I'm definitely no expert but I do think you're about right with the age. Those claws were eventually superseded by the larger and wider ones but I'm not really sure when that happened. My guess is sometime early in the 1940's. I'm sure you could easily double your money on that drum if you sell it. I like the wrap. Is it a one-ply shell or 2 or 3 ply?

Steve

Thanks for the info. I don't know how many plies it has since I haven't opened it up. Some of the tuners are slightly bent and don't want to turn so I haven't messed with it. Any other way to tell?

-Jon

What kind of material do you think the heads are? Do those look like calf? Any idea how old the heads would be? They are both in great shape and sound fantastic so I'm not messing with them.

-Jon

I think your batter head is calf but the reso isn't. I'm guessing this by looking at the hoops. The all metal reso hoop suggests a plastic head. The hoop on the batter head looks to be painted black, probably at the same time the hoop was painted black by the previous owner. If it's a calf head it will look like the hoop is wrapped.

Steve

Hey Steve,

I looked at the drum closer, and the batter head hoop was painted (green actually) but there are spots where the paint is flecking off. It's a metal hoop, so that must not be calf either I guess. The resonator head definitely isn't calf, I can see that now. It's way too shiny.

I just took the drum outside, set it on a Leedy Marvel stand and had a go. Sounds great!

Thanks!

Jon