Hello, Drum Friends, my latest story is in Modern Drummer. I teased about it a few months ago and now it has been published so that we have a record of the most expensive snare drum ever made--made for a movie star, with a solid silver drum shell, with 24k gold plating and with sterling symbol decorations attached....plus it looks just like it left the factory. The movie star was the late William S. Hart, America's first great cowboy star, and the drum was made as a gift to his then 3 year son, Bill Hart Jr. The drum was specially commissioned in 1925 and is covered with swastikas--then considered only a sacred symbol for good luck. Certainly, the swastika took on a more ominous meaning later. You can read the whole story in the September issue of Modern Drummer on newsstands now. Support the magazine, they came through when some naysayers didn't want the story and the pictures of this drum to be published because they were afraid readers wouldn't read, only emotionally react to the symbol-- and thanks to the Anti-Defamation League for blessing the story. This is an historic snare drum and now you can read about it--one owner, low mileage, and probably for sale. And, let me apologize for such false clues before--too many of you are great guessers and I wanted to save the surprise for the time of publication, and thanks to pals John Aldridge, Mike Curotto and Steve Maxwell Drums for their input and opinion. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152222127771417&set=pcb.10152222131091417&type=1&theater

Drum Friends--here is the head on shot of the William S. Hart All Gold Snare drum made by Ludwig in 1925..Notice the logo in sterling silver. The gold is 24kt on a solid silver shell and the engraving and burnishing were done by hand. It took 3 months to make this snare drum. William S. Hart's home, which is a museum in Southern California,, is decorated with many objects that have western motifs and Native American art and symbols. For him, the swastika was part of the culture of the old west and was a sacred sign for good luck. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152222128376417&set=a.65783921416.75288.689466416&type=1&theater