My answer to the question, if I'm understanding it correctly, would be simply, that if a vintage kit appears to have been well cared for, I believe that it could command a greater price to a collector. Personally I enjoy restoring and cleaning up old kits, but I'm also on a budget, and have some time to devote to it. It would seem to me, that there are probably collectors out there that have more money, than free time, that might be more receptive to dropping some bucks on a well maintained, and preserved kit. Sure, there's bound to be signs of age, but you take your chances when you buy an old kit that has obviously been around the block and has layers of crud and corrosion on it, though the bottom line I think, is still what era, brand, and quality the kit is regardless. Can't honestly say for sure - just my opinion.

If by, "refinished" you're referring to being re-wrapped, then that is another subject entirely.

Appreciate the response DaddyNowhere and I feel about the same as you. I would really like to try the Novus Treatment on my kit but it seems this would require me to completely dismantle the drums. These drums have not been taken apart, ever, and I would feel terrible if I damaged them while doing so. I would let a professional restore them before I tried but I don,t have the $ for that. I have played them for so long they are part of my family/history as now there are three generation drummers in the family.

This is the original wrap and using the term refinishing, I ment the Novus treatment. This kit was cleaned/polished about every 3-6 months since new except for a 10 year period when I was not playing them and then they were stored in cases.

Thats what suprised me upon seeing fade in the wrap. Makes me feel like the Ringo wrap is prone to fading no matter how well they are maintaned.

Tom

The only downside I could see is that when claying a vehicle, you keep the surface watered down real good. I dont know that I would want to keep watering down a shell, as some of that water would end up on the edge and the inside most certainly.

Not that hard at all to Novus a drum......

Just take 1 drum apart at a time,set the lugs/rims aside,polish the drum,put parts back on......done!...I can do it in my sleep........

Sounds like the drums have been well taken care of. Not sure why they would have significant fade, unless they were left in a sunny location or something for a long period of time. As Blairndrums said though, it's not a difficult job. I'm not mechanically inclined at all, (won't touch the engine of my car) but, if you can change drum heads, it's not much more complicated than that to disassemble the kit. Just take care inside the shells - I have a small ratchet set I bought for about $5.00, that works great for removing the lug screws. Just have to set aside some time to do it, but I personally find it very satisfying.

Great reference here on associated site, (Vintage Drum Guide) which I've found very helpful, if you haven't checked out already:

http://vintagedrumguide.com/how_to_vintage_snare.html

It's a nice kit, and well worth the effort in my opinion. Good luck.

I have some experience as I restored a later set of drums for my son. But I have to confess I am a little, no really, intimated taking my set apart never having restored a vintage kit before.

The site referenced is really good and well layed out and I think I will take apart the 12" tom to try the Novus. If the tom comes apart easy I,ll do one at a time like you said. I hope no screws break. Also I may have to order the Novus but first I,ll try the local Harley dealer as referenced in the Mspartacus thread. Thanks to all. Tom

One more thing: There isn't a lot of fade just a small amount of fade but I just want to see if the Novus will remove it. If it does I,ll do all the drums.

Screws won't break.....unless you tighten as hard as you possibly can on them!

I use a nut driver to remove/tighten them..........

Just the thought of loosening a screw that was tightened by a factory worker over 40 yrs. ago. Don't know if I can do it. My hand will surely be shaking if I do. Must be getting too sentimental in my old age.

Tom