My Radio King Hodge Podge

[MattKern]

I posted here (http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=15193) yesterday about a drum I was looking at. Well, I went ahead and got it. Not sure what I got, but I got it.

The badge doesn't match the casings or the strainer, I believe. The shell seems to be a 1 ply maple (newbie guess) but has been re-drilled for the current casings.

It seems to have the original wrap and the original casing holes go all the way thru the wrap.

My biggest question is this a RK shell? If so, what year? I am thinking mid 60's? It seems like it to me but I am a newb at these things.

The clamshell seems to match the shell as there are no extra holes other than the extra casing holes.

Interesting, but the casings are closer to the top rim than the bottom rim now by 1/2 inch since only 1 new hole was drilled for each casing - and not the 2 it would take to center them. I guess thats a good thing.

Anyway, I have not had the chance to really thwak on it yet, but from what I can tell so far it sounds better than the 60's 6 lug student drums that I have. Plus it matches my kit!

[lucky]

That is a single ply and from the 50's!

[SkyDog75]

I'm a little bit confused by the screw spacing. Didn't the "Sound King" lugs like the ones on this drum have the same screw spacing as the pre-1955 "imperial" or "cigar" lugs? Did Slingerland ever produce a drum with a clamshell strainer and some other type of single lug?

Speaking of that clamshell strainer... Since there aren't any other holes for a strainer and the clamshell strainer requires a unique hole pattern, that could be the original strainer on the drum, which means it might be your best clue for dating the drum. The clamshell was produced between 1940 & 1962. Check out DrCJW's guide HERE (http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/drcjw/article_5_strainers_clam_shell-1.htm) to see if you might be able to narrow down the date range even further.

[deadhead]

Its a shame someone drilled new holes for the lugs rather than finding the correct ones, but definitely a sweet drum there, very Cool1!!

[MattKern]

Large Oval badge 1948 - 1950
http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/slingerland_badges.html

The Clamshell is from 1956-1962
http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/drcjw/article_5_strainers_clam_shell-2.html

The shell appears to be from 1955-1964 and seems to match the strainer
http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/drcjw/article_3_shells5.html

The finish seems to come from 1954
http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/drcjw/article_4_finishes2.html#

It actually looks just like the 1958 drum on this page
http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/slingerland_snare_page.html#

Except mine has stick choppers and the redrilled casings and the wrong badge. Plus mine has no holes for tone control pads.

The only logical explanation is that mine was the very first prototype built in 1954 from new and existing parts and probably built by Mr. Slingerland himself (while Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich watched) and is probably worth $10,000 to $20,000 dollars today.

There. Its on the internet so it must be true!

Thanks for all your help guys. However it happened, I got my first Radio King for pretty cheap so I can't complain!

Thanks again.

Matt