Boosey &Hawkes shells, changed around over the years, a bit, so from photographs it is difficult to tell but I think it is an Ajax. I don't think they made an Edgware or Besson narrow drum. Based on the badge shadow, it looks like Grantro is offering you the right badge. Most of the shells were Birch. I can't get at the parts, right now, to determine the dimensions on all the holes but I do have a throwoff and lugs, handy and the holes for those should be 1 11/16'' and 1 1/4" between them, respectively.

The lugs for the Pipperette are different than the standard Ajax bullet shaped lugs, that were used for so many years. They fit the same holes and are in all ways the same , except that the ends are clipped off, in order to fit the narrower shell. They may be difficult to find.

It looks Ajax to me. Vertical grain 3-ply beech (little black flecks in the grain). This was typical for Ajax snare drums late 50s early 60s. My knowledge comes from English Rogers rather than Ajax, but they were the same. There were occasional birch shell snares but they are few and far between. As for parts, as has been said is a matter of watching ebay.

[IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb77/nutbox/DSCN1608.jpg[/IMG]

here's some ajax stuff? hope the link works.http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/drum-Ajax-12-tom-drum-from-Nu-Sound-drum-kit-vintage-/111240041866?pt=AU_Musical_Instruments_Instruments&hash=item19e66c558a

That drum is a bit later than the snare, so the wrong lugs, and although the seller says that it is a mahogany shell, it will be birch stained inside a mahogany colour. I have a few of these.

What your shell would look like if in original condition. 1950s pipperette or some such model 14"x4" . Shell identical to yours. Careful about buying tension bolts. I have a slightly earlier Ajax with same lugs and DIFFERENT THREAD bolts - this takes standard 7/32 bolts. I got to play this drum first time at a jazz quartet gig this weekend and it is a very versatile and warm

[IMG]http://www.ubiubi.org/images/ajax3.jpg[/IMG]

i have a few of those bullet lugs if needed

send me a pm

thx

My seller finally came up with photos of the hardware, as promised. It's heavily pitted, so I'm not sure yet whether I should pay for that as well, it looks like re-chroming is a must. It does look Ajax though, I think so at least...

Oh, Merry Xmas by the way :)

Some more photos of the hoops. He's already cleaned and polished them, so they're as good as they're gonna get at this time. Unfortunately, the shell isn't in yet - the Greek Postal Service is probably one of the most backward, bureaucratic places on the planet, save sub-Saharan Africa perhaps...

I finally got my shell, here are the pics of it. As shown, it is indeed a 14x4. The wrap has been removed - a fairly decent job I'd say, no real damage to the shell - but you can still see the imprints of the lugs on it. There are some other marks, as if someone has worked on that before (the pencil marks and the arrow pointing upwards). The top r-ring is off by about 1.5mm, not sure whether someone's removed it and then re-glued it the wrong way. Also, there are some very small holes right where the badge holes are (left and right). Other than that, it looks original to me - but the experts should have their say.

More pics.