Kinda looks like that thing inside the shell is some kind of backing plate for the strainer?, and it looks like a pretty wide single re-ring on the batter side:confused:,but then that thing inside looks like half of it is bolted to the ring and half to the shell so it would be on some weird angle...

That thing is a strainer backing plate of some sort. In the 3rd photo, you can see the strainer lever on the far right, above and behind the lug

Strange I have never come across a backing plate like that. Looks like a freaking flag holder.

I also thought that was a huge re-ring. Then I thought it was a weird part of the wood grain. Now my eyes are seeing 2 big re-rings when I blow the picture up.

A close inspection of the photos reveals the following:

-There is an internal reinforcement ring (a quite large one - possibly a retrofit installed by a previous owner as an attempted repair) on the upper batter head side.

-The lower snare side shell is bare and thin, appearing to have lost its wooden reinforcement ring.

-The "mystery piece" looks exactly identical to an older MIJ snare stand basket assembly minus its basket arms, still with its tilter plug insert which once fit into the slot on top on a telescoping tube of a snare stand tripod base, all now retrofitted by a previous owner in an attempt to maintaining shell stability with an improvised 'rig job' reinforcement ring.

My assessment. Your thoughts?

Mind Blowi:confused:

Does kind of look like the top of a cheap snare stand!

Seems like a lot of trouble to keep an old MIJ snare together but not a bad theory I must admit.