Oliver Ditson Drum Co. Bass Drum

eBay seller rmagiccds ( 3184), item no. 200512716955, sold Sep. 2, 2010 for $119.50, described as:

Antique 1800's Bass Drum; OLIVER DITSON DRUM CO. Boston

Here is a recent estate find. This is a rare Original Antique Bass Drum Made by The Oliver Ditson Drum Company Boston USA. It has a Maple Shell with Wood Hoops and Gut Heads. The Original paper manufacturers label is inside which reads "Oliver Ditson Company Manufacturers Of Drums and Drummer's Traps Boston New York." The shell measures 24" x 9 1/2". This Drum is complete but will need some attention. One of the heads has a split and will need to be replaced, it has been repaired for display purposes. The original rope binding is frayed and split from age and needs attention, I placed the ropes loosely on the drum for the photos but they need to be fixed. The hoops and shell are in excellent condition.

For more information on Ditson, please search this blog (upper left).

Note that about 1850 Elias Howe (Boston Drum Factory) sold out his entire business to Oliver Ditson and retired. Boston of To-Day, Richard Herndon, Edwin Monroe Bacon, Post Publishing Company, 1892, US 13181.28A, PP. 265,6. Field Drums: Elias Howe Drum, ca. 1861

Thus, a Ditson drum and a Boston Drum Factory drum could have much in common.

1800's John Stratton & Son Military Bass Drum

19th Century John Stratton & Son Military Bass Drum

eBay seller horncollector ( 1517), item no. 270625732996, asking $995, described as:

I recently picked up this Bass, but unfortunatly will now have to sell it due to hard financial times.

This "Bird's Eye" maple Stratton bass drum is in excellent condition and ready to be played. It was restored by Cooperman in 2002 and has new Goat skins and rope. The original Stratton label can be seen by peering through the vent hole. This drum measures 28 1/2" high and is 14 1/2" wide. This drum was made between 1889-1895 while John Stratton was in business with his son. It can easily be used with any reenactment band depicting anything from the 1840's California Gold rush era, the Civil War through to the Indian Wars.

Also, see http://www.horncollector.com/Other%20Instruments/Drum/drums.htm.

Note: the Cooperman label lists the repairs/restorations made in 2002. Included is "Ashton Tack Design". The editor will investigate whether that means that the tack design was added in 2002.

Search this blog (upper left) for other Stratton drums and historical information.

Civil War Drum William Kilbourn with Paper Label

Civil War Drum William Kilbourn with Paper Label

eBay seller donald5606 ( 153), item no. 270627793972, sold for $51.00, Sep. 3, 2010, described as:

"UP FOR AUCTION IS THIS RARE WILLIAM KILBOURN DRUM MADE BETWEEN 1858 TO 1869 I BELIEVE IT IS A SNARE DRUM.IT HAS A PAPER LABEL INSIDE. IT IS ABOUT 16 INCHES ACROSS AND ABOUT 7 1/4 INCHES THICK OR HIGH. WE JUST BOUGHT THIS AT AN AUCTION SOMEBODY WROTE INSIDE THE DRUM WITH CHALK OR SOMETHING " $50.00 WE OBTAINED FROM A MAN WHO CLAIMED WAS GEN CUSTARDS DRUMMER BOY ". WE ARE NOT MAKING NO SUCH CLAIMS. BUT JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT WAS WRITTEN IN THERE."

See also, "Field Drums: Civil War Era Drum by William Kilbourn w/ Label", this blog, Dec. 17, 2009 (including for this better label):

A.D. Stevens Drum and Sticks

Offered for sale by Shakybone Collectibles and desribed as follows:

MANUFACTURED BY THE PITTSFIELD DRUM FACTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS AND HAVING A BUBBLED BUT INTACT AND CLEAR PAPER LABEL ON THE INSIDE WHICH SHOWS AN AMERICAN EAGLE AND HAS A HANDWRITTEN INKED DATE OF "SEPT 1864" ALONG THE BOTTOM BORDER. THE DRUM IS MISSING ONE DRUMHEAD AND SHOWS A GENERALLY WOODEN BODY WITH RED PAINTED END HOOPS. THE TENSION ROPE IS MOSTLY INTACT SAVE FOR TWO BREAKS AND FIVE OF THE ORIGINAL LEATHER SLIDERS ARE INCLUDED, AS WELL AS A SINGLE NON MATCHING REPLACEMENT. INCLUDED WITH THE DRUM ARE A PAIR OF PERIOD ALL WOOD DRUM STICKS WHICH HAVE A LIGHTLY WORN OIL FINISH, MOSTLY ON THE ENDS. THESE WERE VERY POSSIBLY USED WITH THIS DRUM, AS THEY CAME TOGETHER. THIS IS A GOOD DRUM THAT COULD EASILY BE RESTORED, AND IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A AUTHENTIC CIVIL WAR ERA INSTRUMENT. THIS ONE BEARS A CIVIL WAR DATE AND LABEL NOT SEEN ON MOST DRUMS ON THE MARKET.

Thompson & ODell (Boston)

Information from Cowan's Auction Website:
Price Realized Including Buyer's Premium: $345.00
Auction: 2005, Historic Americana / June 9-10

1394. INDIAN WAR ERA DRUM BY STROMBERG, wood body with eight leather tensions with both rims painted black. Braided rope cording interlaced 11 top rivets and 10 bottom rivets and a snare-tightening pin.

Interior of drum with original label which reads "The Celebrated Artist Drum Thompson & Odell Co. No. 523 Washington Street Boston Mass. Charles Stromberg Maker."

Complete with black-painted drumsticks 14" and 17". 15" high x 16.5" diameter. Top drumhead with 13.5" tear, bottom drumhead with 2.5" tear. VG.

(EST $300-$500)
Price Realized: $345.00
Price includes buyer's premium.

Cowan's Auctions, Inc.
6270 Este Ave
Cincinnati, OH United States 45232
513-871-1670