SLINGERLAND FINISHES
The Slingerland Drum
Company was originally a manufacturer of banjos, banjo ukuleles, and guitars.
Pictured below are a few examples of pearl finishes that were applied to the
early banjos ukeleles. On the left is a Slingerland Special model with a Pyralin
headstock or “peghead”. The other photos are of a May
Bell banjo ukulele finished in Rose Pearl. Interestingly, this finish was used
on snare drums and bass drums in 1929-1930.
PHOTOS BY David E. Schenkman
- Turtle Hill Banjo Company
The Slingerland Banjo and
Drum Company began offering pearl covered drums in 1928. The first finishes
available that year were White Marine Pearl, Black Diamond Pearl, Brilliant
Gold (sparkling gold), Sea Green Pearl, and natural Walnut, Mahogany, White
Enamel, and Black Ebonized wood. Like Leedy drums of
this era, Slingerland offered optional imitation gold
hardware called “Artgold” to add beauty and contrast to their
finishes.
In 1929, more finishes were introduced including Opal
or Peacock Pearl and Lavender Pearl, and Rose Pearl.
1929-1930 ROSE PEARL TONE FLANGE
ARTIST MODEL
1930 CATALOG ILLUSTRATION FEATURING ROSE PEARL
Courtesy of Dave Brown
Slingerland also offered special hand engraved snare drums with decorative imitation
gold plated hardware. These beautiful instruments are extremely rare today.
1928 SLINGERLAND ARTIST MODEL “BLACK
BEAUTY”
Photo
by Dave Brown
These beautiful engraved drums were still being offered in the 1934 catalog
but would soon be discontinued.
FINISH CHOICES FOR 1934-35
BLACK DIAMOND PEARL ARTIST MODELS
(Late 1920’s-early 1930’s)
(Photo on left courtesy of Dave Brown)
1928 SLINGERLAND BLACK DIAMOND PEARL FANCHER MODEL TONE
FLANGE SNARE DRUM
Photos by Zach Stewart
Another beautiful finish offered at
this time was Lavender Pearl
(1930 Catalog)
Courtesy of Dave Brown
1929 Slingerland
Lavender Pearl Artist Model
Photo courtesy of Mike Curotto
1930 and 1934 CATALOG PAGES FEATURING
OPAL PEARL
(Notice the description on left says that because the finish is so complex,
it could not be captured on paper. Thus the black and white photo!)
Courtesy of Dave
Brown
OPAL PEARL SNARE DRUM
Photos by Dave Zima
1930 and 1934 CATALOG PAGES FEATURING
SEA GREEN PEARL
Early 1930’s Sea Green Pearl Tone
Flange Artist model
1928 SEA GREEN PEARL TONE FLANGE
ARTIST MODEL (Liberty/Slingerland )
1934 CATALOG PAGES FEATURING GOLD
FINISH AND SPARKLING GREEN PEARL
1
1930 CATALOG PAGES FEATURING TUTONE
AND MARINE PEARL FINISHES
Courtesy of Dave Brown
1934 CATALOG PAGES FEATURING MARINE
PEARL AND BLACK DIAMOND PEARL FINISHES
1934 CATALOG PAGES FEATURING TUTONE
AND REGAL FINISHES
Top of the line drum outfits for 1934
The catalog image below shows the 1933-34 Duall
snare drum with three color diamonds applied to the
pearl shell. These multi-colored sparkling diamonds could be ordered at extra
cost and could even be applied to a drummers existing
drums.
A lacquer painted
finish known as “Antique” was also available in 1934. This less
expensive finish could also be adorned with sparkling diamonds at extra cost.
The addition of diamonds was often referred to as “Full Dress”.
Many exciting finishes were also available on drum corps
marching drums.
During the middle 1930’s, a few more pearl choices were offered: Coral
Pearl, Abalone Pearl, and Sparkling Silver Pearl, Sparkling Green Pearl and
Sparkling Red Pearl.
ABALONE PEARL
1935 SPARKLING GREEN PEARL BROADCASTER
1935 WHITE MARINE
PEARL BROADCASTER
1935 SPARKLING GOLD PEARL BROADCASTER
By 1936, Slingerland was still
offering lacquer finished drums (“Antique”) in various two-tone colors and
solid colors. The optional three color
diamonds for the “Full Dress” look was also still available.
LATE 1930’s “FULL DRESS” FINISH
Photo courtesy Bijan
Oskouie/Rockin’ Robin
Guitars and Music
1936 CATALOG
1936 SEA GREEN PEARL FLOOR TOM
MORE SEA GREEN PEARL
Throughout the late 1930’s and early 1940’s, White
Marine Pearl proved to be the most popular of all finishes, thanks to legendary
Swing drummer Gene Krupa. Krupa
played White Marine Pearl Slingerland drums
exclusively throughout his career.
1939 GENE KRUPA MODEL RADIO KING
1938 BLACK DIAMOND PEARL GENE KRUPA
MODEL RADIO KING
1940 BLACK DIAMOND PEARL RADIO KING
By 1937, Slingerland had
eliminated their more exotic finishes and only offered six pearl and sparkle
finishes. As with all of the other drum companies, special non-catalogued
finishes were often available on request. NOTE: Abalone Pearl was still offered
and a separate page is devoted to this finish in the 1938 catalog. However, it
is not shown in the pearl finish sample page as with the 1936 catalog.
1937 SPARKLING GREEN PEARL RADIO KING
TOM TOM WITH FULL
DRESS DIAMONDS
1940 RADIO KING HOLLYWOOD ACE SWING MODEL IN SPARKLING GREEN PEARL
1940 BLUE AND SILVER DUCO RADIO KING
1940 SPARKLING RED PEARL SUPER RADIO
KING
During World War Two (1941-1945), drum production
continued but on a very limited scale. The basic finishes of 1940 were offered
along with several Duco painted finishes.
1943 WHITE MARINE PEARL ROLLING BOMBER
RADIO KING TOM TOM
After the war, drum production soon resumed and while
all of the previous finishes of 1940 were still available, a few more were
added. Joining the list of available finishes were Sparkling Blue Pearl and
Sparkling Silver Pearl (again).
POST WAR 1940’s SPARKLING SILVER PEARL
GENE KRUPA MODEL RADIO KING
Around 1947-1949, a unique light blue-ish gray version of Black Diamond Pearl appeared for a
while. This was just a “limited run” color variation from the Pyralin manufacturer and was not listed as a separate
finish from Black Diamond Pearl. This odd and beautiful variety can also be
seen on some post World War Two drums. Below are two examples of this finish.
Note the 1949-51 badge on the drum at right.
From
the late 1940’s through the middle 1950’s no new finishes were added. Below is
an example of Sparkling Blue Pearl.
1956 SPARKLING BLUE PEARL SUPER RADIO KING
Around 1958, Slingerland
dramatically improved their finish line-up with some beautiful and unique new
pearl options.
1958 SLINGERLAND CATALOG
1958 SPARKLING PINK PEARL SUPER RADIO KING
By 1960, even more colorful finishes were
introduced while some of the previous colors were discontinued. Note the change
of address from Chicago (1958 catalog) to Niles, Illinois (1960 catalog).
1960 SLINGERLAND CATALOG
1965 saw even more additions to the Slingerland
finish roster as well as some colors being discontinued.
1965 SLINGERLAND CATALOG
1965 BLUE AGATE PEARL SLINGERLAND
SET 1965 BLUE RIPPLE
PEARL SLINGERLAND SET
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