Strange mounting plate on Moon kit

[Lee H]

If you look at the single Rogers tom mount on the kick on drummer's left, there appears to be an "iron cross" looking metal plate between the Rogers mounting plate and the shell.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/27876506@N00/864320573/


Anyone know what this might be? Custom made piece? Just Moon being Moon? I've seen it on other kits of his from this era (including the black kit I am working on) and was curious as to whether this was some kind of aftermarket reenforcement against his abuse of his hardware.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Lee

[bermuda]

Legend has it that his tom stands/mounts and kicks were reinforced so that he could stand on them, although that doesn't seem likely with the Rogers mounts on this kit. If it was for the movie only, perhaps it didn't make a difference. What mounts did he use on other kits?

Bermuda

[Lee H]

I thought that too, that this was just a decorative piece for the movie. But the same underplate appears on the black kit Moon used for Isle of Wight and other shows in the 1971-73 era. This kit used Rogers tom mounting hardware too.

Strange

L

[FFR428]

I agree looks more decorative than structural bracing to me too. What a cool kit though.

[MIKEY777]

Wow, Do i have a story about this set or one like it.Back in 92 or 93 i got to restore one of these sets of Moon's for the G.C. in Hollywood ca...Cindy Moon if i recall her name right give the set to the G.C. to put on display..When i worked on the set it had missing Rogers hardwear bottom rims front rims on the bass drums..Anyway the crosses you see on both bass drums {the one on the left has one also look at the double tom mount you will see it}-that was for a single tom mount like on the bass drum on the right..These crosses where their to reinforce the Rogers single tom mounts and bass drum shells.Also inside the bass drums had a piece of metal as a plate under the crosses.. In fact all the Rogers mounts had a reinforce plates inside each shell .Because he was so hard on the drums..Mikey

[Lee H]

Wow, that is so cool!! I had seen shots of reinforcing plates inside the kicks for the spurs, but it makes sense that Moon would have had to reinforce the toms too, given the energy he attacked with.

But I am right in thinking that these plates on the top are in the shape of a Maltese Cross, right?

You didn't happen to take measurements! : )

Thanks Mikey777. It's these stories that make this place so rich.

L

[MIKEY777]

Originally Posted by Lee H

Wow, that is so cool!! I had seen shots of reinforcing plates inside the kicks for the spurs, but it makes sense that Moon would have had to reinforce the toms too, given the energy he attacked with.

But I am right in thinking that these plates on the top are in the shape of a Maltese Cross, right?

You didn't happen to take measurements! : )

Thanks Mikey777. It's these stories that make this place so rich.

L

Lee, Yes the cross were "maltese" ones on both bass drums..I seem to call the measurements of the cross i THINK were 6" ot 7" across and up and down but iam not sure..Another side note on the bass drums the inside plates were one piece that went from the top two lugs of each bass drum,if i recall right these steel plates were 1/4" thick and mounted under the top two lugs and mounts of the drums..Mikey

[longjohn]

Awesome input Mikey... straight from the history book..
Cheers
John

[Lee H]

Mikey777,

I was really joking about the whole measurement thing, but it is so cool on so many levels that you have this insight (and grey matter to remember details nearly 20 yrs on!)

I've been looking around for some aftermarket piece at trucker and biker sites to see if someone makes an iron cross something like these plates. No luck so far, but maybe I'll look into manufacturing something.

Thanks again brother.

Lee

[MIKEY777]

Originally Posted by Lee H

Mikey777,

I was really joking about the whole measurement thing, but it is so cool on so many levels that you have this insight (and grey matter to remember details nearly 20 yrs on!)

I've been looking around for some aftermarket piece at trucker and biker sites to see if someone makes an iron cross something like these plates. No luck so far, but maybe I'll look into manufacturing something.

Thanks again brother.

Lee

Lee, Thats one set i will never forget on working on.Funny thing after i finish the set the G.C. guy that i worked with give me the old heads off the set i have 3 14",1 16".1 18", and 2 22" heads from the set buy the way they are Remo's clear black dot's..As far as fining the cross's look at any custom bike shop's maybe Jesse James site would have them...Mikey