I was wondering what exactly changed besides the shell make up when the George Way Co was overtaken by Camco? Is the GW edge profile much different from the Oaklawn era drums? Are the George way shells undersized like the Oaklawn drums? Anything else notable to mention?
Thanks in advance.
SC
Not a lot changed in the beginning. George Way did the switch from 3ply to 4 ply in the last year before Csmco took over. That shell lasted into the mid-60's with Camco although they changed the re-ring from wide to thin and the bearing edge changed a bit. Shells are the same diameter. The T-Handles were bow tie style, same as Leedy and Leedy & Ludwig. Camco carried on with those only through the transition period. GW drums also don't have tone controls, something George didn't like. The legs on floor tom were straight. When Camco took over they started offering wide spread legs as well. The 5.5x14 snare became 5x14 under Camco. There are a few 5.5x14 Camco snares out there from the transition period.
Not a lot changed in the beginning. George Way did the switch from 3ply to 4 ply in the last year before Csmco took over. That shell lasted into the mid-60's with Camco although they changed the re-ring from wide to thin and the bearing edge changed a bit. Shells are the same diameter. The T-Handles were bow tie style, same as Leedy and Leedy & Ludwig. Camco carried on with those only through the transition period. GW drums also don't have tone controls, something George didn't like. The legs on floor tom were straight. When Camco took over they started offering wide spread legs as well. The 5.5x14 snare became 5x14 under Camco. There are a few 5.5x14 Camco snares out there from the transition period.
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Interesting info here Stephen,
So the Oak lawn shells were slightly undersized. Were all of the hoops cob? Were the hoops a little undersized also? I'm wondering because my kit has some steel hoops and they don't work very well.
I'd have to check my Oaklawn to see if they are COB hoops, but I'm certain the hoops are not undersized.
SC
Jeff,
Yes all hoops during the George Way era were COB. They were slightly different from Camco but so slight it's really hard to notice them unless the hoops are side by side. The biggest difference is the bottom hoop on snare drums. They have a beautiful snare gate that drops down quite a bit. At the very end he changed the gate to being straight across just like Camco. Probably a cost saving move.
Thank you, I am getting ready to go back and finish my Camco kit that I bought last spring. I ran into problems getting parts back then but now I have been able to collect a few things. I'm really excited about this! Thanks for the info!
Didn't the GW turret lugs used on the toms have inserts at both the top and bottom of the lug?
Didn't the GW turret lugs used on the toms have inserts at both the top and bottom of the lug?
No. Inserts on one side and a plug on the other. By 1961 GW finally was making single ended lugs for toms and bass drums. I have a snare drum with an example of those lugs, 6.5x14 16 lugs.
