It is a later 30's model, what panel is the ludwig logo located at? I used simichrome polish on mine to clean and polish it, remove the strainer and use barkeepers friend to remove the rust and crud you can get it in a soft paste it would be perfect for this job.

I have the exact same drum and just refer to it as early 30's. It is a 1 pc shell and mine is just magic! It is just about my favorite to play and has real character and tone, tuned medium. After playing it and being so taken by the drum, I had to buy a 2pc, 8 lug, 5 incher from the 20's. I like the 6 1/2 better.

Cleaning it? Take it apart and use cape cod cloths and a pile of clean cotton rags. Be gentle as not to remove and Nickel.

Dave

@vintagemore2000 its on the panel to the left of the strainer.

You've got your decades mixed up! :)

Late 1920's to early 1930's, most likely. That strainer ("Professional") came out in 1929 and was used until about 1937-38, at which time the "three point" version was introduced..

Thanks mark.

So the bartenders friend worked pretty well on the hardware to clean. Is there anything else I could use to polish.

The Cape Cod clothes were good at getting the initial crud off the snare and some on the hardware. But the hardware could use some polish and the shell is still a little grimy. I guess I can try the simichrome this time around. Any other suggestions? Also thanks to those who chimed in. I'll post some pictures up when it's done.

I also use Flitz. There is a little abrasive in the cream and works really well. Lots of elbow grease, though.

I know I sound like a "broken record" but the only way to get a drum like that to shine like new (if that is the desired outcome) is to use a buffing wheel on a bench grinder with ***eler's Rouge. It's not easy to do but easy to make a mistake, so it takes a bit of practice. All the polish in the world wont make it look as good as it will when you put it on the wheel.

The forum editing wont let me spell the name of the polishing compound, for some reason.