I haven't started on the lugs yet, but there is an involved process by using something called ProPoxy. It's a putty like JB Weld. The idea is to force the putty into the inside of the lug. Once it hardens, it's makes the lug thicker. Other's have made these repairs and their lugs haven't cracked or failed under tension for years.

I'm going to try something different. I'm going to use fiberglass repair sheets and expoxy. Cut a piece of fiberglass patch to fit inside the lug, apply the epoxy, let cure, trim back any over lap and re-drill the insert holes. I don't think this has been tried yet, so we'll see how well it works. I've read that the Bread and Butter lugs were almost strong enough, but the drawn brass process weakened the edges.

If only the replacement steel JP lugs weren't $30 each.

-Tim

five of the six snare lugs are cracked beyond repair. I had read somewhere that Rogers switched to chrome on steel by 1964 but if that is true I can find none on eBay or searching google. I did find the reproductions for $30 each (ouch). The rest of the lugs on the Tom and bass are good. Should have some pictures on here tomorrow. These are where they have been sitting in this basement since the seventies. There are two Luxor Snares on eBay listed for $350-400 with cracked lugs but the shells look like they have been refinished. I have done a lot of woodworking and refinishing but my concern is destroying what value there is if I put a wrap on the set close to the original black diamond Pearl or white diamond Pearl that was originally available for this set. Or should I do the best I can to fix up the Duco paintjob? Any advice is appreciated.

In the original catalog page for this set. It shows the finishes available as white or black pearl. Or the two Duco paint finishes. I see a lot of different color sparkle finishes having been sold on eBay as original. Could you order any finish you wanted?

Hi. A couple of thoughts. There are some good threads on this site re fixing cracked B&B lugs. It will be interesting to see if fiberglass reinforcement works. Will it adhere to the inside?

Luxors for $350-$400!? Way too pricey, especially if stripped.

Re recovering... A lot of times recovering a duco drum can be a real problem with getting heads to fit.

Last, Rogers did make a steel b&b lug, but it was for a very brief time just before they went to Beavertail lugs. I have only seen them used on Luxor snare drums, never on an 8 lug drum. Also, have never seen those lugs for sale individually. Here's what they look like. Note the ridge on the bottom.

[IMG]http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll197/Luxor65/rogers006-3.jpg[/IMG]

pics post for you:

pics post for you part 2:

From the 62R Rogers catalog:

Whew! Unfortunately, based on the pictures, those look kinda rough. :(

At least one failed lug on the tom tom and the paint is splintering.

It looks like the snare is missing a lug and they rigged up some type of flange and tension rod. The paint is also splintering. That looks like a Camco snare stand. My kit came with the same stand.

The bass drum looks complete and it's single tension. Look closely at the top of each lug, there may still be hairline cracks. Even though the tension rods just pass through the lug, all of the lugs on my single tension snare have cracks. Not sure why, because the lugs actually never had direct tension. It also looks like the cymbal arm is still in the bass drum. The bass drum pedal sitting under the bass drum looks like the same one that came with my kit too.

Now some possible good news ...

Did you get the Ludwig floor tom too? It looks like it's 14x14, which is a good thing. The lugs look nickle plated too. If it's a 14", then it came with an early Downbeat kit.

Based on the overall condition, I'm not really sure what you should do with this kit. Sorry, but it's going to take a lot of work.

-Tim

Opened the bass drum today. The label says it is a Mercury with serial number of 5495.

re: the Camco snare stand. Before Swivomatic swan leg stands they used/sold Camco with early OH Rogers. The above 62R catalog ad reads Mercury bass drum so that adds up to be true.