Kent brothers, Bill & Ed worked for Gretsch in Brooklyn before they left to start their own drum company. They wanted Gretsch to produce a low price introductory drum set. When they couldn't get Gretsch to listen they ran with the idea. The factory for most of the years I know of was a few blocks from my house in Kenmore NY. I rode my bike there almost once a week during the summer to lust after the drums on display in the showroom. The retail side was called Drummers Paradise.My parents bought my first kit there, a Dixie, stencil kit, I eventually traded it up for a blue sparkle Kent kit.A few years ago I located Bill Kent, still living around the corner from my parents house. He told me that what put them on the map was a contract to produce tambourines for Montgomery Ward which led to selling drums in the same catalog. He said the demand was too great so they started importing drums from Japan.My first kit was the Dixie, just a 12, 14 sn, and 20" bd. No floor tom but my Kent, 12,13,15, 22 was my first real kit, the first kit I gigged with and i have fond memories. I remember the badly glued seams with glue fingerprints on the inside of the drums, and pencil marks indicating where the holes should be drilled. I now have an orange sparkle Kent 60's kit, not quite finished restoring it, and a dark wood kent snare (50's). Ill post some pic's

Kent brothers, Bill & Ed worked for Gretsch in Brooklyn before they left to start their own drum company. They wanted Gretsch to produce a low price introductory drum set. When they couldn't get Gretsch to listen they ran with the idea. The factory for most of the years I know of was a few blocks from my house in Kenmore NY. I rode my bike there almost once a week during the summer to lust after the drums on display in the showroom. The retail side was called Drummers Paradise.My parents bought my first kit there, a Dixie, stencil kit, I eventually traded it up for a blue sparkle Kent kit.A few years ago I located Bill Kent, still living around the corner from my parents house. He told me that what put them on the map was a contract to produce tambourines for Montgomery Ward which led to selling drums in the same catalog. He said the demand was too great so they started importing drums from Japan.My first kit was the Dixie, just a 12, 14 sn, and 20" bd. No floor tom but my Kent, 12,13,15, 22 was my first real kit, the first kit I gigged with and i have fond memories. I remember the badly glued seams with glue fingerprints on the inside of the drums, and pencil marks indicating where the holes should be drilled. I now have an orange sparkle Kent 60's kit, not quite finished restoring it, and a dark wood kent snare (50's). Ill post some pic's

Kent brothers, Bill & Ed worked for Gretsch in Brooklyn before they left to start their own drum company. They wanted Gretsch to produce a low price introductory drum set. When they couldn't get Gretsch to listen they ran with the idea. The factory for most of the years I know of was a few blocks from my house in Kenmore NY. I rode my bike there almost once a week during the summer to lust after the drums on display in the showroom. The retail side was called Drummers Paradise.My parents bought my first kit there, a Dixie, stencil kit, I eventually traded it up for a blue sparkle Kent kit.A few years ago I located Bill Kent, still living around the corner from my parents house. He told me that what put them on the map was a contract to produce tambourines for Montgomery Ward which led to selling drums in the same catalog. He said the demand was too great so they started importing drums from Japan.My first kit was the Dixie, just a 12, 14 sn, and 20" bd. No floor tom but my Kent, 12,13,15, 22 was my first real kit, the first kit I gigged with and i have fond memories. I remember the badly glued seams with glue fingerprints on the inside of the drums, and pencil marks indicating where the holes should be drilled. I now have an orange sparkle Kent 60's kit, not quite finished restoring it, and a dark wood kent snare (50's). Ill post some pic's

Here's a shot of my Dixie kit circa 1967-68. Still looking for pics of the Kents.

Cool! Makes me want to find old pictures of my drums, and me.

Some guys on this forum do not like Kent drums. They just dont match up to the big four. I like them because of the history behind them and you just dont see that many. Im excited to get my kit together and see just how good or bad they sound. Im starting to think Im one of few people with an entire matching Kent drum set. Thanks for all the response's, I know there are more Kent experts out there, lets here what you have!