8x15 is a Concert snare! Must be one loud puppy! Nice drum, congrats on the acquisition.

John

here is the link to your snare drum. http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/images/catalogs/slingerland/1951_catalog2_large.jpg . the drum has the wrong grommet it has been painted then was re- badged, the tension rods are the wrong era, and the inside lug screws aren't correct, probably the writing is from the shop that did this. still a killer sounding snare drum.

OK I take in what you say but if it is a concert king why are there no extension brackets to the snare, there never has been.

Also if the lug screws are a later addition why is there no mark from the much larger usual ones that all my other Radio Kings have. These washers always leave an indentation on the shell

Also why do you say it is a repaint, I have taken lugs and heads off and the subtle colour difference between the covered parts and those exposed is as it should be as is the checking and crackelure.

The 1955 catalog shows the concert king with out the bridges. Perhaps the shell is a later shell and someone added the BT lugs and cloud badge when it was redone? I don't know when they stopped using bridges on the CK snares. With many of these drums in various states over time anything could be possible? Just thinking out loud here. Either way it's a killer snare and a beauty!

Did Slingerland engrave "Radio King" on top hoops other than the true Radio King model?

Because I could not find a Radio King model in a 15" diameter shell in any of the online catalogs. I only see the Concert King model being offered in the 15".

To me the lug screws and washers look too new and shiny for a drum that was made in the 1940's - 1950's. No patina. The badge grommet also looks too shiny for the badge. The badge looks like the 1946 - 1948 style (Brass and Tan).

Are the brown spot on the shell where the blue paint has chipped away actual wood or a brown primer paint?

The strainer looks newer than the pre-1950 model strainers in the catalogs. The adjustment knob is the fat style used from 1950-58. The flange is facing inward, has multiple cord holes does not have the diamond shaped hole, which was used up to ~1958 with drums that did not have the snare extension bracket. Does the throw-off arm have the Slingerland stamp?

Check out the Slingerland Guide: http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/drcjw/index.html Very good documentation.

A lot of overlap and interchangeability with hardware, so identification can be difficult. Being a 15x8 shell really places it as a Concert King.

It is very possible that the drum was re-painted in the 60's, which would still make the current paint look aged.

I would love to hear this drum. Like others have said, it can probably get really loud.

- Tim

Hmmm, the brown you see is mahogany showing through. I must admit I am not filled with confidence on this one, I think I may have been misled, it does sound superb and has a fair volume to it but it seems it may not be what it seems

Many thanks to all those who set me straight on this snare, it would seem I have dropped the ball. As luck would have it I bought it from a reputable source who is willing to take it back, although I love the tone I try to buy stock drums as I think in the long run they hold their value.

I only joined this forum a few weeks ago and it has already saved me money and taught me a valuable lesson.