Ah thanks Mike. I thought those were usually used to put the badges back on easier.

Wayne

Wasn`t there a brushed surface etched out to put the serial on with this badge too ? The no number wouldn`t have it, this one is a number without it.

I have not seen anything quite like this before on a Ludwig badge. I agree that there is something different about the first and last characters as well as the style of type on the remaining numbers. I am interested in learning what the other drums' badges look like, since they do not have a similar type of serial number.

I think that some of the later Asian imports had serial numbers with leading letters, but did not find any pictures easily. If I remember correctly, they had the letter "A." Some other Made in Taiwan models had a "9" printed on the badge with the remainder of the serial number stamped next to it.

I don't think Asian imports would say USA on the badges? These just don't seem like imports, way too nice and sturdy.

Here are the other badges, as I said before, the 16'' is the only one with a straight up 7 digit serial -

802 = 12'' tom

803 = 13'' tom

801 = 22'' kick

391 = 16'' floor

I'm starting to think the weird badges were blank and home stamped unless someone really knows anything about the weirdness of these things :D

I'd agree. They were probably blank from the factory. Maybe they were stamped while on the shell by the previous owner or drum shop. It looks like the stamped areas were sanded a little too. The floor tom badge looks to be from around 1983-'84; the other badges look older (79-82). Definitely Chicago made drums.

The badge from the floor tom with serial number 3006391 looks like a typical Ludwig badge that Ludwig used starting with about serial number 3000000. The style of numeral matches the typical Ludwig style. That badge looks like it is factory.

The other three badges are not typical for a number of reasons, most of which are already pointed out. I do not suggest that they are Asian made, just that the use of letters as part of the serial number happened with some of the Asian made drums, although it was done differently than on these three drums.

I do not have an explanation, but I can support that these three badges and their serial numbers are not what one would expect from Ludwig.

Badge 1 and 3 are the dark baby blue and mustard, badges, Badges 2 and 4 are light baby blue and olive.

The lettering could be school ID`s.

They look to me like the bottom portion of the badges (where the black border and serial number go), has been ground down or something. Maybe you can go deep enough to completely remove the stamped number.....maybe?