.....maybe , English language courses?.....

Serendipity, means " a happy or fortuitous accident"

Wasn't knocking the Beatles, can't see how anyone could. The point of the story that Ivor Arbiter has told and maintained was true ,is that if those had been Slingerland wrap swatches on his desk or pretty much any other drum company's then Slingerland or any other drum company and The Beatles would have become a rock solid brand. The association of Ludwig-The Beatles became , intertwined and it was very much a serendipitous event for Ludwig, primarily because their name was featured so big next to The Beatles. It's curious that Rickenbacker or Hofner or Gibson has no where near the association with the Beatles. Why? no-one could read the names , unless you knew what they were in the early performances. In the case of Rickenbacker, it was x 2. If the front head had been emblazoned Rickenbacker The Beatles, the same thing would have happened to Rickenbacker and it would have been out of proportion to the reality of the situation.

Calfskin, sorry to correct you but Rickenbacker would most likely be out of business had it not been for the association of the Beatles, I'd be happy to give their Ric's phone number to you on the answering machine you'll be greeted to the opening of A Hard days night.Also Hofners top selling guitar is the Beatle Bass cataloged as the Beatle bass. http://www.americanmusic.com/Hofner-Violin-Beatle-Bass-Guitar.html

That maybe true but possibly so would have Ludwig, been. They almost got there anyway. Had Rickenbacker or Hofner been so intimately associated with the band , It isn't too far a stretch to imagine that both companies would have enjoyed much more success than they have. but the real point of the story is that Ringo chose a colour not a brand and maintained the brand due to brand association.

That is not maybe true it is true, Rickenbacker would most likely not exist today, and look at my post above, Hofners top selling model is the beatle bass guitar. I am a guitar player and vintage seller of them this is well known in guitar player circles. For both companies to have an Iconic Name now in the industry from that association is paramount.

I think we agree on that and if I were them, I would take full advantage of that but I doubt if either ,ever had to go to 24 hour shifts to keep up, no fault of their own.------------- but back to drums. The thread probably should get back on track-----it's my fault for steering it off by using guitars as an analogy. apologies to the poster for the unintended hi-jack.

Gene Krupa was to Slingerland, As was the Beatles were to Ludwig, making both companies work 24/7 to meet demand, As I mentioned to Mr Ludwig once I am sure Glad Both of your companies where so closely located to one another, His reply was, why is that?, I said that the fierce competition you both had for one another sure produced some of the finest drums ever built. He agreed.

I take no offense at the guitar references and find them interesting.

I am surprised no one mentioned Epiphone in connection with the Beatles, especially considering that Gibson's cheapening of the brand by moving it offshore and producing crap guitars, the Beatle connection is probably chiefly responsible for keeping it alive during those bad years.

Ploughman your correct, Epiphone was a stellar guitar brand until Gibson ownership, but to that end every single guitar that Gibson makes is American made. and to go back to Rickenbacker for a moment they have no less that 9 guitars in their current line up dedicated to the Beatles I in fact owned one of the 325's which Lennon and Harrison both used, Call Rickenbacker and ask the company how big of a deal the Beatles where and are to them. HUGE!!!

Ludwig tales I've heard, and probably helped spread the word.

Only 100 Pink Oyster drums, or sets, were made in total over at least six years.

Only 200 original Acrolites were made before lug and hoop changes.

1970 Supraphonics with B+O torn-in-half badges (because of hole location) were made for endorsers.

Another story I question is that a lot of 1964-66 Ludwig sets had poorly made and out of round shells because of the "Beatles boom" in drum sales. Where are they all?

I hope this isn't too far off topic........Did Gene Krupa ever play or endorse anything other than Slingerland? I've never seen or heard of him playing anything else but I'm far from being a GK expert. :confused: