I can verify, that drum is the one Dino used in the early days of The Rascals, in fact, he had a complete red sparkle kit, given to him by Cozy Cole. I held that snare in my own hands. It's the real deal. Here's the story.
When I was writing my book, I went into NYC to meet Dino for lunch, and then, at his apartment on East 81st Street, near Central Park. Dino has lived in the same studio apartment for decades. At one point in our conversation, he said, "Let's go out on the patio." He took me out the back door and there were two green garbage bags sitting there. He started rummaging through them, and pulled out broken cymbals, old pieces of castoff hardware, and that red Rogers snare drum. Dino said, "That's the drum I used in the beginning of The Rascals. on the records and live. I had a whole set of Rogers. I was friendly with Cozy Cole, and he gave them to me. He endorsed Rogers."
I couldn't believe Dino had this amazing piece of drumming history in a garbage bag, outside in NYC! That explains the weathered condition of the inside shell, if you look at the photos on that Reverb sale.
I held the drum like it was some precious artifact, and Dino said to me, "Do you think you might want it?"
"Dino, of course I want it! I love it! This drum is Rascals' history. How do you want to work this out?"
I didn't know and couldn't really tell if Dino wanted to give it to me, or if he wanted money for it. He said, "Let me think about it, and I'll get back to you."
He never did, despite a letter I wrote to him, and several phone calls. I found Dino to be rather enigmatic in some ways, a bit mysterious. I was very disappointed that the deal fell through. I later heard Dino sold it to The Hard Rock Cafe. This is the first time I've seen it for sale.
Dino and I stayed in touch here and there for a couple of years, but he never mentioned that Rogers snare again. He tried to write his autobiography, and sent me several chapters roughly put together, but as far as I know, he never finished it. He didn't have a computer and had no way of typing copy out, so he dictated chapters to someone who wrote it for him.
Dino was still an active musician up until a few years ago, when he was diagnosed with dementia. Sadly, his playing days are over. He was one of the coolest and most underrated drummers of the 60's, a huge influence on my drumming, and I will always remember the times I spent with him.