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The Holy Grail - George Way Drums Last viewed: 2 hours ago

Posts: 715 Threads: 59

I finished a trade on Saturday of my 59' 22/12/16 BDP George Way kit plus 5x14 BDP Camco Oaklawn snare for a '61 22/14 w/ 6.5x14 George Way kit in gold sparkle and the snare drum is high on my Holy Grail list of drums. 6.5x14 George Way 16 lug drums are almost impossible to find. This is one of three that I know of. The other two are blue and red. Back in 1961 this drum was the new flagship of the George Way Company. Little did George know that by August of 1961 he would find himself out of a job and a company thanks to John Rochon. The other snare drum that is next to impossible to find is at the other side of the spectrum, the highly elusive 4.5x14 Casino model. I only know of two, a black one and one owned by a forum member here in BDP.

The envelope for the new 1961 George Way catalog

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The two snare drums featured on the envelope for the new 1961 George Way catalog.

1961 George Way 6.5x14 16 Snare Drum in Gold Sparkle (notice there are not any plugs in the lugs, those were new for 1961)

Mixed Kits w/ Gold Sparkle Bass Drum

Mixed Kits w/ Green Sparkle Bass Drum (I like it this WAY)

1957 George Way BDP 26" concert bass drum
1959 George Way BDP 22/12/16 w/ 5.5x14
1959 George Way Green Sparkle 22/12/16 w/5.5x14
1961 George Way Blue Sparkle 20/12/15
1961 George Way Jelly Bean 20/12/14 w/4.5x14
1960’s Camco Oaklawn Champagne 20/12/14/16w/5x14
1971-73 Camco Chanute Walnut 24/14/18 w/5x14 COB
Posted on 15 years ago
#1
Posts: 5356 Threads: 87

Those are really cool drums! Also funny I now live about 3 miles from the CT mailed to address on that envelope.

Glenn.

Not a guru just havin fun with some old dusty drums.
Posted on 15 years ago
#2
Posts: 2349 Threads: 79

HOLY SMOKES! Those are DROP DEAD GORGEOUS!

I'll trade straight across for a set of CB 700's I picked up Friday. I was gonna just fix 'em up and sell 'em to continue financing my disease, since I got the drum bug, but heck...

Offers open, straight trade, okay? DOH

fishwaltz
Posted on 15 years ago
#3
Posts: 715 Threads: 59

From FFR428

Those are really cool drums! Also funny I now live about 3 miles from the CT mailed to address on that envelope.

I'm in California. I bought the '61 catalog w/ that envelope off of Ebay that was from an estate sale. It was listed under books so I got it very cheap. The catalog is mint and looks like it was never handled. So it seems as though Ernie is no longer with us.

1957 George Way BDP 26" concert bass drum
1959 George Way BDP 22/12/16 w/ 5.5x14
1959 George Way Green Sparkle 22/12/16 w/5.5x14
1961 George Way Blue Sparkle 20/12/15
1961 George Way Jelly Bean 20/12/14 w/4.5x14
1960’s Camco Oaklawn Champagne 20/12/14/16w/5x14
1971-73 Camco Chanute Walnut 24/14/18 w/5x14 COB
Posted on 15 years ago
#4
Posts: 38 Threads: 7

DolFan -- Cool snare drums! Congrats! What ply are they? I assume they're maple?

Posted on 15 years ago
#5
Posts: 715 Threads: 59

From Farnes

DolFan -- Cool snare drums! Congrats! What ply are they? I assume they're maple?

George Way started out using 3 ply Jaspers. In '60 or '61 he switched to a 4 ply Jasper. The gold sparkle drums should be 4 ply but I haven't checked yet. The '59 green sparkle kit is a 3 ply.

Here is my George Way snare drum collection minus the new 6.5x14. The 6.5x14 BDP Tuxedo lug in the center on the bottom row is a new Dunnett George Way snare, all others are originals.

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1957 George Way BDP 26" concert bass drum
1959 George Way BDP 22/12/16 w/ 5.5x14
1959 George Way Green Sparkle 22/12/16 w/5.5x14
1961 George Way Blue Sparkle 20/12/15
1961 George Way Jelly Bean 20/12/14 w/4.5x14
1960’s Camco Oaklawn Champagne 20/12/14/16w/5x14
1971-73 Camco Chanute Walnut 24/14/18 w/5x14 COB
Posted on 15 years ago
#6
Posts: 10714 Threads: 579

Steve,Great to see you here, And you already know what I think of your George Ways, they are some of the Cool1Cool1 drums on the planet and you have many of them!!! the catalog, just to much!!!

Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!
Posted on 15 years ago
#7
Posts: 10714 Threads: 579

Hey, Steve,Aren't the rims on the GW'S Chrome over brass???

Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!
Posted on 15 years ago
#8
Posts: 2433 Threads: 483

How do the "originals" compare in sound to the new Asian GW offerings?

Hit like you mean it!!
Posted on 15 years ago
#9
Posts: 715 Threads: 59

They really don't compare to the new ones. The new ones sound modern. The originals have a very vintage sound to them.

And yes the hoops are COB which carried over to Camco drums where they were used until the mid-60's. The hoop is ever so slightly different than the Camco version and takes a really good eye to see it. I know what to look for and I've still goofed.

1957 George Way BDP 26" concert bass drum
1959 George Way BDP 22/12/16 w/ 5.5x14
1959 George Way Green Sparkle 22/12/16 w/5.5x14
1961 George Way Blue Sparkle 20/12/15
1961 George Way Jelly Bean 20/12/14 w/4.5x14
1960’s Camco Oaklawn Champagne 20/12/14/16w/5x14
1971-73 Camco Chanute Walnut 24/14/18 w/5x14 COB
Posted on 15 years ago
#10
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