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Trixon Speedfire time capsule Last viewed: 57 minutes ago

Posts: 966 Threads: 213

I just picked up this 1966 Trixon Speedfire set over the weekend. Still grimy as can be, but I put together a short youtube video with some random pictures. Really a nice old set with several original heads. The batter side bass drum head is calfskin. I am missing the hi-hat clutch and a a few tone control knobs. One of the pedals is missing a part, but I can't imagine using either one of them anyway. It's a bit odd just to sit down at the thing & I have not played it yet. My plan is to clean it up, then play it periodically at smaller gigs with my motown/funk band. The drums are dated 1966. They were given to the guy by his uncle around 1972. He played just the snare drum for one year in school band. They spent the next 40 years in storage.

The ebay auction with a starting bid of $1200 showed as an alert on my cell phone and I was the 6th auction viewer. I immediately sent a message to the seller, who was about 2 hours away. He responded within minutes with some dates and times for me to see them. The auction was pulled about 20 minutes later and I lost all contact with the seller for about a day. I finally reached him and we tentatively agreed on a date two days out. They were then listed again on ebay with a starting bid of $2500. Long story short... apparently several people tried to buy them, but nobody was within a reasonable distance, except me. The seller did not want to ship them. Here's the amazing part of the story: He took them to a flea market earlier in the month, where they went unsold with an asking price of $35.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb3grOQRwXc[/ame]

...
'68 Ludwig Ruby Red Strata
'68 Ludwig Mod Orange
'58 Gretsch Starlight Sparkle
'69 Ludwig Clubdate BDP
'60s Ludwig Clubdate Black Lacquer / Nickel
'67 Trixon Speedfire Red
COB Ludwig Supra
Many projects
Bunch o snares
Posted on 12 years ago
#1
Posts: 1170 Threads: 108

I don't know much about Trixon, but those tubs are super cool! There is no way you can take them out for a gig and not have everybody asking you about them. I would tell people that I rescued them from a fire and the bass drum started to melt. I'm sure a handful of drunkies at the bar would believe you! Cool score, man.

- EMD
Posted on 12 years ago
#2
Posts: 146 Threads: 14

sweet score!Cool Dude

Posted on 12 years ago
#3
Posts: 6583 Threads: 644

From ElMoonlightDrummer

I don't know much about Trixon, but those tubs are super cool! There is no way you can take them out for a gig and not have everybody asking you about them. I would tell people that I rescued them from a fire and the bass drum started to melt. I'm sure a handful of drunkies at the bar would believe you! Cool score, man.

I had a stray Speedfire BD once,and played a gig here,and people WERE looking at it funny!

You could also tell them that it is a normal round drum,and that the acid is just kicking in!flowerflowers2Cool Dude

"Always make sure your front bottom BD lugs clear the ground!"
Posted on 12 years ago
#4
Posts: 6583 Threads: 644

PS

Auto..you are in Michigan also,right?

I grabbed a complete Speedfire kit out of a pawn shop in East Lansing around 24-25 years ago..

It was a Purple Sparkle,and had the reverse size concert toms,and the HUGE Lionel Hampton FT..

All for $400 I recall...

It was missing the tom arms though,and I actually tracked some down!

Sold it to a friend in town..not sure he still has it or not

"Always make sure your front bottom BD lugs clear the ground!"
Posted on 12 years ago
#5
Posts: 1570 Threads: 66

There probably aren't any markings inside the shells on these. Trixon had stopped this practice by about '66. If there are, there will be a number indicating the year of mfg. built into the serial #-----i.e. 66. To date Trixon drums, outside of this feature, there are a number of clues,-----snare hangers,tone control knobs,snare lever knobs,hoops,tom arms ,floor tom feet etc. etc, that came along on a fairly predictable schedule. Your drums appear to have been made after 1967. This is a very complete kit. The cymbal tilter and arm alone ,probably could fetch 100.00 because they are so rare.

I may have tone control knobs. Clutches are about as rare as the tilter. They have a unique Trixonness to them but with a plastic knob on the lock screw , a lot of them got whacked and broken. Hard to find a non-Trixon replacement lock screw because it is metric. I 'd love to have all the broken clutches----because I have dozens of n.o.s. lock screws.

Posted on 12 years ago
#6
Posts: 6583 Threads: 644

Now that you mention it..I have a hand full of Trixon parts..

Will have to dig them out...

"Always make sure your front bottom BD lugs clear the ground!"
Posted on 12 years ago
#7
Posts: 1170 Threads: 108

From blairndrums

I had a stray Speedfire BD once,and played a gig here,and people WERE looking at it funny!You could also tell them that it is a normal round drum,and that the acid is just kicking in!flowerflowers2Cool Dude

That's another way to mess with people! Far out, man...

- EMD
Posted on 12 years ago
#8
Posts: 6583 Threads: 644

even better..

tell them it's just the Acid you put into their drink that is kicking in...PartyYes Sir

"Always make sure your front bottom BD lugs clear the ground!"
Posted on 12 years ago
#9
Posts: 245 Threads: 21

Ha ha I just watched this on DFO . . . and watched AGAIN HERE. . . Nice job on the vid. . . . and of course the kit. . . .

what are asking for it again????

:D

BOOM

Keep em Flying ! ✈️
Posted on 12 years ago
#10
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