This is a 26" bird's eye maple bass drum. It is estimated that this instrument was made sometime in the late 1800's and was most likely used by a street musician in the early vaudeville days. There's a partial manufacturer's label on the inside of the shell, but not enough information is visible to tell who made it. The fold-up spurs are intact against the hoop. I had it tweeked out and given a little TLC by Ralph Eames in 1986. Ralph told me the calfskin head looks original to the drum and it's possible the drum was made by a predecessor of George Stone, but no way to really tell. The only thing missing is a thin leather strap that was stretched across the open back which was probably used as a handle for carrying...as the drummer typically loaded other "traps" and accessories inside the drum. This drum is for sale. $375 or best (fair) offer.
Late 1800's Bass Drum
This is a 26" bird's eye maple bass drum. It is estimated that this instrument was made sometime in the late 1800's and was most likely used by a street musician in the early vaudeville days. There's a partial manufacturer's label on the inside of the shell, but not enough information is visible to tell who made it. The fold-up spurs are intact against the hoop. I had it tweeked out and given a little TLC by Ralph Eames in 1986. Ralph told me the calfskin head looks original to the drum and it's possible the drum was made by a predecessor of George Stone, but no way to really tell. The only thing missing is a thin leather strap that was stretched across the open back which was probably used as a handle for carrying...as the drummer typically loaded other "traps" and accessories inside the drum. This drum is for sale. $375 or best (fair) offer.
I hate to say this but Wrong year,Wrong maker, Wrong about the leather strap as a handle...Laughing H...Wrong about the street musician thing.. And a way over priced drum....Mikey
The information about this drum was given to me by Ralph Eames. He was making drums before you and I were born. He was a student of George L. Stone, so his first hand experience says something. I don't profess to be an expert, but he most certainly is, so until someone can give me more accurate factual information, I'll go with what I have. You seem to be an expert, and since you believe that all this information is so laughably "wrong" why don't YOU enlighten this forum with your expertise?...I'm happy to change any inaccurate information.
Hi Drumsmitty,
I apologize for Mikey's response. Totally out of line to mock a newcomer while offering no help at all.... and ps the forum 'ranks' you based on your number of posts, not how well qualified your opinion may be!
I mostly agree with the info that Ralph Eames gave you years ago. I never met Ralph but have been to JoeMac's shop many times.
Age of your drum looks like late very late 1800s or very early 1900s based on the hardware. I've seen similar claws and rods on F. E. Dodge drums, another early Boston based builder. That being said, it's so generic in so many ways, you couldn't identify the maker based on that alone. It doesn't look like a Stone to me. And if it were, Ralph of all people would have known!
What is left of the label inside? Is there any remaining legible text?
The drum is either missing a second head, or it was constructed as a single headed drum. Both are possibilities. I suppose it could have been a conversion as well if someone was trying to make a street drum into something more usable for Vaudeville work. Since it has spurs, it must have been played as part of a trap set at some point.
I'm not sure what you mean by a leather strap stretched across the back. I have seen handles attached to drums for carrying them around (not necessarily used to carry the drum while marching, just to haul the drum from job to job) so maybe that's what you're describing. And yes, it was not uncommon for Vaudeville drummers to load their traps in their bass drum between gigs hence the convenience of single headed drums and trap door bass drums.
Unfortunately, these things don't command much in the vintage drum market. Honestly, $100 is probably the high end for a drummer's budget. Why? For one, the drum has outlived it's playable life span. Plus bass drums take up a lot of space, are expensive to ship, and generally just aren't all that collectable. You may have just as much luck pedaling it to a local antique dealer. It's old, it's interesting, and it's a cool historical piece even if it won't sell for a whole lot!
Hope this helps!
-Lee
That is one cool drum. I could see it made up into a kit with other 'period' drums and brought 'back-to-life' as a playable drum like that. It sure would be a fun, maybe slow to get completed, project. I like it.........and if it was me involved - I'd buy it in a heartbeat for a decent = not low or not too high price.
band3
Thank you Lee for your kind remarks and valuable information. I guess some folks feel the need to profess their intelligence while displaying their ignorance! Oh well....
I took a closer look at the tattered label. There is a partial legible letter that could be a "P" or an "F" which seems like it would be first letter of the main name of the company or shop. There looks to be faint "O" as part of that name as well (hard to tell exactly). Maybe your F.E. Dodge is correct! And yeah, Ralph would know and I, too have frequented JoeMac's shop on many occassions! He's actually made me a number of drums in my day as well. Joe's a good man!
At the bottom of the label there looks to be an address. I can make out the number "47" and the lettering of "hans___ Str. Room" There are a couple of random letters scattered on the label...an "e" an "s" and "r" the number "3" but none makes too much sense.
Looks like the drum was built as a single head model. There is a thin wood hoop tacked / screwed into the shell just inside the regular hoop on the open side. This, according to Ralph, was so the (open) hoop was stable and the batter head could be tensioned. btw...I have the drum key.
Regarding the leather strap: there are pieces of the strap still attached by two small screws at opposite ends of the inside counter hoop. And now that you mentioned it, Ralph did say it was most likely used by a Vaudeville drummer going gig to gig, loading his traps inside the drum.
Thanks for the clarity on price too. Honestly I had no idea what it was worth. I just threw out a random number. Your explanation makes sense.
Thank you again for your help.
Tim
While Mikey may have come off a bit abrupt, he is a wealth of experience and info. You will really benefit from being a part of this forum.
Tim,
Can you shoot a picture of the label (or what's left of it)? We might be able to make some more sense out of it. I've got a lot of pics I could try and match it up with. 47 Hanover Street was Stone's address for many years so perhaps that's something. Post a pick or send one my way and I'l check it out. I'd love to see it!
-Lee
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