They aren't always stamped – but if they are the most common place is above the muffler hole. Can you post pics of the interior?

To me it's look like a project gone bad. couldent polish it right. couldent re assemble it right. and he probaly did not have the tools to re install the bdage . just my guess.

I think it certainly has character...don't prefer the SS throw, but...

Neat Drum.

It's a fixable project regardless.. and when you're done you'll have a playable drum.

I noticed it's on ebay.

Yeah. I already had the drum on ebay before I realized there were some issues.

I think I am going to take it down and fix it. I found a place where I can get an authentic Ludwig eyelet and a tool to reattach the badge, so I am going to clean it up, reattach the badge and try again. - Now that I think I know what I have.

I believe the drum is an actual bronze drum. Why the badge was removed? - Of that I am not sure, but the drum did come from a reliable person, so I am going to trust that the badge is the original. Based on what I have been told here, it appears the drum is probably worth about $600 - maybe a little more if it were being sold by a retail shop. So I figure a little cleaning and reattaching the badge it should be good to go.

Thanks to everyone who had input on this discussion.

I don't know how people who deal with these items could have ever done it without all of you.

Thanks Again,

Randy

Is it possible that the drums finish was bad for some reason and someone had removed the outrer finish??? That would be the only reson for the patina and the badge issues. . . Just a thought

Reliable wouldnt have done this to you.

Just sayin.

I completely understand what you are saying. The gentleman had this drum for many years and had only played it a couple of times. I believe that he trully did not know the badge had been removed. I didn't, until someone here started questioning the area around the badge that turned out to be glue. It was only noticed because I took a close up shot of the badge that revealed the residue. In fairness to the source I received the drum from, he did say he did not know the badge had ever been removed, and I believe him.

Randy

All those question marks only serve to reduce the value of the drum, in my opinion. Furthermore, if the finish was removed, it would reduce the value even more. As value is determined in the marketplace, I'd hesitate to even try to estimate what it is worth. Sure it is rare, but it is also non-original. If it has no seam, is that consistent with a BB from that era? Is the shell conclusively Bronze, or Brass? Is it even conclusively a Ludwig shell? Probably, but at this point I think the reliability of the seller is irrelevant to exactly what you've got, and its value.