Certainly a nice drum and an early Dynasonic, but nothing says "stolen" like a scratched off serial number, whether it's a drum, a bike, or whatever.
Just wondering if that's a part of this drum's history too. It could explain it's original condition if it was lost/hidden for some time.
No cracks anywhere that I could discern, Tim, in finish or hardware. I'm wondering if the snare head is the "original" from the 60s (or whenever this drum dates from).Looking forward to hearing from the experts!
B&B's with no cracks, original heads, snare frame still factory mounted! Absolutely beautiful, pristine drum. Hard to believe that there are still factory-fresh wood Dyna's out there. This is a rare and valuable drum. Can't wait to hear the "family stories" about this. Any special provenance could make this a historic piece.
Mike
My thanks to those who have offered info. There is a bit of controversy in the history of this drum... my father was a drummer on the LV Strip in the early 60s, and according to him, Louis Bellson was also playing in a nearby club, when someone stole this drum from backstage. My father came across the drum shortly after in a local pawn shop and picked it up, giving it to me when I started drumming in the early 80s, but it didn't go with my kit. It has been in the case mostly, for those 30 or so years.
Now, I don't believe my father to be the "thief" as I always knew him as an honest man, and he loved Louis, don't think he would steal his drum. Even in the 60s, I can't imagine a pawn shop taking an item with a scratched off serial, so that part is sketchy, but my father has since passed, so I can't go back to the source!
I believe that is the reason the shell was not drilled for a muffle - Louis didn't use them, I read.
At any rate, that's as much as I know, and here is a photo of me playing the drum, circa 1968.
Is it inappropriate for me to question the experts on a ballpark value? Or where would I find this out?
Thanks, folks!
I have heard from another source that Buddy Rich had a Rogers DS snare stolen from a club on the Strip and pawned, so perhaps there is some confusion in the story and 30 years or more ago, I thought I heard Bellson but really heard Buddy, or my father may have been confused.
Either way, pretty good chance this is either Buddy's or Louis' drum, apparently.
Thanks for sharing the history of the drum. I'm not really sure how to or if you want to proceed with more research given the possibility that it was the drum that went missing. This is a tough one.
If you really feel you need more information and want to go down that road, then Steve Maxwell is the resource you need to contact.
Steve is a great person and one of the top vintage drum experts around.
-Tim
I have heard from another source that Buddy Rich had a Rogers DS snare stolen from a club on the Strip and pawned, so perhaps there is some confusion in the story and 30 years or more ago, I thought I heard Bellson but really heard Buddy, or my father may have been confused.Either way, pretty good chance this is either Buddy's or Louis' drum, apparently.
One way to tell if it's a possible "Buddy" drum is by the inside of the shell having multiple coats of lacquer. This was one of Buddy's special order requests.
-Tim
Tim, I am hoping that since this all took place 50 or so years ago, that the circumstances surrounding the drum's "acquisition" might add some fun trivia, but not create any problematic situations! Of course, it could all be family rumors and not be true, but knowing my dad and Vegas at the time, I have no reason to disbelieve it. Dad was good friends with Scatman Crothers, either got Scat his first set, or Scat got my dad his first set... that story is murky, and Dad passed in '95 along with the stories.
One way to tell if it's a possible "Buddy" drum is by the inside of the shell having multiple coats of lacquer. This was one of Buddy's special order requests.-Tim
The drum is laquered inside... the 3-ply shell is fully covered, and the 5-ply reinforcement hoops are laquered halfway up, just bare on the top bevel. You can see this in the close-up photo of the paper badge.
Wow! This drum is a true treasure! What a great picture of you playing the drum in 1968!
Concerning the stolen drum, The Rogers Book says that Buddy's drum was hocked for $50 and had been "banged up and screwed around with" and not worth getting it out of hock. Your drum sure doesn't looked banged up at all, so I don't believe this would have been Buddy's. Tommyp may be able to help out here!
Mark
A little more information on the wood Dyna's from Steve's site.
http://www.maxwelldrums.com/museum-sale-dynasonic-collection-c-79_85.html
"Although almost impossible to verify with total accuracy, it is believed that less than 3000 wood dynasonics were built, and of this number, probably less than 50 were pre-badge drums, most of which did not survive."
You might have yourself a very valuable drum. ;)
-Tim
