The Zephyr lug was used from 1939-46. The hoops, rods & hooks could be cleaned, but if you try to clean or remove the lugs there will be an increased loss of finish at that point. Even in changing a head you might find some finish flaking off. You might think about just keeping it as it is.

The Ludwig Book has 12 different WFL Keystone badges, but does not make fine distinctions for dating. Most other website lists are just as vague. However, the Zephyr lug was still being used in 1941, & the strainer on your snare was the first version of the P83, beginning in 1941. (then there were the War Time drums, restricted to 10% metal). Since your badge has the script "W F Ludwig Founder", I'm guessing your snare dates to 1941.

Dennis, good points. I will bear what you say in mind. I guess the flaking around the lugs may have occurred when some previous owner removed them.

Hey Dennis, awesome information. If the strainer was first used in 1941, then it would seem my drum may well be one of the last with metal hardware to be produced before the US entered the war.

Fuse, that's interesting information and very helpful.

Great! Yes, I think you are spot on! They even mention the choice of lacquer colours for an extra dollar and a half! Fantastic. Even more intriguing is the fact that the catalog is from 1941, which is the year WFL started producing the P83 strainer, according to Dennis. 1941 would seem a very likely year for my drum, I'd say!

Dennis and Fuse: I don't know how to thank you for your incredible expertise here!

/Magnus

Killer snare !!

Just as a comparison as to how well yours has weathered the storm over the years, here is my 8-lugger deep-dish from the same year....

What a war horse your 8-lugger is! Beautiful. It looks like you have a calf batter head. Is that correct? I bet your drum sounds fabulous with a good calf head.

/Magnus

Thanks Magnus!

She came with a calf batter, and unfortunately, a very thick snare side so I really didn't have a good sound with that config.

I switched to modern heads, and she sounds great, one day I'll invest in a slunk or two and see what some of my older snares used to sound like for real.

I really dig your snare as well.... hope she sounds as good as she looks, man!

Zephyr lugs are simplistically beautiful, and a real testament to the craftsmanship of the day..... I have a 26 bass, a 16x16, a 9x13, and a 7x11 with Zephyrs, and all tune up nicely after all these years.

Kev

I'm only posting this photo so that both of you can feel better about your snares. (Note, the Zephyr lug w/ the diamond stamping ).

Kev, I can imagine that a thick reso head + calf batter combo does not sound good. But calf batter and regular thin plastic reso is what I have on the majority of my snares, and that does sound very good. Any residual boxiness will disappear if the reso head is cranked up somewhat.

I haven't had time to really find out what my drum can do soundwise. I got it only three days ago. It arrived with a Remo Vintage Amb/reso Amb combo. Once I got those heads dialed in, the drum had an extremely open sound, more so than my other drums. I then changed to the only calf batter head I had on hand that would fit it, the Earthtone head I mention above.

My experience with Earthtones is a mixed bag. I have two 14" batter heads lying around. To my mind, ET batters are too thick and inconsistent to produce a satisfying sound. At best, my ETs give a dry sound with few overtones. This is the sound I got with the WFL. It was OK, but I am sure I could get a sound more to my liking with a regular Ambassador batter.

I also have a pair of older ET goat 18" bass drum heads, and they sound fabulous on my Phonic bop-kit bass drum, producing a lovely clear tone when tuned high, and a fat, singing bottom when tuned low.

What I intend to do, though, is to order a Kalfo batter for the drum, tuck it on a wooden flesh-hoop, and stick it on the drum. I have Kalfos on two of my snare drums, and they sound fantastic. The Kalfo heads have a nice and clear, almost tympani-like musical tone, without nasty overtones. They are easy to dial in.

My "Kalfo snare drums" so far are Sonor Phonics (one wood, one ferromangan/steel). They sound too boxy with calf on both sides. I guess they are too modern in design (snare beds, primarily, but also number of snare wires, and perhaps also shell) to happily accommodate a calf reso head.

My WFL, on the other hand, is obviously designed in pre-plastic times, so - like you - I am most eager to try it with calf on both sides. I already have a vintage slunk reso head.

I will probably order the Kalfo batter next week.

Right now, I am starting to clean my drum up some, polishing the hoops and trying to remove the rust from the rods and clips.

/Magnus

Wow, that's one beat-up drum. Still beautiful, though. Six-lugger? Will you try to restore it?

Those lugs are really something.

/Magnus