you are correct, that is exactly what you have, clean it up and prepare to smile alot afterwords, these are some awesome sounding drums!!!, Give this original 1936 Slingerland Radio king 9x13" I have a look.. it is one of the first double tension models Slingerland produced, it is virgin no tom mount was mounted on a cardle stand.the last pic is twin single green pad Dodd mufflers.

Ahhh thanks VIntagemore. Ok. The thing is the lacquer is flakeing in some spots and you can see the cracks. I have refinished drums before but this is a different animal. Is there a way I can restore this drum with the original finish somewhat intact? which is preferable or is it to far gone?

The Lacquer finish is thick. The drum is relatively heavy weight wise.. I believe the shell is fine. Just the finish is ?? well I need some expert help and advice as far as refinishing or saving what is left of the finish. I don't want to make a mistake. There may be someone out there who needs this drum to complete a set or add to one. I am thinking these are very rare.

the paint job is called Duco which simply stands for Dupont colors, dupont supplied 90+ percent of all paint to the drum companies back in the day, so your paint is called blue silver duco and is lacquer paint, be careful cleaning it when it's brittle like it is now, let me switch gears real quick, the shell if it doesn't have ply separation in it, I'll be super surprised?? easy fix if you have wood working skills? now back to paint, clean it with the paint grain, also pay especial attention to your touch, and use very mild soap Ivory soap diluted is real safe. and lukewarm water.

As always......remember the paint is LEAD also from that time!

DON'T SAND!

Want to sell it?

I would consider selling it for a decent fair price. So make me a offer. PM me. If I put in some time to clean it all up really nice I know I will want to keep it. My wife is already having a fit that I brought 2 more drums home yersteday. I also got a Rogers Eagle Badge 14" parade drum from the same guy. It is really something that can be restored to look great. good condition for being over 50 years old. So I will probably have to part with one to keep peace.

This is experience talking here...having hacked up a few tubs in the interest of "improving" them, my best advice is to back away from the drum, put down the screw driver, go make a cup of coffee, take a few big deep breaths and consider this...

whatever level carpentry skills you have would be better served making a shelf to put that beauty on, or perhaps a glass display case. you can't "enhance" that drum shell any further. Really, seriously, try to imagine doing absolutely nothing to it, including sell it.

If you can free your mind from the illusion that it "needs repair" in a few years from now you will have learned a very valuable lesson.

patience Grasshopper! you must have patience!

Glen

Glen, I hope this is in jest?? I'll make a deal with you you buy this drum,send it to me I'll restore this drum. it will probably smoke any tom you own tone wise? after it's done? deal?:)

yeah Glen. I haven't done anything at all. I am in no hurry. I may just give it a careful wipe down, Clean the hardware and display it for now. It would look great in one of those theme restraunts. But it will end up on a display shelf in my home like you said. I feel it is a piece of drum history and will treat it accordingly. Just wish I knew the history of that drum and who and where it was played. Bet it has some tales left untold. VIntagemore thinks it is worth a restoration but I don't think I am the one to do it. ok, curiosity got the best of me, so I carefully took off the reso head to have a peek.

The inside is pristine. All the original screws, bolts, muffler are as shiny as the day it was made. Wood is in perfect condition. I don't think the reso head has ever been removed.