Questions on a Leedy Snare

[sabshga]

I bought this drum because it looked well made and I liked the depth. Also I was fascinated with the finish as I had never seen it before. Could any of the resident Leedy authorities with knowledge of this item please tell me about this drum. Mostly, I would like to know what the finish is (lacquer?). What is it called? Also does anyone know of a craftsman that is skilled in refurbishing the finish?

Thanks in advance.

Gary
Dix Hills, NY

[Webmaster]

Have you got the drum?

Can you take off the heads and show us the edges and the shell
without the hoops??

Also the inside of the shell?

Thanks

David

[sabshga]

I have these pictures but don't know how to make them small enough to post. David could you please send me an email address so that I can forward them to you. The finish appears to be sprayed on based on the residue at the bearing edges. I t is very flaky and exposes the bare wood behind it when it flakes off.

[Webmaster]

vsd@vintagesnaredrums.com

Thanks

David

[Webmaster]

I changed the coloring slightly to enhance the overspray.

David

[sabshga]

Well it doesn't matter what the finish name was. Here is the refinished '52 Leedy snare. It sounds quite nice and now looks good to boot. I'm posting it on the gallery as part of a 1958 Slinger-Leedy set.

Gary
Dix Hills, NY

[clowndog]

You paid a healthy amount for a rare finish in bad shape and then recovered it with modern wrap?? :confused: :confused:

[sabshga]

Looks quite a bit nicer than it did when I first got it. Sorry to disappoint.

[Webmaster]

Has anyone confirmed this is actually original? I personally have never seen so much over spray on the inside of the shell from a factory job.

The paint all over the inner bearing edge would lead me to belive this is not factory, but a poorly finished drum by someone.

Was it Wayne that had a similar color drum. I remember someone saying they had the same color drum. I would like to see the inside of that one also.

David

[sabshga]

TommyP had a name for it. I just can't remember what he called it. From the photo Steve Maxwell thought it was contact paper of some sort and recommended the antique white pearl wrap. I've never seen lacquer come off the way this did. There were flakes falling off every time I moved it. It is, no doubt, water under the bridge at this point.

For the sake of history...Is anyone aware that Leedy offered lacquer finishes in '52 and if so what the colors were that were offered?

[Tommyp]

Hey Gary!

You didn't disappoint! You did a GREAT JOB on this drum! Nice large chip "Antique WMP"... should be great with the rest of the kit. I saw this drum as we did discuss it at length... I would say you did a NICE resto on it, and have returned it to it's former glory as it will be played! I maintain, and I've said it many times:

It's YOUR drum! You saved another one... you didn't part it out for profit. Nice job!

Tommyp

[Tommyp]

Gary!

You posted as I was posting... too funny! Anway:

What I said I thought your drum was originally was the "Silver Lacquer" finish as your drum is a 1950 to 1954 Leedy and Ludwig. The only TWO finishes during this period for lacquer were the "Silver Lacquer" and "Tri-Tone Blue". I thought your drum probably had the "Silver Lacquer" and then someone overpainted in a faux type stye to create the "splotches". Regardless,

Nice job!!

Tommyp

[clowndog]

Looks quite a bit nicer than it did when I first got it. Sorry to disappoint.

My apologies if I came across harsh at all. That is a legitimate finish that is very rare. If it were me, I would not have paid so much to rewrap it.. but everyone is different. It does look like you did a superb job on the re-wrap. :)

[Antipodes]

And now that's it been brought up would love to know if the WMP you used to recover is "large chip" a la Camco and, if so, where did it come from? Bonzo?

D

[sabshga]

As you know, I am not currently in possession of any WMP Camco items. It is not a perfect match with the Leedy white pearl which you can probably make out from the 58 Leedy gallery post. Tighter swirls and not the same yellow. As soon as the Camco snare arrives I'll shoot you a comparitive picture if it is close or tell you that it is not if that is the case.

Yes Bonzo did the work. The guy is meticulous and passionate about his work. He confirmed that the finish was factory with no evidence of any work having ever been done on the drum.

As far as cost of a rewrap: It never even crossed my mind. As it was when I bought it, I was never going to use it. I have a thing for nickel plated anything and the drum looks very handsome now. I would love to get a whole set with that hardware and would not hesitate recovering it if the finish warranted it.

Most of this stuff isn't an investment for me. I can't imagine ever flipping it. That's for my kids to decide on and to them it's free, so whatever they get, they get.

No prob.

Gary

[sabshga]

Dave,

The antique pearl wrap used on this project is nothing like Camco's white marine pearl. The Camco pattern has linear streaks in it. This does not. This wrap is also ever so slightly darker than the Camco's. It would not be an acceptable match for me.

Regards,

Gary