Hello,

According to the information I have found on "The Rogers USA Drums Big R Period 1975-1984 Dating Guide For Snares And Drums" by Jack McFeeters, I was wondering if you could help me with some further info and dating.

If you look at the attached picture taken from the guide (it's a PDF file so I can't attach it here because it's too large) the top right badge is a six digit serial number beginning with the letter D which the guide says is from 1977. The bottom right badge also has a six digit serial number that starts with the letter D and, according to the guide, that is from 1983/1984. My question is, how do you tell the two six digit serial badges that start with D apart? (EDIT: I may have answered my own question below, but please correct me if I am wrong).

Another question I have is in regards to the interiors. I have a three piece Big R kit. The rack and floor tom have natural interiors, but the bass drum has a gray interior with re-rings. They all have six digit serial numbers beginning with D. For reference, my rack tom (natural interior) is D100771 and the Floor Tom (natural interior) is D103660. The bass drum (gray interior with re-rings) is D717067.

It is my understanding that the gray interiors with re-rings came first before the natural interiors. Also, according to the attached photo from the guide, the 1983/1984 (presumably natural interiors) six digit serials that started with D shows a lower number than the 1977 (presumably gray interiors with re-rings) six digit badge that starts with D. As you can see, mine also follow that path. Is it possible that Rogers "rolled over" the badge numbers, so that's why the serial numbers for the later years (and presumably the natural interiors) have a lower number than the (presumably) gray interiors with re-rings?

Finally, is there a distinct difference between "Big R", "XP-8" or "Fullerton Era" drums, or are all of those terms used interchangeably?

Thanks for any guidance you can provide,

V