I have no idea what it is other than beautiful! Yes Sir

What we have thought is that it is a drum similar to the one depicted in Rembrandt's Might Watch and played under one arm but the first noticeable difference is that the drum in the painting appears to have something on the lower hoop that might indicate some type of adjusting mechanism. I was unable to find a clear enough closeup picture to verify this though and I personally think that the snares should be on the inside of the head as Mike suggested because of the lack of an adjuster. I also think that this would possibly have been played with one thick and one thin stick like a tapan drum.

The drum shell is about a quarter inch thick with brass tacking all around it and it does actually have snare beds cut into it as well as holes in the hoops to accept the snare gut. It is a killer restoration and I do hope to add it to MY collection some day. Until then I may have to think about building one.

Matt,

Here's a brightened-up detail of Rembrandt's Night Watch showing the drum you're referencing:

[Attachment: 69952]

It's clear that it's very big (bass drum size...maybe 22" square) like the drum we're discussing, but it is definitely a snare. I think this should change our idea about labeling a drum strictly by size alone, as it's obvious that monster snare drums were made in shell sizes which we typically associate with bass drums. Note that the snares are on the outside of the head and run through holes in the hoops where they appear to be simply knotted. No tension adjustment at all. I believe the early snare drums which had snares running on the inside of the head didn't have snare beds (which would have decreased snare contact against the head) and wouldn't have needed snare gates in the hoops.

Hope you acquire this strange beast some day and bring it to CT just so I can see it and hear it in person.

Mike

I think it is significantly larger than the one shown in the old painting, so don't think that image is particularly relevant. This would be a PITA for anyone to carry strapped across their shoulder, and would need a really tall and muscular person to carry that way (a short person would drag it on the ground) and it must weigh a ton.

I have a lot of experience with antique furniture; here are some of my thoughts.

How much of the drum did he replace? The leather tuning tabs and rope look very new - if he didn't replace those then that limits the possible age of the drum.

It's too bad its been so significantly refinished - not just brass polished but looks like wood finish was stripped. So the best sign of its history is going to be the interior of the drum which we can't see. The two brass hook holders don't look original (are they?); how are they attached to the drum (nails or screws)? You can tell a lot about screws and nails from looking at the thread and nuts and washers, but again we can't see them. Other hardware signs visible from the inside would be important, including the brass nails holding the drum together. Are they cinched over on the inside? Critically, are they handcut or machine cut? Why are they brass not iron - if supposed to be that old brass nails would be unusual that far back.

Next is the label. Is it hand written, or printed? Is that number really a year (it doesn't look that old from what is shown in the pics) - could it be a serial number? Does it include a month and day or just the 1802 number? If month and day it is possible it was made that date; if just the year that could have been when the Johnson's started their company or could just be a serial number that happens to look like a year.

A big question is where is Lodi? Can't be Lodi Italy since label not in Italian. Is it Lodi California (founded 1873), Lodi Illinois (mid 1800's then renamed in 1879)? Maybe Lodi Illinois makes sense if it came from a barn in Illinois (ask the owner)? But if either of these it's likely from the late 19th century not earlier since Lodi in those states didn't exist then. If it really seems to be as old as 1802 it could be Lodi New York (founded 1826 but maybe the Johnsons lived there since 1802). Or maybe some other town named Lodi that changed its name? Some historical research could help with that.

In general I would be skeptical that it was made in 1802 until you look at it more carefully.

the drum isn't as heavy as it looks, it is under 15 pounds. The shell hoops and flesh hoops are original to the drum and the rope, ears, skins and gut cord. The age of the drum isn't in question, the number on the label is most certainly a date

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And since the drum was pulled out of a barn in Pennsylvania then I am assuming that it is Lodi N.Y.. I am also making this assumption because there is an H.L. Johnson listed on the US Census in 1809 in a town very close to Lodi NY. The wood also looks to be as old as the label claims. As for the cleaning, the shell was gently cleaned with furniture polish an nothing more. The tacks were black when the drum was picked up and the owner did think that they were iron as well and was very surprised to see that they were brass. Some very heavy hitters (in the rope tension world anyway) have weighed in on this and one person believes that the Johnson's were trunk makers going by the tacking design on the top of the drum. The general consensus among the people I have talked to and the owner has talked to is that the hardware on the drum looks like it is original to the drum.

As for the size and weight, it is in about the same weight and size range (although a slightly deeper shell) as a Tapan drum and that is played under one arm while standing.

I read that as 1892, which is a more likely date. Since it was found in Pennsylvania, there was a Lodi Pennsylvania in 1895 that bears looking at LINK: That looks like a sticker stuck onto a painted surface. How is it glued on? Is the drum painted inside? Do you have a picture of the nails or bolts from the inside?