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Speedking pedals - how to tell how old they are? Last viewed: 3 hours ago

Posts: 126 Threads: 16

Anyone know how to date a speedking kick pedal? I have 4 of them and they are slightly different but I don't know which is older. Is there a time period when they were considered better made?

some differences are;

1. different symbols and numbers underneath footboards.

2. one has number on the underside of heel plate.

3. different shades of grey to greenish gray paint.

4. the part that comes off the axle and the footboard attaches to it is thicker (heavier) on 2 of them ( the thinner one has squarer angles).

I have one that has a wfl foot board so I figure that may be my oldest?? but it says Ludwig on the the caps at the top of the posts. Shouldn't it say WFL there too or was this common? thanks for any info.

ps; I just cleaned one as suggested on this forum and now that thing really is a speed king! If it didn't squeak it would be my favorite pedal ...well tied with my favorite the Ghost pedal.

Posted on 12 years ago
#1
Posts: 6170 Threads: 255

youre right. your wfl model would be the oldest.

mike

Posted on 12 years ago
#2
Posts: 2713 Threads: 555

I have what I believe to be an early 60's WFL SpeedKing pedal that came with my late 50's Gretsch kit.

The footboard, stower camps and beater cap all have the WFL stamp on them. Ludwig changed the WFL footboard to read Ludwig in the late 60's (p 237 Rob Cook's Ludwig book).

Regarding the Ludwig and WFL parts on your SpeedKing...........

I'm only guessing, but when the transition from WFL parts to Ludwig parts was being done there may have been some mixing of the two?

My WFL Speedking:

Posted on 12 years ago
#3
Posts: 6524 Threads: 37

From mbira

Anyone know how to date a speedking kick pedal? I have 4 of them and they are slightly different but I don't know which is older. Is there a time period when they were considered better made? some differences are; 1. different symbols and numbers underneath footboards.2. one has number on the underside of heel plate.3. different shades of grey to greenish gray paint.4. the part that comes off the axle and the footboard attaches to it is thicker (heavier) on 2 of them ( the thinner one has squarer angles). I have one that has a wfl foot board so I figure that may be my oldest?? but it says Ludwig on the the caps at the top of the posts. Shouldn't it say WFL there too or was this common? thanks for any info. ps; I just cleaned one as suggested on this forum and now that thing really is a speed king! If it didn't squeak it would be my favorite pedal ...well tied with my favorite the Ghost pedal.

Footboards are interchangable on the three !i

It`s a drum,.....Hit It !!

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 12 years ago
#4
Posts: 126 Threads: 16

It seems that the newer 60's or perhaps early 70's ones have sturdier part that holds the beater and connects to the pedal.

Posted on 12 years ago
#5
Posts: 6170 Threads: 255

ludwig also changed from wfl floorboards to ludwig floorboards way before the late 60's as well.

mike

Posted on 12 years ago
#6
Posts: 126 Threads: 16

Oddball what do you mean by 'the three' when you say 'Footboards are interchangable on the three !i'????

Posted on 12 years ago
#7
Posts: 6524 Threads: 37

From mbira

Oddball what do you mean by 'the three' when you say 'Footboards are interchangable on the three !i'????

About two or three years ago I wanted to know why my Ludwig pedal had a rivit for nothing in the top of my SK footboard. Another member, VM2K, showed me the three vintage speed kings he has. Pointed out that it is for a spring to help the connection stay on the up rise. He showed me three vintage pedals, WFL without the spring, WFL with the spring, and Ludwig with spring. He also showed me a difference in the cast base in which the spacer for the hoop was either short or longer, which helps to date them too !i

Anyway, the three pedals can be changed to either or cast base !i I have not seen any other footboard for a Speed King except these three !i

It`s a drum,.....Hit It !!

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 12 years ago
#8
Posts: 6524 Threads: 37

Can you line up all four and show a pic from the front up high a little bit ?

It`s a drum,.....Hit It !!

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 12 years ago
#9
Posts: 126 Threads: 16

Hi Oddball, thanks for your reply! I don't have a camera handy right now but can upload soon. I only have 3 speedkings now and one does't have a speedking footboard. I traded one for a ghost pedal and i must say for me the ghost feels more like an extension of my foot!!

but all of my footboards (including the now gone 3rd) have the rivet and the flat piece of spring metal. Is that what you mean? - it seems to help keep the connector in place? All 4 hoop clamps were the same length. About a 1/4" from the ends of the under-hoop parts.

2 of the pedals have beefier chrome parts that stick out to connect to the linkage to the pedal. and the other 2 have somewhat cleaner lines and and more squared off. Have you noticed this? It seems that the newer ones are the beefier ones as the WFL one is not one of these. thanks.

Posted on 12 years ago
#10
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