I've normally seen this mount used to hold cymbals. I do believe that it could have been adapted as a tom holder, too. Early Slingerland rail mounts did have 2 holes. Here are pictures of a 1955 GK kit, showing your mount for cymbals.

-Mark

Yep, that's it, but it's interesting that it has the other more common cymbal mount on the other side.

I'm putting this drum at about '67-'69.

I wonder what the real story is? I wonder what it originally came with?

I guess I'll never know...

The 67 Catalog on VDG shows that non height adjustable mount, but from the wrong side. It's on the "Swingster". It only pivots and ratchets, no height adjustment.

Here it is from the '67 catalog.

Mystery solved. Cymbal mount on right side, tom mount on left side.

I guess that I can date this bass drum at around 1967!

Thanks guys, all makes sense now.

It's actually fun figuring out these mysteries.

One more quick question, did they use this tom mount after 1967? I'm trying to confirm the date on the drum.

You've got the earlier style "T" rods on the bass drum. I'm not sure when those changed but that would be another clue. That holder is shown in the 67 catalog but that basic tom holder design dates back to the 1930's. Looks like the badge is a gold "Niles" badge which if I remember right would date from approx. 1962-1969.

Thanks KO, I've been researching serial numbers and I think I've narrowed it down to 67-68. I'm going with '67 and I think that's about as close as I can get without more available data.

Yep! That's the one I was looking for, but no able to track down. Good work, K.O.!

-Mark

As for using the mount after 1967, I really doubt it. May have been ordered by an older drummer who really loved this mount from years earlier. Slingerland was already deep entrenched in the "Ray McKinley" rail consolette and getting ready to introduce the first generation Set-O-Matic by early 1968.

-Mark