14by 6.5 Bronze 12 lug snare drum Slingerland

[bonzo73]

I have what looks to be a bronze snare drum. It has the oval Niles badge and has the dotted lines running around the middle of the snare. The serial number is 561518. Any help on the value, the circa, and the series of snare. Thank you all.

[DrCJW]

Hello bonzo73:

Pictures are best, but 6.5x14, 12 lugs, "bronze", serial 561518 would be a 1984 Spitfire Series Model 204B in Lacquered Brass finish. Slingerland's brass snare drum shells around this time had a higher ratio of copper over zinc, giving them a darker "bronze" look. But Slingerland cataloged this finish as "Lacquered Brass", never as "Bronze". The Spitfire series in 1984 used Slapshot snare strainers.

DrCJW

[bonzo73]

Thats very cool, thank you. Is there any value to these snares, I cant find it anywhere on the web? Is it a rare snare? What do you think its worth? I would think the 12 lug idea was very limited, I never seen that on any snare before? It does have the niles badge. Thank you for all your help.