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Calling all Radio King guru's Last viewed: 13 minutes ago

Posts: 168 Threads: 10

I wonder if anyone can help me with this question.

I have just bought a set of Radio kings (haven't received them yet so no pics yet) from the 42-45 era in my estimate.

They are 26,13,16 with wooden hoops on all drums and aluminium badge, in WMP.

I have heard it said that rolling bomber kits always had brass badges, this is not a bomber, it has small beavertail lugs on both toms, streamlines on the bass and the floor tom has a cradle instead of legs so I kind of got to 42-45ish with the date.

Now I have been after a RK with wood hoops for a long time but my question is this;

I know from catalogues that there were 2 different RK snares with wood hoops but they seemed to only run until the very early 40s.

Does anyone have ant knowledge of an RK snare with aluminium badge and wood hoops and is there any point me trying to find one?

Posted on 11 years ago
#1
Posts: 750 Threads: 69

From brushbaby

I wonder if anyone can help me with this question.I have just bought a set of Radio kings (haven't received them yet so no pics yet) from the 42-45 era in my estimate.They are 26,13,16 with wooden hoops on all drums and aluminium badge, in WMP.I have heard it said that rolling bomber kits always had brass badges, this is not a bomber, it has small beavertail lugs on both toms, streamlines on the bass and the floor tom has a cradle instead of legs so I kind of got to 42-45ish with the date.Now I have been after a RK with wood hoops for a long time but my question is this;I know from catalogues that there were 2 different RK snares with wood hoops but they seemed to only run until the very early 40s.Does anyone have ant knowledge of an RK snare with aluminium badge and wood hoops and is there any point me trying to find one?

The drums in question sound like 1945-47 era roughly. I have encountered many sets with wood hoops on toms and metal lugs with the aluminum badge. It makes sense when you think about it. When brass was no longer available (and the supply of brass cloud badges was depleted), the company was forced to use aluminum.

I have a letter from Slingerland dated October 1944 in which it says that the War Production Board has given them permission to resume drum production with whatever supplies the company had on hand at that time. It goes on to say that tom toms will be made with inlaid wooden hoops on toms and bass drums, utilizing pre-war lugs, screws, etc. Snare drums were to be made but no mention of what hoop material.

So, based on this letter and the fact that I have never encountered a "factory" Radio King snare with an aluminum badge and wood hoops, it's safe to say that the proper matching snare drum for a wooden hoop RK set would be an aluminum badged snare, most likely with 16 small beaver tail lugs.

Hope this helps.

Posted on 11 years ago
#2
Posts: 168 Threads: 10

From cooper

The drums in question sound like 1945-47 era roughly. I have encountered many sets with wood hoops on toms and metal lugs with the aluminum badge. It makes sense when you think about it. When brass was no longer available (and the supply of brass cloud badges was depleted), the company was forced to use aluminum. I have a letter from Slingerland dated October 1944 in which it says that the War Production Board has given them permission to resume drum production with whatever supplies the company had on hand at that time. It goes on to say that tom toms will be made with inlaid wooden hoops on toms and bass drums, utilizing pre-war lugs, screws, etc. Snare drums were to be made but no mention of what hoop material. So, based on this letter and the fact that I have never encountered a "factory" Radio King snare with an aluminum badge and wood hoops, it's safe to say that the proper matching snare drum for a wooden hoop RK set would be an aluminum badged snare, most likely with 16 small beaver tail lugs.Hope this helps.

I was hoping you would join the party Mr Cooper as I am an avid fan of your website.

Thanks for the info, that all makes sense 47 being when the floor tom legs came in etc.

S as I suspected a wood hoop snare is unlikely to exist from this period, it's just as well since finding a aluminium cloud badge one will be hard enough however I do have a 39 wood hoop Leedy in wmp that will sit nicely with it for now.

Many thanks for your input Mark

Posted on 11 years ago
#3
Posts: 750 Threads: 69

From brushbaby

I was hoping you would join the party Mr Cooper as I am an avid fan of your website.Thanks for the info, that all makes sense 47 being when the floor tom legs came in etc. S as I suspected a wood hoop snare is unlikely to exist from this period, it's just as well since finding a aluminium cloud badge one will be hard enough however I do have a 39 wood hoop Leedy in wmp that will sit nicely with it for now.Many thanks for your input Mark

My pleasure!

One thing to keep in mind about floor tom legs. The Slingerland version first appeared in '47 but many older floor toms from the 30's-40's were retro-fitted with the new floor tom legs. Kind of confuses the dating.

Good luck with your set!

Posted on 11 years ago
#4
Posts: 168 Threads: 10

Thank you Mark, I have seen a few earlier kits with floor tom legs fitted although almost all of then have been fitted higher up the drum than usual for some reason, I'm sure this is not always the case but it has been in all the ones I have seen

Posted on 11 years ago
#5
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