Nice find!. What a beauty. Looks like the 7" or 8" x 14" Super Gene Krupa Radio King that was in production from 1940-1953. On a part by part basis, the clamshell strainer was in production from 1940-1964, when it was replaced by the zoomatics. Those beavertail lugs were also introduced in 1940 and used until 1955. So, I am with you on the 40's through mid 50's date. Not sure if there are any other changes you could use to better date the drum...but someone here will know for sure :).

Good luck and great find!

James

Yours looks very similar to mine. I had contacted Harry Cangany for some information and he was kind enough to respond to my inquiry. He informed me that mine's definitely a wartime (WWII) model and that it's the Gene Krupa Super Radio King because of the strainer. He added that Gene really used a 6.5 RK with the three point strainer, center mounted lugs and bridges, but Slingerland knew his name on any of their products would help to sell it. Harry stated that the aluminum badge (on mine) is the clue for the dating and that we have since started calling the strainer the clamshell and the lugs, first known as the Modernistic lugs, the beavertails. He also mentioned that there certainly weren't many made between 1942 and 1945 with wartime restrictions, loss of personnel and limited demand.

There are some subtle differences in the clamshell strainer that can help narrow down the year of manufacture. Check out Dr. CJ Wenk's article on the Vintage Drum Guide.

James, Old School and Rocketman, thanks for the tips, photo and information. CJ Wenk's very detailed break down of the clamshell strainer components is probably, at this point, the best available information to leverage in order to figure out the year without a badge.