Steve, is that a real ludwig badge or a repro?? if it 's real I would think that the active members would have no problem with it because it would be placed on a real ludwig drum!

Selling the badge is a purely economic decision. It happens all day, every day on ebay. That said, if you wanted to be reasonably sure no one would use it for nefarious purposes, then selling it to someone that has a project going on here would be your better bet.

I don't know. It looks like a Ludwig Badge to me. I bought the drum in 1987 or 88. Were they making repro badges in '88 for a drum just 20 years earlier? In '88 wouldn't you repro a 40's or 50's badge? Who would conterfit a $1 bill?

Or am I missing something?

Steve unless you've own this drum for that 20 year time span! the statement about did they make repro's 20 years ago! The answer is No! but take a look at this ebay link,and you'll see that badges sell for more than a dollar! If you have the badge off the drum post a pic and post it here someone here can use it! http://cgi.ebay.com/1966-LUDWIG-KEYSTONE-BADGE-SERIAL-355495-/150488464900?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2309cfbe04

I posted a pix on my other post here:

http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=16284

I guess that is what I'm saying and jonnistix, that's what I would hope for but I think in 1988 someone just wanted to trick? or get a few bucks more if a person thought it was a Ludwig and not a MIJ snare.

Steve what I'm saying though is the pic is to small and can't see the entire badge, so is it real or memorex?

I have no problem with someone selling a badge. Hopefully someone who needs it to complete a project will make good use of it.

What I do have a problem with, and I think there are others who'll agree with me, is when someone separates a badge or other parts from a perfectly good drum or one that can be restored!

I wouldn't get too worried about what someone might do with your badge. Just about anything you sell or give away could be used to do something bad. Sometimes you just have to have a little faith (or at least hope) in your fellow man.

I'll get a better pix of the badge and the Rogers strainer this weekend when I dismantle the Frankenstein snare. Thanks to all of you for your imput.

You're assuming someone would be dishonest with the badge when they bought it. I would not assume that, but the more likely scenario that they'd use it on a period-correct drum to complete a set or something. The dishonest people can usually be found out by a discerning eye.

It could be construed as dishonest to part a drum out and sell it, but it is, as John said, an economic decision to do so. Being dishonest on the other hand, I've found, is in the long run a poor economic decision.

Anyway you're selling something, and your honesty is more of an issue than someone else's. If, on the other hand, you were selling a guide to pickpocketing or something like that, there could be ethical issues. Just selling a drum part isn't an invitation for the buyer to be dishonest.