Yikes!! Kent catalogs sold for big $$$.

[big daddy]

I was watching 2 Kent Drum catalogs from the 1950's or 1060's on eBay recently and was thinking of bidding on them when I logged into eBay and saw that the prices had jumped considerably. Both catalogs ended up selling for over $100.00 each. This seems a bit high to me, what with Kent drums being the "also ran" American drum company.

I'm curious to know what prices (ballpark only) others have paid for catalogs from the BIG dogs in the drum world (Ludwig, Slingerland, Gretsch, Rogers, Camco). Would a Ludwig or Slingerland catalog from the 60's be worth two or three times more than the Kent catalogs?

Thanks.

[Webmaster]

I was watching them also and the only reason they went for that is you do not see much Kent literature.

The other big companies printed tons more literature and depending on the year it will not reach $100. (Depends on year and condition).

Also, more people are looking for the literature now and it is going up in value.

I'm still finding things that I can get for under $25, but it is running pretty thin.

David

[big daddy]

Do you mean that people are looking for more literature in general, or more Kent literature specifically? I'm wondering if the interest in Kent drums is rising? If so, then I'll step up my search for a nice condition Kent kit, before they get out of hand.

[Webmaster]

Yes, I do believe there are more people expanding into literature.

Here are a few of my most recent Ebay purchases and the prices with shipping. You can still find cool vintage drum items that have historical importance under $20

The Krupa record had an insert and dated 1957. $15.15

The Ludwig drum hang tag dated 1930 12 pages $15.26

Barry Drum Price List (no image) $9.50

This is about where I would normally stay with literature and I bid $40 or $50 for the Kent catalog. The thing is, most collectors do not have a web site, so we will never get to see the catalog. I went a little higher then I would normally go because a lot of drummers started with Kent as there first drum set and I wanted to expand my Kent drum literature.

I think Kent drums are becomng more collectable.

So, just in the last year, I have been bid out of the market and can't keep up with the higher ticket items.

David