Cooper’s Vintage Drums
SLINGERLAND LUGS
As was previously mentioned, most companies used
the standard tubular lugs in the 1920’s. Slingerland was no exception and were
a little late in adopting a more modern approach to the design of their lugs.
They did produce an odd looking drum called the “Geisler” around 1927 that was
similar to a banjo. It had banjo clips that were attached to flanges on the
shell. This drum was not really a regular Slingerland production model and it
didn’t really have lugs but deserves mention.
1927 GEISLER SNARE DRUM
Unknown Source
THE STREAMLINE LUG
In an effort to modernize their drums, Slingerland
introduced their Broadcaster line of snare drums in 1935. These new models
featured their version of the cast metal lug casing, called the “Streamline” lug. This short-lived
Broadcaster line was soon discontinued and the new “Radio King” line was
launched the following year. Unlike Leedy’s design, the new Slingerland Radio
King Streamline lugs still had no swivel inserts but instead, their lugs had
the threads tapped directly into the casting. This proved to be less than
desirable, causing the threads to strip, so following Leedy’s example, they
soon added an internal spring and swivel insert.
Slingerland
Broadcaster tapped lugs
1937 Slingerland Radio King
with streamline lugs
The Radio King lugs were used on snare drums, bass
drums (a larger version) and tom toms. While Leedy is credited with the first
non-tubular lug casings, Slingerland was the first to use them on tom toms and
bass drums. On the very first Slingerland Radio King tom toms, even though only
one threaded insert was necessary, double ended snare lugs were often used with
the unnecessary second insert intact! By 1937, proper single ended tom tom and
bass drum lugs were being used. Snare drum lugs were also used for center lug
design tom toms as a lower priced option but that option was discontinued by
1940.
All streamline bass drum and tom tom lugs were
offered from 1936 until 1948. Streamline snare drum lugs were used until 1955.
Streamline
lugs on Radio King tom toms
To save a little money (five dollars), drummers
could order a tom tom with tubular lugs and tacked-on bottom heads. However, by
1940, they were no longer available and were offered only with streamline lugs.
They were not considered to be Radio Kings. It is interesting to note that Gene
Krupa’s first Radio King set had separate tension bass drum and tom toms with
tubular lugs on top and bottom. So, were they “true Radio Kings”?
1936 “TUNEABLE
TOM TOM” GENE WITH TUBE LUG TOMS
AND BASS
BELOW LEFT to RIGHT: #549 Separate
tension bass drum lug, #547 snare drum lug and a separate tension tom tom lug (Oddly,
no catalog number was listed for these tom tom lugs in the late 1930’s and
early 1940’s. However, in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, the #547 catalog
number was assigned to the tom tom lug and the snare drum lug became the #547-S). The photo below (bass drum) shows
the #548 single tension bass drum lugs on a drum. These had no springs or
swivel nuts. A long metal rod passed through the lug, attached to the hoops by
claw hooks. By turning the tympany handles, tension on both heads could be
adjusted. This actually worked quite well, was less expensive, and weighed less
than separate tension drums.
Below: Inside view of snare lug
and bass drum lug
Early Streamline tom tom lugs incorporated a metal
“slug” that was used in place of the second threaded insert. In this way, snare
lugs could be adapted for use as a tom tom lug. Throughout the years, various
wall thicknesses can be seen on all streamline lugs. Below is one of the
thicker varieties. Some were quite thin. Note the “slug” insert.
In 1940, Slingerland introduced
a new version of the Streamline lug in addition to the other lugs. The new
“Super” lug was offered on certain snare drums (sixteen lug varieties) and was
also available as an option on tom toms ….and even bass drums (rare). This new
lug was relatively small. While quite “modernistic” in appearance, it was prone
to breakage under higher tension. Note: These Super lugs are often referred to
as “small beaver tail” lugs.
1940 “SUPER” LUG
1940 HOLLYWOOD ACE MODEL
Ultra-rare 14x24 bass drum with
small beaver tail lugs (1940)
During World War Two (1942-45),
the United States Government ordered that all non-essential items were to be
made with very few metal components. The “Rolling Bomber” line of drums was
Slingerland’s answer to these new government restrictions. Wooden lugs carved
from walnut or rosewood were used. Two sizes were offered for bass drums, tom
toms and snare drums.
After the
war, Slingerland resumed normal drum production and their instruments were
basically the same as their pre-war offerings.
Because
metal was still somewhat scarce, some drums were made using less metal than
usual. The bass drum below has only eight lugs per side! Most likely this drum
was made either toward the end of the war or right after.
In 1948, a
new improved version of the Streamline tom tom lug was introduced. It was much
the same in appearance as the “Super” lug but was longer and slightly heavier.
This new lug replaced both the large single-ended Streamline bass drum lugs as
well as the single-ended Streamline tom tom lugs of the late 1930’s-early 40’s.
Collectors often refer to this lug as the “large beaver tail”.
The
original Radio King Streamline snare drum center lug of the late 1930’s was
still being used on all eight lug
snare drums. Although this lug had seen a few subtle structural changes over
the years, it would remain in use until the mid 1950’s.
1948-54 Streamline tom tom and
bass drum Lug
This new
larger beaver tail lug had the same attachment screw hole spacings as the
original Streamline tom tom lug and was now used on both bass drums and tom
toms. The old extra large, single-ended bass drum lugs of the 1930’s and early
40’s were discontinued. However, the large double ended bass drum lug was still
offered on less expensive single tension bass drums. Also, the Super lug was
still being used on all sixteen lug
snare drums and was optional on tom toms. The “Super” lug of 1948 had undergone
a face-lift and a “ledge” was added to the front of the lug. It was now heavier
and less prone to breakage.
The new post-war version of the
Super lug (1948-54) -note the addition of a “ledge” at front.
……Compare the two versions…..
Left: 1948-54…………………………..Right
1940-47
1953 Radio King with later
version Super lugs
1949 Slingerland Radio King
sets with new Streamline lugs
1953 RADIO KING SET WITH BEAVER
TAIL LUGS
1955 brought a radical departure for Slingerland’s
hardware design. All versions of the old cast metal Streamline and Super lugs
that had changed relatively little since the late 1940’s were no more. In their
place were the new “Sound King” lugs. These futuristic looking Sound King lugs
really were “streamlined” in appearance and constructed out of a much more
durable alloy. Compared to the somewhat fragile “pot metal” lugs of the
previous two decades, the Sound King lugs were practically indestructible. Like
their predecessors, the new Sound King lugs came in several varieties: Large
for bass drums, small for tom toms and 16 lug snares, and a large center snare
drum lug (see below). NOTE: The smaller lug which was used on snare drums (16
lug variety) and tom toms was not introduced until around 1956-57. All of the
Sound King lugs would stay pretty much unchanged well into the 1990’s.
1955 CATALOG
EARLY SOUND KING TOM LUGS (note
the large size)
Sound King lugs circa 1958
1950’s Radio King snare drum with
Sound King lugs
Slingerland drum sets with
Sound King lugs circa 1965
TENSION RODS
Shown
below are the various bass drum tension rods (or tympani handles) used from the
1928 through the 1960’s. The earliest bass drum rods had the flat head, often
with an “S” stamped into it. These were also used on tom toms as an option
(center). Around 1940, the round head type was used. The more squared off style
was used sometime during the 1940’s and utilized a washer. Later a ridge was
added and the washer was not needed. I assume the squared rod with the thick
washer came first. The last photo shows the Sound King style of the late
1950’s-1960’s. The dates listed are estimates only.
1928-1930’s
1939-1941
1942-1945
1946-1958
1959-1965
The photos
below show the early bass drum claw hooks and the double grip hooks. In the
late 1930’s, a bass drum could be ordered with either type. The double grip
style was also used on some tom toms and marching snare drums. The double grip
claw was replaced with the new Sound King claw in 1958.However, they continued
to see some use on lower line drums and marching drums well into the 1960’s.
Here are the various types of snare
drum and tom tom tension rods. Again, dates are estimates only. It is possible
that any style could have been used at various stages depending on
availability. The dates I have used are based on visual inspection of actual
drums that I have owned.
1929-1934
1935
1936-1947
1948-1950
1951-1957
1958-1965
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