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Slingerland T-rods

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I've owned a few Slingerland bass drums over the years, some in sets, some strays, and have questions as to when Slingerland used certain T-rods and claws. I have attached a picture showing 4 different T-rods, and 3 different claws. My belief is that the T-rod on the left was the last design used, maybe sometime around 1970-on? And that the claw on that rod is actually much earlier. T-rod 2nd from left is 1960's era and those claws remained in use until the end of Slingerland. 3rd from left is probably 40's into the 50's, and the last one might be even earlier???

Anyway, I'm trying to resurrect a circa 1960 Slingie 22" and want to put the right hardware on it. Thanks in advance for any info provided.

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Posted on 12 years ago
#1
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Ludwig claw on far left one, 2nd from right is Slinger 1930's...furthest right one is MIJ!

"Always make sure your front bottom BD lugs clear the ground!"
Posted on 12 years ago
#2
Posts: 3467 Threads: 116
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And, Claw 2 belongs with T/rod 1.

Cheers

'77 Slingerland 51N,Super Rock 24,18,14,13.. COW 8,10 Concert toms
'69 Slingerland Hollywood Ace
'75 Rogers Dynasonic 6.5 x 14, 10 lug COB
'77-78 Slingerland 6.5 x 14, 10 lug COB
'78-79 Slingerland 5 1/4 x14 8 lug COB
'79 Biman 5 1/4, Acrolite
'82 Slingerland 5 1/4 x 14. Festival COS
'84 Tama MasterCraft Superstar 6.5 x 14, 10 lug Rosewood
'98 Slingerland (Music YO) 6" 10 Lug Maple.. NOS
Zildjian, Sabian , UFIP & Paiste mix.
Posted on 12 years ago
#3
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Isn't the Slinger claw correct for both 60's and 70's?

"Always make sure your front bottom BD lugs clear the ground!"
Posted on 12 years ago
#4
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Hoping to get a few more opinions before I start weeding through them, but I'm fairly sure Rod #1 is not Ludwig: Ludwig's similar design has curved ends, not the angles seen here. And I've definitely seen rods like #1 on Slingerland drums. I would defer on whether claws like #1 were ever used on Slingerland- Not sure on that...

Posted on 12 years ago
#5
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I said the claw was Luddy,not the rod...

"Always make sure your front bottom BD lugs clear the ground!"
Posted on 12 years ago
#6
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10-4. Can't argue there. So claw #2 was used with both rods 1-2, but does anyone know if those rods were used at different times, or possibly on different models? And I see rods similar to #4 listed for sale for Ludwig/Leedy (although that info may be suspect...) To further muddy the issue, I have a Radio King bass drum with T-rods completely unlike any of these four... And they are original to the drum (as far as I know.) Books I have don't spend much time/effort on claws and T-rods. And catalogs don't either. Thanks to all for their help.

Posted on 12 years ago
#7
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Yep. Far left one is 70's, second from left 60's T, claw was used for 60's and 70's

Joe


“I did not trip and fall. I attacked the floor and I believe I am winning.”
Posted on 12 years ago
#8
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This is a good subject. I, too, wish there was more documentation of this kind of information.

After zooming in on the catalog scans it looks like rod n claw #2 was introduced in 1959. Some sets have these torpedoes and some have the older previous style so your '60 BD will probably have the torpedoes with claw # 2. It's hard to tell but it looks like these were used until '69. Not 100% sure though. I really don't know anything about the rods n claws of the 30's 40's and 50's.

If I may I'd like to add a bit about 70's 80's rods. In this pic the left rods and claws are from my '71 BD and on the right are from my '81. There were 2 versions of the left rod. It's a little bit thinner, the angles are more rounded and there is no bushing where the rod meets the claw. These were probably started in '70. I'm not sure when, but maybe late '71 or 72 they added a bushing where the rod meets the claw. Now the rods on the right you can see are bit beefier and have much sharper angles and also have the bushing. It's just a guess but I think these started around '73 or '74. I believe I've seen them on BD's of these years and they went all the way to Slingerland's first demise. As far as the later incarnations of Slingerland I don't know. I wouldn't be surprised if they just used regular t-rods in the 90's and early 00's

Now with the claws you can see in the left one that the hole is pretty much flush with the surface. This is probably the claw that you'd want with the torpedo rod. The right ones have a stamped indentation around the hole. They probably did this when they added the bushing to the rod.

1 attachment
1981 Slingerland Magnum 8pc Pewter Silk
1971 Slingerland Avante 60N Lavender Satin Flame
1976/7 Ludwig Vistalite 5pc Yellow
1980's Ludwig Rocker 5pc Black
2004 Gretsch Catalina Birch Caribbean Blue
1998 Noble & Cooley Alloy Classic 14X4.75
1922 Bower Snare
Posted on 12 years ago
#9
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Alright, my ca. 1965 Slingie set has the torpedo style T-rods; but the old set of stamped 1964's I had (and sold 15 years ago) had the newer style rods (like the 1981 era ones on your picture.) They must've been replaced at some point? I personally can't recall ever seeing the style withOUT the collar at the base of the handle, but I've never owned 70's Slingies, and the aforementioned 64's had the collars... I think we all know by now how these companies held product until they could sell it, so it's hard to give solid dates for much of anything, but approximate dates of change would be helpful. Still, weird... Anyone else have any input???

Posted on 12 years ago
#10
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