Would it be ok to take the head off with a crescent wrench?

No you'll need to get a drum key, if you don't have one go to your local music store and get one, the wrench will damage the tension rods and at this time they could be nickel really good ones. a socket wrench will do if you have one that small to fit it?

Inside the snare: There appears to me whats left of a stick on label.

There are two dates in it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61880600@N06/7245667330/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61880600@N06/7245666744/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61880600@N06/7245666104/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61880600@N06/7245665530/in/photostream/

Ed, the tape looks as if it was a shoddy repair performed long ago on the inner ply separation. Your drum is ringing a bell with me give me awhile to think on this one, I've heard of this drum or either I've seen one like yours, but they are Rare.

The tape is a label that was removed. It had writing on it. It appears to have cracks under it as you can see.

Looking at the catalog scans here the 55 catalog (yes I know these are 58's) shows a New 2N Jobbing Outfit which might have been available in 58? Catalog pic shows a 3pc bass, tom, snare and the snare is a 6 lugger with clamshell strainer. Really nice drums you have Ed. I'm sure VM2000 can tell you more.

BTW at the forum header above you'll see to the right "Vintage Drum Guide" click that and it'll lead you to the catalog scans. I saw 55 and also 59 listed.

Good luck! Glenn.

Here are inside pics of the Floor tom.

The hardware matches leedy hardware. It's dated 1966 and that lines up with the buyout. Is there a way to be sure?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61880600@N06/7245864604/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61880600@N06/7245864252/in/photostream/

This is mounted on the front side of the bass drum. Can anyone tell me what this is?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61880600@N06/7244839974/in/photostream/lightbox/

To answer your question that thing on the hoop is a bass drum anchor.

Your floor tom is a Kent Floor tom. The muffler, the look of the stamp inside the drum and the washers that are used inside the drum for the lugs match my Kent snare from the 60s. You can see that your lugs and leg mounts match the pictures of the Kent drum in the link below.

http://www.coopersvintagedrums.com/kentmuseum1000.htm

peace,

tom

They do look very much alike. There is no badge on my tom tho.