Just got off the phonw with an old man who says he has a Ludwig acrolite drum from the sixties with a blue and olive badge. Does this all add up? And since I am new at vintage drum collecting I have to ask, how do you tell if a drum is asuperphonic? Does it say so on the drum? I am going to look at this drum today. He is asking 135.00, Are acrolite and superphonic two different drums?
Thank you,
Jeff C
You never can tell with Ludwig,there are one offs,transitional drums etc.The supraphonic and acrolite shells are the same,the supra is chrome plated 10 imperial lugs,the acro plain aluminum 8 classic double ended lugs.Both use the same throw and butt,The blue and olive badge was not used until 1968-1969,the first one was a "cut" badge to fit on metal snares with a center bead.As far as I know acrolites never had a blue and oval badge,either a keystone,or black and white.I have seen factory10 lug classic lug acros,and supras with 10 classic lugs.The lugs are interchangeable ,same hole spacing. 60's 70's acros go for 75.00 to 135.00 usually.Without pics I can'y tell you anymore,but if you want to call the seller in the meantime try this link while you are talking to him.http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/ludwig_badges.html
Thank you very much! Are they worth more with the "cut" badge? And is that luddaloy shell make it any more collectable
Thanks Agian
You never can tell with Ludwig,there are one offs,transitional drums etc.The supraphonic and acrolite shells are the same,the supra is chrome plated 10 imperial lugs,the acro plain aluminum 8 classic double ended lugs.Both use the same throw and butt,The blue and olive badge was not used until 1968-1969,the first one was a "cut" badge to fit on metal snares with a center bead.As far as I know acrolites never had a blue and oval badge,either a keystone,or black and white.I have seen factory10 lug classic lug acros,and supras with 10 classic lugs.The lugs are interchangeable ,same hole spacing. 60's 70's acros go for 75.00 to 135.00 usually.Without pics I can'y tell you anymore,but if you want to call the seller in the meantime try this link while you are talking to him.http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/ludwig_badges.html
That pretty much sumed it up.
Well mabye the guy will let me take some photos and I can post them. The guys on the formn seem very willing to help out. Thanks so much for your help to this point.
Jeff C
the acro plain aluminum 8 classic double ended lugs.As far as I know acrolites never had a blue and oval badge,either a keystone,or black and white.
The shell of the acrolite is not plain alumninum. The keystone era ones had a finish similar to anodizing but were shinier. They were later anodized and were more of a matte finish. Much later (80's I think) they were powder coated grey and then black galaxy
Acrolites came with the blue/olive badge directly after the keystones. The black/white badges didn't come along until the late 70's or 80's.
I don't recall ever seeing an acrolite with a B/O cut badge,but I have seen a supraphonic or two with cut badges.These were actually Chrome over brass shells leftover from the early 60's and were drilled for keystone badges,which is why the B/O badge had to be cut,so as to fit over the center bead.These drums a fairly rare and very collectable.
There are plenty of B/O badge acrolites around,just check out ebay.And as to the composition of ludalloy,I'm not certain as to the exact ratio but it is an alloy of aluminum and zinc.
Steve B
Well thanks for the education everyone! I went to look at it and it is acrolite, satin silver finish with the rib in the center,8- bow-tie lugs. The throw looked like somone had put an older peice on it. Badge was b&O but not cut to fit. So, I passed on it because as mentioned there are several around. Was hoping to find something rare. I will keep looking!
Thanks again everyone!
