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LA Camco early Christmas present. Last viewed: 10 hours ago

Posts: 763 Threads: 110
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Hi Folks,

Just picked up these LA Camcos.

They were offered on our local Belgian version of CL.

Called the owner, jumped into my car, got stuck in evening traffic for 2 hours but I was lucky to be the first candidate that showed up and brought them home.

There's work to do as the BD and both toms are drilled for a hideous MIJ mount.

The chrome is rough but should clean up nice. Bottom 15" hoop is missing.

Most important, the shells are round and the edges are in perfect shape.

Odd sizes tough,... 22"BD, 16"FT, 15"TT, 12"TT.

The snare is a steel Tama Imperial Star with floating snare mechanism.

Hardware and cases are a mish-mash of Premier, MIJ and Orange.

I'll probably get the extra holes plugged and I have the parts to put the set back to its original condition but I can't imagine that the 15" rack tom will hold in place on the original triangle Camco mount. Probably better to go for a 1up, 2down set up?

Nice detail: The original Benelux import tag is still hanging on one of the BD T-rods.

Once I start the restoration and cleaning, I'll start a new thread in the restoration section.

Posted on 11 years ago
#1
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Good on you, The drum gods smiled down on you, I bet that 2 hour wait was nerve wracking !?

Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!
Posted on 11 years ago
#2
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From vintagemore2000

Good on you, The drum gods smiled down on you, I bet that 2 hour wait was nerve wracking !?

YES! Good heavens I would have been raging at the moon, or at least foaming at the mouth a bit!

Sweet find! Yes, please do keep us in the loop with these during the restoration!

VM2k's correct! The drum gods nudged Santa!

fishwaltz
Posted on 11 years ago
#3
Posts: 1525 Threads: 127
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That is a Premier oval tom holder mount on the bass drum and Premier block Tom holder mounts. It will actually hold that 15" fine but I am with you on using it as a two down set up.

Unless you are wanting to convert the Tom and bass mounts back to Camco type mounts they may have been fitted with the Premier hardware originally since the L arms and mounts are a lot more heavy duty than the original Camco mounts. Did you get the post for the Tom holder? I see one L arm in the Tom mount.

This is not a super clear pic, but you can see the Tom mount and bass mount on my 70's Premiers. I have the 13" Tom on the bass drum mount and the 14" down by the 16".

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Posted on 11 years ago
#4
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Congrats on the find. Those look like a very fun project, looking forward the restoration thread.


Thank you!
Jeff C

"Enjoy every sandwich" Warren Zevon
Posted on 11 years ago
#5
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Steff, You're on your way to cornering the European Camco market. Nice score my friend. You don't see a lot of those 15"s and that import badge is gold (metaphor).

There's probably some Premier folks who'd be interested in that mount. Had one once...very sturdy.

Sounds like you're sorted for parts but if not give me a yell because I'm clearing the decks of the bits I'm never likely to use. BTW, did that key holder turn up yet?

Posted on 11 years ago
#6
Posts: 763 Threads: 110
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Vibes, you are absolutely correct on that mount,... it's Premier and says made in England inside the brackets. They were mounted afterwards and by the look of it, done by a total amateur.

The big hole looks like it's been chewed out... Luckily this one will hide under the triangle foot-plate. The only holes that will remain visible on the bass drum, will be the top left and right hole. Also the extra holes on the 12" and 15" will partially hide under the hexagonal Camco tom-mount-plates.

Anyway, this will always be a players' set but nonetheless, I will get the plugging done by a pro. Also at one point, the shells seem to have been re-lacquered and also this work was done very badly. Lots of sanding scratches underneath and in some areas, the surface feels as rough as a badger's...

Indeed a fun winter-project. I prefer to keep it as a natural maple but I might also consider to try and do a darker stain, something like a dark walnut, ebony or stradivarius,... any thought on that?

David, thanks for the offer. I will send you a message in case I need something. The key-holder didn't arrive yet but no worries, I'm sure it will show up eventually. That import tag is indeed quite something. I've seen it before on non-European stuff. I believe in the 1970's, it was mandatory to have them on your gear in case you needed to travel to certain Euro countries. I know the Swiss and the Germans border police was quite strict on these things. It could mean that this set was gigged outside Belgium.

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Posted on 11 years ago
#7
Posts: 763 Threads: 110
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Just to add another thing.

Was a 22,16,15,12 set up ever offered or advertised by Camco?

The 12" mounted next to that massive 15"X12" tom will look quite awkward, no?! (not to say silly,...)

I believe this set would be much more appealing in a 1up, 2down configuration. I probably won't go as far by drilling it for legs but maybe mounted on a rim could be a good idea. I haven't seen those 15" rims tough,... do they exist?

Posted on 11 years ago
#8
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Nice score! My LA Pablo Cruise kit was 24/12/13/15/16. I found a rare Camco tom stand. I played it as one up/ two down as 24/13/15/16.

1957 George Way BDP 26" concert bass drum
1959 George Way BDP 22/12/16 w/ 5.5x14
1959 George Way Green Sparkle 22/12/16 w/5.5x14
1961 George Way Blue Sparkle 20/12/15
1961 George Way Jelly Bean 20/12/14 w/4.5x14
1960’s Camco Oaklawn Champagne 20/12/14/16w/5x14
1971-73 Camco Chanute Walnut 24/14/18 w/5x14 COB
Posted on 11 years ago
#9
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I'd surprised if 12" and 15" were offered as a set-up - doesn't show up on the catalogues scanned in this forum.

One thing you might try for the 15" which I attempted with some success, is to put a Camco tom mount on the base of a Camco tripod stand.

Not as wide-based, I suspect, as the double tom holders (never seen one - perhaps Dolfan can elucidate) but, properly angled, probably enough to keep the drum sturdily in place unless you're playing thrash metal.

Something I set up for fun one day, using such a system below but with a Pearl single brace instead. Never played it but sure looked impressive. A Camco stand works just the same.

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Posted on 11 years ago
#10
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