Just to muddy the water here a little, I have a 6 lug 6.5x14 with heavy 2 piece shell with the back soldered flanges. The logo is the oval on the hoop. Hoops are straight steel. It is a great drum.

atomicmorganic - Thanks for your muddying! It seems that it could be one from 1918 or 1919 or so, before they put the logo on the shell???. Do you feel that it would be the 18 gauge thickness that Ludwig mentions in the 1918 catalog I posted the link for? We need a machinists input on sheet metal gauges here.

atomicmorganic - What type of strainer is on your 6 lugger? That can help in timeline. I’m focusing on the drums that have the same strainer as the metal shell series of drums, as seen in the 1918 catalog. If your drum is earlier than 1923 it could suggest that the shell thickness didn’t change during that earlier period as has been mentioned, then we might know what Ludwig referred to as “18 gauge”. Could you share some photos too!

Thank you!

30's Model Universal. 6 lugger. Just posting as a reference for you guys.

Here is a pic of mine. (Before cleaning.)

Atomic - Mine is an Elkhart, am I correct in assuming that yours is a Chicago era?

Does this drum have the 2 piece shell with soldered flanges?

GoneDrumming - Thank You! What timing I've compared, at a glance, your drum and the one atomicmorganic just posted below your post. How convenient!

atomicmorganic - Thank you! That looks like the early version, because the center rib on the shell is wider than the later models. Your drum could be the 18 gauge shell Ludwig mentions in the 1918 catalog. 6 lugs and all it wasn't considered a student model back then.

One piece. I attached a pic of the seam.