I want to thank everyone for all the great feedback. It's the reason I spend so much time on this site reading and learning from the Guys that know. I'll admit I dissagreed with Mark Coopers response but went to Coopers Vintage Drums and was very impressed with the site. Mark's got a lot of info that I had never read before. Great pictures. I'm glad I checked it out. Thanks Mark for your response.

I'm convinced the drums were re painted because there is no finish like them in any pictures. I'd like to see a picture of origional Factory Design before I decide the head isn't origional. It still doesn't make sense that he could afford a Black Beauty and Constantinople cymbals and would change the factory finish. I'll bet there was a woman involved. Another thing I inherted from him.

My first memory of the drums is my Grandfathers work shop seeing them up on the shelf. Now my Grandkids see them on mine. How cool is that!

Andy

Thanks for the kind words regarding my web site. I really appreciate it. You know, when I look at a large image of your bass drum head, I think it IS original. Sorry for my previous incorrect comment. Often, the original paintings were copied by amateur artists. After all, it was the Depression and money was tight. By painting a head by yourself, you could save ten dollars!

I think it's still the same now, as it was then, 100 bucks.. (plus sandwiches supplied for the band)..

Cheers

;)

What a priceless pic! Total class. And to think that you actually know and are related to the drummer! It doesn't get much better than that. Thanks for sharing the pics AND the story! We "OldSchool" guys love it!

BTW..........IMHO the "last" place those drums need to be is on a shelf somewhere. They need to be displayed for all to enjoy, especially that artwork!

What no little sausages and wings?,for the band that is. Great story!!!

Priceless drums, pics, provenance, and backstory....

Man, I love this stuff..... thank-you so very much for posting this !!

Clapping Happy2Clapping Happy2

Kev

Yeah,no fooling...

CAREFULLY get the dust off them,and put them on display...not hidden away like a old MIJ kit...

Tube lug BD's are hard to find too..most were single tension....

I love it on the shelf but I'd still like to play it at my weekly gig just once. I think my Dad would love a picture of that!

My obstacle seems to be drumheads. I would prefer to find modern heads but the drum shell has an outer diameter of 29" and the only thing I know of in that size are Timpani Heads. I was wondering if anyone has ever worked thru this challenge or used a Timpani head?

I have a 67' Premier Royal Ace kit that Remo made some custom metric heads for but I don't know if they custom make the larger sizes.

I would be willing to use calfskin but I haven't researched how it's done. If you Gentlemen have any advice I'd love to hear it.

Thanks for all the GREAT posts!

Andy

Andy, Remo will custom make you some modern heads. I've had it done multiple of times.

the lights were for show and to keep calf skins in tune by constant temperature as most venues back then barely had any hvac at all, when there was humidity and temp change drums went out of tune, when u did a room in the old days it was tough as all go to...the drums could be mid to late 20's