and i thought 500 for a supra was a lot

I'd like to see what Mike Curotto has to say. Maybe he'll weigh in on this one.

Mike

more pics

now he tells me their are only 3 known in existence

hmmmmm I wonder Steve Maxwell where are you?

Not a real valuable drum with the finish removed. More like $1000 tops.

Looks like a 6 lugger too. I would guess around 800 tops. I certainly wouldn't pay more than that.

Great sounding drum though. I love the 2 piece brass 6 luggers. They record well.

From the Master Steve Maxwell and I quote

Hi Gary,

Well, it is a very weird piece. It is engraved, which is weird for a 6 lug from that era. And, the trick is to figure out if this shell and related hardware is true gold plating. The strainer, if original, was plated and I can not tell if it was the art gold or real, but looks like it might be real. If so, then the shell and other hardware may be real gold also. I can not tell if the shell was originally black nickel that has been buffed to brass, or if it is true gold plating. If the drum is a 6 lug, engraved, and true gold plating it is worth a lot to the right person. I think it may be real gold plating based on how it looks, but I am not as much of an expert on that issue as my friend Mike Curotto is. If this is truly real gold on an engraved 6 lug then the $2600 he paid is not unfair. If the question is that he thinks it is worth double that amount, the issue becomes this: There are VERY few buyers for an item like this. As a result, it may not bring as much as he thinks it will. Try contacting Mike. He is at [email]mike@curottodrums.com[/email]

He may be better able to tell you.

Steve

Based on the photos, I'm seeing only brass and not gold. Of course, I may be wrong. The throw-off appears to still have it's original "De Luxe" imitation gold plating. Most likely, the parts were removed and the shell was buffed down to brass. Surprising that someone would make an offer that high without any real knowledge of what the drum is.

I agree. Just looks like a buffed-out Black Beauty. I'm certainly no expert, but I've seen a number of similar buffed up Black Beauties over the years.

Buffed out or re-plated 6 lug Black Beauty.