Greetings,

I found this 14" x 14" floor tom at a Flea Market recently. It was paired with an MIJ "Club Date" style rack tom in Red Sparkle. When I first looked at it, I thought it might be an MIJ Slingerland Copy with the lugs, etc. But then I started looking closer at it. The wood beneath the flaking paint did not look at all like Luan/Philippine Mahogany. It sure looked like "real" wood (Maple)? Plus, I had never seen an MIJ shell with a painted or lacquered finish, at least originally. Also, the tone control knob definitely looked like a Slingerland. It came with straight legs and the brackets appear to be spring loaded (they had regular, Phillips head screws in them, obviously not original). It also came with Stick Saver hoops. Here's the weird thing. There was no badge on it. There was not even a breather hole on it! Weird. Could this be a mistake from the factory? As you can see by the interior pictures, it doesn't look like a breather hole was ever drilled (There is no obvious fill in or cover up of a breather hole inside anywhere).

It sure looks like a Slingerland to me. What say you? How common/uncommon were lacquer/painted finishes in that era? I presume the lacquer/painted finish is original? What does the "M" signify inside the shell? I know "P" meant pearl, or wrapped finish.

The shell is in good shape and other than the flaking of the paint on the exterior, the wood looks good and the shell is in round.

Any thoughts or comments on this would be most appreciated.

By the way, I had never heard of a Remo Diplomat Mark 5 before. There was one on each side of the drum.

I got this drum, the MIJ club date tom, an MIJ Hi-Hat stand (missing the pedal), a cheapo 10" Japan made brass cymbal, and a really nice set of Pasha Made In Italy 14" hi-hats (look and sound just like thin A. Zildjians)....all for $50.

V