Red Eagle Drum

One of a Kind
ANTIQUES
Established 1975 | Online 1995
36 Plains Road Unit D, Essex, Connecticut 06426

CW Regimental Eagle Bass Drum -- A Significant Piece

[7/13/08 P.S. There's a new buyer in the eBay market for rope drums and it's weiljr074u (313). Having outbid veteran buyer j***j (402) whose $1,001 bid was just not enough to stave off weiljr074u determination, weiljr074u hung in and took this prize at $1,026.00. The winner did not snipe in at the last minute. Rather, eBay's recap of the bidding history shows that there was a stare-down during the last 20 minutes preceded by a days-long cat-and-mouse game as j***j continually tested weiljr074u's resolve and learned that weiljr074u was for real.]

(the photos of this drum in this post have been enhanced, color and contrast have been adjusted because the originals were overexposed)
This is rare -- the first one like it we've seen. eBay item no. 220254301124 is a Civil War Regimental Eagle Bass Drum described as follows:

CIVIL WAR BASS DRUM that was found in an attic of a victorian home, the drum has part of the skin on one side and no skin on the other. The outside is in stored condition with a few dry cracks and a small piece missing as seen in photo, I have not attempted to clean this drum, will leave that to the new owner. There is an EAGLE WITH WINGS SPREAD and a SHIELD on his chest, with RED-WHITE AND BLUE PAINT, this is very faded but can still be made out. The rope is still in good shape but one of the leather binders has broken but is still there. The drum needs to be totally restored. The drum measures about 16 3/4 inches wide, 29 inches tall and has a circumference of 7 feet 6 1/2 inches round. The inside is in good shape with no maker's mark or tag found, however when looking inside I found in pencil, written the words THIS DRUM HAS SERVED ITS TIME IN THE NORTHERN ARMEY 1861, notice army has an E in it.

We've seen regimental snare drums but this is the first regimental bass drum we've seen. Note the eagle, shield, rays of sunlight, red banner, blue background. And the provenance provided by the below handwritten pencil inscription is priceless. This is truly a significant piece.

"this drum has served its time in the northern armey 1861."
This is quite a drum -- a terrific companion to a regimental snare drum if you're lucky enough to have one.

Marquetry in Drums of the Past (Redux)

19th Century Antique Marquetry Inlaid Music Room Snare Drum by Eisele

[This article originally appeared in this blog April 11, 2008. It's been updated and is republished here.]


eBay bidding (item no. 110265652909) on this drum went to $354 July 6, 2008, with 3 bidders bidding in excess of $200, but in the end the item did not sell because the seller's reserve was not met. I agree with the seller. I think the value of the drum shell is more than $354. However, the market determines fair market value ("FMV") which is the point at which a willing buyer and a willing seller will transact business. Evidently eBay bidding did not reach FMV for this item. Note that I have two drums of this type so my opinion could be somewhat biased in favor of a higher value. But, considering the intact label and the relatively manageable amount of work needed to make the drum functional (hooks, rope, flesh hoops, skin heads, snares, repair to counterhoop), I wouldn't wince at paying $500 for the drum as is and investing another $500 or so into bringing it up to playing condition.

Isn't about time that we started looking at these drums (I mean all the drums on this blog) as historic pieces of art? Look at the craftsmanship and the times in which the drums were made. $1,000 for a nice piece of art is, by any standards, still a bargain. Here I think the seller is right. Hold out for a better price. The drum warrants it.

On the inside of this mid 19th century Victorian Music Room Snare Drum is the original label that reads, “Henry Eisele, Successor to William Sempps, manufacturers of Base & Snare Drums, 209 & 211 Grand Street New York. N.B. Drum Heads, Sticks, Cords, ect.” As you can see this drum has a wonderful Marquetry Inlay on the front of Musical Instruments and the surface of this drum is original and untouched. The body measures 17 inches in diameter by 9 ½ inches tall and the two bands are 1 1/8” wide by 17 ½” in diameter. One band has a slight separation right where it laps over itself, but this will be a very easy repair. The high bidder will have to replace the skins and side ropes, but there are no other damages or repairs to the exceptional Music Room Snare Drum.

Rhode Island Internet Consignment & Sales Incp. (RIICS Inc.) PO Box 393 Lincoln RI 02865 401-475-1190

Close Up of Marquetry
(Believed to have been inlaid as a panel)

Familiar Eisele Label

Elaborate Inlaid Drum

Recently (rel. April 11, 2008) this ca. 1890s Lyon & Healey elaborately inlaid drum sold on eBay to a lucky winner who paid $890, outbidding me by a mere $10 -- the worst $10 I never spent. I was, however, able to salvage some photos before eBay made the listing go dark.


Compare a Similar 1890s Lyon & Healey Ornately Inlaid Drum at the National Music Museum at the University of South Dakota:


"NMM 10142. Snare drum by Lyon & Healy, Chicago, ca. 1893. Ornately inlaid rosewood shell, 243mm (9-1/2") x 410mm (16-1/4"), utilizing seven different colors of wood. The large decoration features a natural horn, natural trumpet, and open musical score in the middle of a floral design which is inset on a darker section of wood. Ten leather tugs. Maple rims inlaid with a decorative pattern of interlocking lines in three colors of wood. Ten metal hooks through which the rope passes. Military strainer. According to William F. Ludwig, this drum was exhibited at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. William F. Ludwig II Collection, 2002. Lit.: Jayson Dobney, Innovations in American Snare Drums 1850-1920, M.M. Thesis (Vermillion: University of South Dakota, 2003), pp. 127-128."

Similar wood patterns are found on expensive music boxes.

(design registered and copyrighted
by Porter Music Box Company, Inc.)Source

How was it done?
For a primer in marquetry see American Marquetry Society's Beginner's Guide. Another seminal site is the web home of The Marquetry Society.

For information on wood inlay with a "how-to" approach, see "Wood Inlay" by the Chicago Park District, MODERN RECREATION SERIES, 1937.

And, right on point, see this article in Thin Air Press concerning applying veneer on drum shells.


I have two drums with marquetry. The first is from C.F. Zimmermann of Philadelphia.

The eBay (#150214939180, sold 3/3/08) seller described it as:

"THIS IS A NICE OLD PIECE. IT'S AN OLD WOODEN MARCHING SNARE DRUM THAT WAS USED IN A TALL CEDARS(MAS0NIC) MARCHING BAND SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 1900 AND THE 1920s.

IT HAS A LABEL ON THE INSIDE THAT READS: BOUGHT OF C.F. ZIMMERMAN MANUFACTURER OF THE LATELY PATENTED UNION ACCORDEANS AND IMPORTER OF AND DEALER IN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. NO. 238 NORTH SECOND STREET, PHILADELPHIA

IT HAS A 17" DIAMETER, AND IS 10-1/2” DEEP. IT HAS 9 TUNING LUGS, WITH A TUNING KEY. THE SKINS OR HEADS LOOK LIKE THEY MAY BE MADE OF SHEEP OR CALF SKIN. BOTTOM SKIN IS BROKEN OUT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE SNARES LOOK LIKE THEY ARE ANIMAL GUT, AND ARE INTACT. THE BOTTOM SKIN IS RUPTURED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT'S DUSTY AND DIRTY AND PROBABLY COULD USE A GOOD CLEANING. EXCEPT FOR SOME EXPECTED WEAR DUE TO AGE AND USE, THE WOODEN FRAME APPEARS TO BE IN PRETTY GOOD CONDITION. THERE IS SOME MINOR RUSTING ON THE TUNING LUGS, BUT NOTHING THAT CAN'T BE CLEANED UP. IT HAS A LOOP TO ATTACH A SHOULDER HARNESS TO BE USED WHILE MARCHING, HOWEVER THE HARNESS AND STICKS ARE NOT INCLUDED."


The second is by Henry Eisele of New York City.


The Zimmermann drum has inlaid counterhoops, in addition to an inlaid marquetry panel on the shell of the drum.


This figure from the Chicago Park District's 1937 book on the subject illustrates how a strip with an inlaid pattern can be made (clever):


But inlay bandings can be purchased and applied. See, e.g., "Original Marquetry".

The Eisele drum's counterhoops are stenciled in a gold painted pattern on a red painted background.

On each drum can be seen a seam along the border of a panel (oval in the Eisele, and the union of two ovals in the Zimmermann) containing the marquetry, as if the fine marquetry work was done separately and carefully cut in and applied to the outer veneer of the drum shell as an entire pre-fabricated panel.


And, as with the marquetry bandings, marquetry ovals are available today for sale.

Apparently in an effort to mask the seam as well as further dress up the drum, the Eisele uses a gold,red and black leafy pattern.


The Zimmermann uses a gold leafy decal (note the outline of the decal can be seen just outside the leafy pattern).


The Zimmermann close-up:


Compare this virtually identical inlay from the back of a Dobson-type Banjo ca. 1880s (said to be believed to have been made by Buckbee):


The Eisele close-up:

Letters from Readers: C.C. Clapp Drum Surfaces at Meissner's Auctions

Greg Lindstrom wrote:
Hi. I just acquired my first 19th century drum from MeissnersAuction.com (see July 5th).

My apologies in advance for any incorrect terminology. Also, I'm reluctant at this time to undo any original ropes to see the name inside as I've seen in several examples.

The identifying marks include each leather pulltab showing two stars with each star having a smaller star within it.

Though the side hole you can see only one word of what remains of a label - "SHEET". Also, inside at the top is what appears to be a name and city on a handwritten name label. As only the lower half is visible beneath the top band it's first initial (C?) middle initial (G?) last name which appears to be 7 letters of which 3-5 are __app__ (Clapp__?). There is a gap which appears to have some writing
followed by "Boston". I'm only about 30% certain of the initials but "__app__" and "Boston" are certain.

Our reply:
Dear Greg,

Congratulations. If you don't mind my asking, how much did you pay for the drum?

You have a C.C. Clapp drum. I have one or two (not sure, maybe more). See my article "The Star Drums of the 12th Corps of the Army of the Potomac". That's a C.C. Clapp drum. The handwritten paper label in that drum reads as follows:

C.C. Clapp & Co.
69 Court St
Boston
Could the word "SHEET" you read on your drum's label instead be "STREET"?

Take more photos. Put the drum in a very well lit area, stick a small digital camera right up against the vent hole, and see what photos you can get of the inside. I'd appreciate seeing those pictures.

Welcome to the drum collecting club. I hope you find our blog (www.fielddrums.com) interesting.

As far as disassembling the drum, it depends. There are various schools of thought. The "leave it alone" school says "don't touch it; leave it as you found it, and preserve what's left in the condition you received it." I don't subscribe to that school except in cases of really important historic relics. I have only one drum in that category (the C.C. Clapp drum, as it turns out).

All of my other drums I consider fodder for rehabilitation. Others may have a higher portion of their drums in that category. Unfortunately, I have only one at this time. And, I am not a museum that can put drums in storage for a century or more. I buy drums as art and decorate my office with them. As such, I'd like them to look good. One by one, I send them to Jim Ellis at Cooperman (Vermont -- www.Cooperman.com) who does a terrific job bringing them back to life. I can show you some before and after photos (probably a good topic for an article on the blog). Ropes, tugs (leather ears) and heads are "consumables", meaning they go. You can keep them around in storage but I replace them on all but the really good relics. My preference is to restore most of my drums to playability. Cooperman does a great job at that.

Thanks for writing.

New Evidence re Wm. S. Tompkins-like Drum with Brass Union Shield Inserts in Tugs

More evidence has emerged that the drum that was sold recently on eBay to lucky auction winner "harporoxx(493)" and described in this blog as "Tompkins-like" may actually be a Tompkins drum. In addition to the characteristic Tompkins inlay design, the new evidence is the number "2" inscribed in pencil inside the drum which appears to be by the same hand as wrote three numbers "2" in a known Tompkins drum. Photos and discussion below.


This prize appeared recently on eBay as item no. 110265642553. The ornate inlay design is reminiscent of the early 1860's work of Wm. S. Tompkins (Yonkers) featured elsewhere on this blog at "Tompkins 1860-1863 Masterpiece Drums -- Where Are They Now?", February 27, 2008.


Is it a Tompkins?: Not Sure:
The drum is beautiful. Of that there is no doubt. But, is it a Wm. S. Tompkins drum? Possibly an early Tompkins drum (possibly number 2, which may be the only pencil marking on the interior). Although the hooks look authentic and identical to those on Tompkins drums, and there is no mention of a snare mechanishm (quite possible, as many early drums had snares merely pressed into their bottom heads without any tightening mechanism other than a good pull during installation of the drum head -- see, e.g., the 1862 Tompkins from my collection featured in "Tompkins 1860-1863 Masterpiece Drums -- Where Are They Now?"), many or all of the 8 or so Tompkins drums we have previously written about on this blog bear Tompkins' signature, drum number and date of manufacture by hand in pencil on the interior, directly opposite the vent hole. There is no mention of such markings on this drum, merely the number "2".

However, that does raise the intriguing possibility that this is an early, possibly a bit crude (Tompkins' work that we know of appears to be a few degrees more subtle; the inlay on this drum is big and bold), work from Tompkins' Yonkers shop -- perhaps his second attempt. That's entirely speculation, but a fascinating possibility nonetheless.

The Number "2":
The "2" written in pencil on the inside of the Tompkins-like drum has a certain calligraphic style to it:


I do not claim to have any skills or expertise at handwriting analysis. If you do or know someone who does, it would be appreciated if we could receive some expert analysis of the foregoing and the following examples of the number 2 written on the Tompkins-like drum (above) and a known Tompkins drum (below) in my collection:


The number "2" looks very similar in both drums. The known Tompkins drum's three examples of number "2" ("1862" and "22" in pencil) compare very favorably with the number "2" in the Tompkins-like drum.

Sellers' Description:
The seller (tootahorn) describes the drum as follows: "Original Civil War drum. Everything is very solid and is in amazing shape. There is no fading. This has been in a collectors home in a dry place for many, many years. I may have taken the pictures upside down - I apologize for that.

This has handsome inlaid wood work for the design. The ropes are in terrific shape. They are intact and they seem original . Comes with two original drumsticks. Does not come with a case. There aren't any drum heads. The leather holds the rope in place. The leather is worn with some cracking. The wood design has 8 stars on the outside circle, 8 stars on the inside circle.

Each individual leather crest has 7 [sic., 7 raised and 9 depressed] stripes and 13 stars. There are only three of the leather tassles that have the leather crest. One of the leather tassles is missing completely and two of the leather tassles are partials. There are 10 "hooks" on the top and 10 hooks on the bottom rim that hold the rope. The wood itself is in good shape that has hairline cracks.

There is a minor stain that goes around in the inside middle of the drum. Cannot see it from the outside - it may have been there since it was originally made. The rims are in good shape with some edges worn. There is the number '2' written in pencil on the inside of the drum. No mold or mildew - great for museum or collector. This comes from a widows estate. She said it has been with the family for as long as she remembers. Height of drum - 13.5 inches. Width - approx. 16.25 inches."

The "leather crests" (as the seller describes them) [possibly darkened metal union shields] are of great interest. Like the brass shields pictured on a drum in my collection [the originals were brass; the refurbished replacements were done in pewter but will be replaced with brass] discussed in "Drum by John Lowell of Bangor, Maine", March 5, 2008, they display 15 stripes. However, unlike the shields on the Lowell drum's tugs, these shields have 13 stars (the Lowell drum's shields have only 12 stars). [We have no explanation for that.]

15 Stripes a Mistake? Maybe, Maybe Not:
The official flag of the United States until 1818 had 15 stripes. The following 1914 letter to the New York Times(transcribed below) sums up the history of the stars and stripes up until the firing on Fort McHenry:

THE FLAG IN 1814
-----
Had 15 Stars and 15 Stripes When National Anthem Was Written.
To the Editor of The New York Times:
Referring to the article in last Sunday's TIMES in regard to the centenary of "The Star-Spangled Banner," the writer of the article has made a slip of the pen in referring to "the original flag with its 18 stars." The picture which you show displays 15 stars and 15 stripes, which is the correct representation of the official United States Flag at that time, (1814.) The stars are arranged in five rows of three stars each so spaced that the stars of one row are opposite the spaces in the adjacent row. the flag of 15 stars and stripes was established by act of Congress approved by President Washington Jan. 13, 1794. That was the official flag until 1818.

On April 4, 1815, Congress enacted that from and after July 4, 1818, the flag should consist of thirteen stripes and twenty stars and that a star should be added for each new State. Tennessee, Ohio, and Louisiana were admitted to the Union after the act of 1794 and before the writing of "The Star Spangled Banner," but while they were entitled to stars in the flag Congress made no change in the flag until 1818, as above stated, and the flag on Fort McHenry which was fired on, contained 15 stars and 15 stripes. As prior to 1818, the United States Flag contained the same number of stars as it had stripes, there can be no mistake about the number of stars in the flag represented in the Sunday TIMES, which contains 15 stripes. E.H. Hall, Secretary The American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society.
New York, June 8, 1914

The New York Times
Published: June 13, 1914
Copyright © The New York Times

Letters from Readers: Isaac Judson Bass Drum

On 7/6/08 Rollin Shaw (rolloshaw@verizon.net) wrote:
"I have had 2 field drums -- one bass and one snare -- for over 40 years. They were reported to have been carried in the Civil War. Although snare drum has metal rope attachments, you can see holes where the ropes were originally attached. There are no regimental designs (see photos below). I last displayed them in 1965 for the 100th anniversary of the Civil War."

Rollin reports that the snare drum is 17-1/2" in diameter and 15" high; the bass drum is 23" in diameter and 18" wide.


Rollin added this information today: "A label inside the bass drum reads "I. Judson."


I. JUDSON,
MANUFACTURER,
Harness[es?], Trunks, Valises, Whips,
Carpet-Bags, &c., &c.
OPPOSITE TREMONT HOUSE,
CONNEAUT, O.

I researched the name. Judson was from Conneaut, Ohio. [Conneaut is on Lake Erie, at the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, about 25 miles southwest of Erie, Pennsylvania and about 65 miles north east of Cleveland, Ohio]. The Ashtabula County 1860 census records show Isaac Judson to have been a harness maker. The name was also listed in death records "Isaac Judson, 1820-1885". I know that trunk makers also made drums in the 1800's. Isaac Judson was born in New York. It appears that he was 45 in 1865 when the Civil War ended. He lived to age 65.

"I have not checked to see whether the red stain on the bass drum is dried blood. Now with all the testing equipment available I might just check that out. The bass drum skins are original but some of the ears have been replaced on the snare drum and on the bass drum. The snare drum skins were replaced when my granddaughter stood on the Drum when she was 6 to look out the window and fell through skins. I still have the original hanging here in my office.

Rollin"

Rollin provided links to the following additional information: Ancestory.com lists an Isaac Judson, age 39, in the 1860 census for Ashtabula County, Ohio. Also, see 1860 Census, Borough of Conneaut Ashtabula County, Ohio, Roll 933 Book 1 which lists Isaac Judson as a harness maker, born in New York, holding real estate worth $500 and personal property worth $200.

Isaac Judson is buried in plot C01-029 of the City Cemetery, Conneaut, Ohio ( born Oct. 20, 1820, died April 25, 1885).

And, Judson's harness shop is mentioned in this retrospective "RETRESPECTIVE [sic, RETROSPECTIVE] GLANCE AT CONNEAUT’S MAIN STREET IN 1861, Highly Interesting Paper Prepared By Mrs. J.P. Reig And Read Before the 19th Century Club; Copied from the CONNEAUT NEWS-HERALD Of Saturday, February 1, 1908.": "Next came a wooden building occupied by Isaac Judson as a harness shop."

Can any readers help us in identifying the maker of the snare drum?
The snare drum looks something like (but not identical to) some Abner Stevens drums pictured elsewhere in this blog. E.g., see "Fredericksburg's Civil War Museum":


Also, see "The Painted Drums of Abner Stevens":

Letters from Readers: Abner Stevens Drum in Booth Family Almost 200 Years

David Booth of Westminster, Maryland writes:
I have an Abner Stevens field drum which I inherited from my grandfather, James David Booth of Longmeadow, Massachusetts. He said that it belonged to his grandfather, Samuel Colton Booth, who was a member of the Massachusetts Militia in the early 1800's. The drum label is dated 1813. Decoration consists of the same tack geometry as on the 'Lafayette Tribute' drum [see "The Painted Drums of Abner Stevens", this blog (photo below)], with the same star in gold.


The heads and snares are original, but the rope and tabs were replaced in 1976 at the U.S. Navy School of Music, Little Creek, Virginia. I was a Navy musician, and was there for my annual Reserve Active Duty for Training. The rope used to repair the drum was manufactuerd at the ropewalk at Mystic Seaport, Connecticut, and the tabs were tanned and made in Williamsburg, Virginia.

[Ed. Note: We hope that David Booth will send us a complete set of photos of his family's Abner Stevens drum so that we can post them here.]

Letters from Readers: Is this Drum a Werner Soistmann?

Question:
Ted Tweed, President, Heritage Music Foundation, Inc. (a division of which is the 1st Brigade Band wrote us about a drum in his collection.

"I have a drum (photo above) which has no label but which is similar to drums shown on the blog, especially among drums with inlaid stars. Can you help identify the maker and give me some idea of the value? Appreciate the help. Thanks. Ted"

Our response:
Ted,

Beautiful drum. Who did the restoration? I'd like to get those stars punched into some of my tugs.

Your drum looks virtually identical to one in my collection by Werner Soistmann (Philadelphia). See the photos in "Drums with Inlaid Stars" in this blog. The points of identity/similarity are:

1. 10 pointed star;
2. vertical alignment of the star;
3. type of wood comprising the exterior veneer (looks like mahogany see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahogany); and
4. stenciled counter hoops.

Even though the coloration on your drum differs from mine, I cannot be certain that is [relevant]. I'd like to see the drums side-by-side, or a more complete set of photos, including metal hardware comprising the snare mechanism, if any.

Also, because the inlays are made of wood, the grains could reflect light differently (darker in the upper right in one drum than the other), and the inlays could have been inserted backwards (or it just might not have made a difference). The coloration pattern (e.g., lighter wood in the number 1 position, darker in the number 2 position) simply might not have been something anyone paid attention to from drum to drum. I would not necessarily differentiate [drum makers] on that basis.

Are the replacement leather tugs replicas of the originals or just period-like? And do you have any of the originals? Also, did the hooks come with the drum>? And, when and where did you acquire the drum? Finally, who did the restoration (Cooperman?).

My research suggests that inlays (e.g, the entire 10-pointed star) might have been purchased and simply inlaid intact into the veneer. See the article on marquetry in drums, "Marquetry in Drums of the Past", in this blog. And, I think that I recall reading somewhere that the stenciled hoops might have been imported from Europe, but I could be mistaken as to that.

The point would be that drums that look similar could have been made by different manufacturers [or retailers]. In the "Drums with Inlaid Stars", there is a drum by Sempf and another by Eisele (New York) that look very similar but neither looks like mahogany was used for the veneer. However, there is a nine-pointed star drum by Sempf in that article that does look like mahogany.

So, your drum bears the most similarities to my Werner Soistmann drum, and some similarities to a drum by Sempf. [I'd call it Werner Soistmann-like.]

I'll continue to watch for other drums from which we can learn. Also, ... I'd like to post your email and my response on the blog at www.fielddrums.com for the information of others, as well as an example of the website's usefulness and to encourage such cooperation and communication among collectors and restorers.

Thanks for writing.

Best.

Ellis

-----
On 7/1/08 Ted wrote:
Ellis: Thanks for the reply. I have looked at the blog and find it to be most interesting and informative. I've looked at the inlaid star drums as well.

My son purchased the drum at an antique shop in Green Bay, WI several years ago -perhaps 10 or so. I have no idea what he paid for it.

The drum was in poor shape when I received it. Only a few of the original leather tugs were intact, rope had been replaced with a poor substitute, but all hooks were accounted for and intact but very dirty. The hoops were filthy. The cast brass snare strainer hardware was intact and consistent with others I've seen on CW era drums. I'll get a photo of it.

I did the restoration myself. I sent the flesh hoops to Cooperman where they put new calf heads on them. I purchased a set of leathers and rope from Cooperman. The original ears were imprinted with a star on each side of the tug. I located a star imprinting tool at Tandy Leather Co and used it imprint the leathers. It's not quite the same as the original star, but a star nontheless.

The shell was completely refinished, taking care to preserve the original color as much as possible, and to do so while preserving the beautiful star. The hoops were simply cleaned.

Incidently, the drum plays extremely well and has a wonderful sound. (I use a muffler to reduce ringing.) It does suffer from some warping of the hoops so has a tendency to come out of alignment. It must be babied.

I have one of the original leathers so will take a photo and send it to you. I also have made a number of slings and will include a photo of one just for the fun of it.

Feel free to use any of this correspondence and photos on the blog.

Thanks again for your prompt reply to my inquiry and the very helpful information.

Ted

-----

On 7/1/08 Ellis wrote:
Ted,

Very interesting. Thanks for the info. I play also (the last time I played seriously was in 1967 as a snare drummer with the Long Island Sunrisers Drum & Bugle Corps).

Tell [us] about your playing history and involvement.

Thanks.

Best.

Ellis

-----

On 7/1/08 Ted wrote:
Ellis,

I continue to play, although not as much anymore. I played snare, bass and cymbals (I was not a percussionist in the modern sense of the word) in grade school, high school and college. After a 30 year hiatus I joined the 1st Brigade Band, Watertown, WI as a snare dummer and have been there for the last 20 years. I sometimes play tenor horn, taken up get some relief from standing through our sometimes long shows.

I first saw your name in some correspondence you've had with Dan Woolpert, our bandmaster emeritus. I've served on the board of Directors of Heritage Military Music Foundation for many years, many as president. I currently am president once again. We sponsor the 1st Brigade Band. I'm sure that Dan told you of our outstanding WEB site - 1stbrigadeband.org. On that site you can see photos of all our instruments, some with significant history. One of our drums is one that I purchased on e-bay, restored and sold to HMMF. It is an outstanding player and has a shell of birds eye maple.

I have only the one rope drum. (I have a toy rope drum, no label, that uses similar but smaller cast hooks for the ropes.) The rest of my meager collection includes a couple of good field drums from the 40's and a fine Ludwig concert snare from the 20's or 30's.

I appreciate your interest. Thanks again.

Ted