it as is which is too bad because it is a very nice sounding drum. Looking at the rim it appears that the drum was most likely part of someone's set at some point because of the scaring that looks like it came from a bass drum pedal or leg attachments so is someone that wants it for their kit then please contact me. Quite frankly, the drum already sounds redonculous as is because the calfskin heads are in very good condition and aren't dried out like most I have seen. The is a split in both hoops where the scarf joins are but are an easy fix. It is such a good sounding drum that the thought of it going in someones closet and not getting played again makes me sad just thinking about it.

I will try and post a picture of the kit with the 28" bass drum shortly.

Anyone ever seen the black Zephyr lugs before? Thoughts?

Okay, you asked for it. To put it into perspective here, the cymbal in the first picture that looks like a large splash or small crash is actually a 20" ride.

[IMG]http://imageshack.us/a/img841/4779/dscn3487pu.jpg[/IMG]

This second picture is with a 25.5" ride cymbal that ALMOST looks normal on this kit.

[IMG]http://imageshack.us/a/img41/4527/dscn3491m.jpg[/IMG]

Okay, so here is my continued delema. What is a rare drum or a drum with a rare badge worth if nobody wants it? I have listed the Ludwig bass drum with the rare badge on EBay, here and locally with zero interest. If I convert convert the drum over as previously mentioned I know I have a market for the drum and it will actually get played for years to come but a lot if people said I should leave it as is. I would use new hoops and only have to plug the existing holed and all original hardware would go with the drum so that it could actually be converted back to original with little effort and no damage to the drum.

I think your new plan is a great one!Cool1

Don't even bother plugging the hardware holes- just clean it up, change what you need to modify (like the hoops, where you probably would prefer laminated ones anyway) and include the original parts with the converted drum.

"Re-purposed, but fully reversible."Clapping Happy2

Excellent idea! (and a crazy-@ss Ludwig kit you have there too!)

PS where in CT are you? Maybe I'll swing over some time and shoot the, uh, stuff with you!

I want that WFL kit in the background...so....bad. I have watched it on ebay for weeks but just can't afford another kit right now. Believe you me. If I get some $$ in the near future, it will be mine.

And as for the dilemma of what to do. GO FOR IT. You do great work, and your right. If it's rare and nobody wants it, then I consider it not rare. Now if you had a ridiculous price tag on it then duh nobody would want it. I have a bunch of WFL marching snares from the 50's like that. I'm gonna chop them down to 6.5x14 snares.

-Beau