This just looks like dirty chrome to me. Nickel plating doesn't reflect light (and, well, reflections) like chrome does. I can clearly see reflections of the room in the shell of the snare.Take some bartender's friend to it and see if you get a shiny spot.
It looks too yellow to be chrome. I just checked my nickel plated stuff and it's fairly reflective - enough to see yourself reflected. The rims and hardware on this Pioneer are nickel (polished up and on a sunny day)
Never seen one before. Way cool.
At 2893, this is a very early Beavertail drum. Mine is Chrome and 2811. There are approximately about half the numbers in the 2800 range represented by Bread and Butter drums. Perhaps more than half. It could be nickel for a reason other than it missed a step. Since everything is done that way, I believe this was intended. And it is very early. One of the first Beavertails made. You have a very unique drum. Does this have a single screw two post butt end frame?
This one is from Dyna-Sonic 3689, one of mine.
[IMG]http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu169/ThePloughman/Snare%20Drums/Rogers%20Dyna-Sonic%201964%203689/DSCN1730_zps7115ac7c.jpg[/IMG]
Dyna-Sonic 2811
[IMG]http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu169/ThePloughman/Snare%20Drums/Rogers%20Dyna-Sonic%201963%207%20Line%202811/IMG_5337.jpg[/IMG]
At 2893, this is a very early Beavertail drum. Mine is Chrome and 2811. There are approximately about half the numbers in the 2800 range represented by Bread and Butter drums. Perhaps more than half. It could be nickel for a reason other than it missed a step. Since everything is done that way, I believe this was intended. And it is very early. One of the first Beavertails made. You have a very unique drum. Does this have a single screw two post butt end frame?This one is from Dyna-Sonic 3689, one of mine. [IMG]http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu169/ThePloughman/Snare%20Drums/Rogers%20Dyna-Sonic%201964%203689/DSCN1730_zps7115ac7c.jpg[/IMG]Dyna-Sonic 2811[IMG]http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu169/ThePloughman/Snare%20Drums/Rogers%20Dyna-Sonic%201963%207%20Line%202811/IMG_5337.jpg[/IMG]
Yes, that's what the butt end frame of mine looks like as well.
As a note, I was inspecting it with my friend and he noticed that it looks as if there's chrome (or what we assume to be chrome) under the nickel, which opens up more questions.
The screws and such on the interior holding the lugs to the shell appear to be nickel as well, although the interior of the shell seems to be chrome.
Thoughts?
Top of that drum looks chrome. Could be damaged chrome on everything else. Fasteners look typical.
First off. Do not wipe the shell.
Take a lug off, and soak it for a couple hours in water with a mild ..... Dawn... is what everyone seems to recommend, and what I have used. Clean 1 lug. See what you get. But don't wipe that shell until you take everything off of it. Of course, don't mess with the badge and grommet. You cant clean a shell like that unless you disassemble. or it will look cleaned forever. Take the felt out of the lug, and be careful taking the screws out. First gen Beavertails don't like to be rough housed.
Went from this.......
[IMG]http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu169/ThePloughman/Snare%20Drums/Rogers%20Dyna-Sonic%201961%20Seven%20Line%201171/10552442_10153034725418098_6672596100741520014_n_zpsd9908095.jpg[/IMG]
To This.....
[IMG]http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu169/ThePloughman/Snare%20Drums/Rogers%20Dyna-Sonic%201961%20Seven%20Line%201171/IMG_1869_zpscbe516cb.jpg[/IMG]
I respectfully disagree as it being nickle. I actually believe it was in a fire or an atmosphere that caused this. The chrome actually is on the inside and was under where the rim was. The head protected this area near the top.. I have the same drum. If this drum was nickle it would be harder to produce than chrome. To plate nickle, it would need to be copper plated so the nickle could stick to the brass. That would be an additional process. Its why nickle has a yellow sheen to it. To be sure, take the drum to a chrome plater and "without saying anything about nickle" ask he test the thickness of the chrome. They have a meter that will do this and shouldnt cost anything.. If he gets a reading, the finish was damaged. If not, it may be nickle plated. Tho I dont think it will add any value to the drum.
My advice: DON"T use Barkeeper's Friend or any abrasive cleanser on it........marko
I respectfully disagree as it being nickle. I actually believe it was in a fire or an atmosphere that caused this. The chrome actually is on the inside and was under where the rim was. The head protected this area near the top.. I have the same drum. If this drum was nickle it would be harder to produce than chrome. To plate nickle, it would need to be copper plated so the nickle could stick to the brass. That would be an additional process. Its why nickle has a yellow sheen to it. To be sure, take the drum to a chrome plater and "without saying anything about nickle" ask he test the thickness of the chrome. They have a meter that will do this and shouldnt cost anything.. If he gets a reading, the finish was damaged. If not, it may be nickle plated. Tho I dont think it will add any value to the drum.
Copper is the base of chrome plating. Nickel is the second phase of it. then chrome. It's a three step process which is why it is referred to as triple plating...
Copper is the base of chrome plating. Nickel is the second phase of it. then chrome. It's a three step process which is why it is referred to as triple plating...
+1...I don't think it's possible to nickel plate over chrome(and why would you want to),and Eminent is right about the triple chrome plating process.Three metals are used,and I also agree that the final chrome plate is possibly damaged or prehaps just really dirty.Nickel is much softer and thinner than a chrome final plating,so there's no benefit ,if it were even possible,to plate chrome with nickel.
The least invasive/abrasive method that I've used is aluminum foil/coke.(No,I'm not joking,and I'm not crazy)The coke reacts with the foil,and the aluminum,is no where near as hard as chrome,so there's no danger of scratching it,as with some chrome/metal polishes.The pre wash of Dawn dish washing liquid and water will also remove surface dirt.
I'm not saying that a nickel plated dyna is impossible,but.....with a good cleaning(no abrasive chemicals) it should prove to be chrome.Just my 2 cents.
Steve B
