Maybe they could be these... the 1280 disappearing spurs.

This page is from a '51 catalog.

From the way the description is worded, possibly they were offered as an option to owners of outfits that wished to replace their clip-on spurs with an upgrade?

We addressed this thinking once before, and I think it might be best answered by one of the Big Guns... perhaps the Good Dr. Wenk could be persuaded by David to weigh in on this?

I believe SkyDog75 and LandenLarry both have bass drums with the 1280 spurs.

Perhaps they could send us a pic of them for reference for you?

Kev

Thanks Kev! They sure do look similar from the inside...

Ill be getting some pics of the spur mounts tomorrow and Ill post em up here as soon as I get em.

Thanks again!

Adam

I saw the spurs in the pics and wondered about them, but wasn't sure when Slingerland started offering the 1280 retractable spurs.

HERE is a thread from a few months back that has a pic of my 1955-56 drum in less than stellar condition. Its original 1280 spurs are shown, removed, in the lower right of the collage pic. Unfortunately, I had to replace them with slightly larger aftermarket replacements (and a reinforcing plate) because one of them had been punched through the shell.

{EDIT} And just for the sake of showing the drum cleaned up a bit, I've attached a pic of what it looks like today. (Those of you who are attentive to historical details, don't worry. The original consolette, claws, rods, etc. are safely stored.)

Here are some pics of the spurs. I read up on all the info, but these don't look like the Slingerland ones to me. They seem beefier, and the washers and nut inside look new. Again, I don't know though. I have no experience with this particular Slingerland mount.

What should I do guys? I still want the kit obviously, but I feel like throwing down $1000 cash plus a trade for something modified is probably not the best idea. I don't know though...

Does a flat $1000 sound fair or does this modification knock the value down more than that?

Thanks for all the detective work on this one guys!

-Adam

Its about a 3 hour round trip.

Thanks for the Slingy mount confirmation. I guess that makes things better, but still Im nervous. I don't throw down bucks like this very often.

My plan would be to polish the heck out of this thing, play it for special events, try to find a matching snare, and mostly....well....probably keep it forever and hand it down to my kids. I have wanted a kit like this for a long long time and it isnt something I am looking to get rid of once I get it.

The clip on spurs ARE included in the sale as well.

I did notice on one of the pics that one of the T handles is missing to the left of the spur, so I am finding out how many rods are unoriginal on the kit.

What do you think? $1000 flat?

Thanks again for all of your help VM!

Adam

The 1280 retractable spurs similar to these were a factory-endorsed option in 1951, no more than 3 to 5 years after these drums were made. Pretty darn close. Anyone have Slingerland catalogs from the late '40s, including accessories, to see if they were offered when these drums were new? If so, it wouldn't be quite as big a deal in my own mind if you could swap these for the period-correct version. It should still have an effect on value since pristine, unaltered drums are a rarity and thus more valuable. But these are still beautiful old drums in well above average condition. The interior of that drum appears to be in fantastic condition -- that wood is beautiful!

As for tension rods and other parts... If there are any original parts missing, those aren't too difficult to find and replace. Not a huge deal. (Unlike holes drilled in the shell for spurs, those aren't a permanent problem!)

Looking at DrCJW's badge timeline, the badge on this kit appears to be the 1946-48 version. I've attached a side-by-side comparison of this kit's badge versus the good doctor's example of a 1946-48 cloud badge.

You're right on that, but kevins pointed out a scan from the 1951 catalog listing the model 1280 retractable spurs, seemingly as a user-installable option. I wonder if they might've been available 3-5 years earlier, when this kit was built. Not that it would change the fact that somebody added spurs to this drum, but at least it would be "period correct".

you seem to be a bit nervous about buying the kit so i would really just try to clear your mind and think about it. i always ask myself "what can i pay for this that won't make me lose sleep tonight"

if you're just going to get the kit and keep it forever and play it then it's worth whatever you feel that it's worth to you. as far as resale. you don't want to invest more in something then you would get back for it.

i always try to keep that in mind because if you let the after market mods go and buy it for a high price, you know that if you have to sell it the buyer is going to slam you on the mods and try to get it for less.

if the kit was meant to be yours then it will be yours. if not then it just wasn't meant to be. that's how i like to think of it anyways.

as far as the price. i can get a little timid about that too sometimes. i don't want to feel like i'm insulting the person by asking for the price that i would feel comfortable buying for. but one thing i've learned is that it never hurts to ask. just ask. all they can say is no. also it's not what you say it's how you say it. you can put it in a way that the person wouldn't feel like you're trying to short change them.

anyways, i am sure that you will make the right decision musically, financially and mentally.

I would think it's most likely that the spurs were added after purchase, since the owner has the hoop mounted ones too.

If you don't buy them, you won't have the opportunity to change your mind about them later.

The price is OK, in my book, and it's possible you may come across the older spurs sometime in the future.

That possibility is out the window if you don't buy them in the first place.

There's plenty of Slingerland bass drums that have the added internal Ray McKinley muffler, and I haven't heard anything about that being a bad thing.....

It's my feeling that, barring any bad conditions we don't know about yet, that you would be happy with your purchase, should you choose to do so.

Just my little 'ole opinion here, I'm no expert........

Cool Dude