1968c Slingerland Stage Band
1968c SLINGERLAND STAGE BAND OUTFIT 74N
DRUMS:
20 x 14” Bass Drum #128417
14 x 14” Floor Tom #159098
12 x 8” Tom Tom #130341
The Slingerland shells are 3 ply mahogany-poplar-mahogany with maple re-rings.
CYMBALS:
TBC
ADDITIONAL ITEMS:
Slingerland 590-14 Shell Mounted Cymbal Holder
Slingerland Consolette Tom-Tom Holder 172L
Slingerland Telescopic Spurs Chrome 727
Slingerland Flush Base Snare Stand 802
Slingerland Tempo King Pedal 938 (May replace with a Slingerland Epic Pedal 939)
Slingerland Dynamo 806 Hi-Hat
BACKGROUND:
Unknown.
Condition Mint.
Purchased March 5th, 2017.
If you have any information about the kit or indeed any questions, please contact me.
If you have any information about the kit or indeed any questions, please contact me.
1950s/60s Ajax Blue Elegance
1950s/60s Ajax Blue Elegance Kit
20"x 15" Bass Drum #62919
20"x 12" Bass Drum #63341
16" x 18" Floor Tom #62788
16" x 18" Floor Tom # 52972
12" x 8" Tom #52978
12" x 8" Tom #No serial stamped.
14" x 3" Snapper Snare #49037
14" x 5" Stratford & Besson Snare #TBC
A hybrid of two kits and orphan drums, one set I believe to be late 1950s and the other, early 1960s in the stunning and very rare Ajax Blue Elegance.
The snares were individual finds and one of the rarer 3" snapper range and the serial pre-dates the other shells.
Blue Elegance is a very rare Ajax finish, one that is sadly prone to ageing by a yellowing tint, but it remains a striking finish aged or not!
Images and further details to follow.
1975/76 Premier Phil Collins Replica
1970s Premier African Mahogany Natural Finish
Phil Collins Replica Drum Set.
DRUMS
20x14" Bass Drum
16x16 FloorTom
14x14" Floor Tom
13x9" Tom
12x8" Tom
14x5.5" Fibes Clear Acrylic Snare Drum - C F Martin product.
* I also have a 22x
If you have any information about the kit or indeed any questions, please contact me.
BACKGROUNDThis is a replica of the Phil Collins 'Resonator' in Natural Finish that Phil used in 1974, 1975 and 1976 during the 'Lamb Lies Down On Broadway' tours alone with the 'Trick Of The Tail' album and world tour. Phil also used the kit with Brand X and on a number of album sessons during this period. If you have any information about the kit or indeed any questions, please contact me.
My kit is not a Resonator, but uses the same African Mahogany shells and is a replica in every other detail..
Jamie Corstorphine at The Drum Vault (http://www.thedrumvault.co.uk) painstakingly sweated blood and tears, quite literally, to complete this full replica on a restoration road that was both interesting, frustrating and at times, quite remarkable! Read on below...
This page is currently in progress.
Shown in the two images below is the Phil Collins Resonator kit as it is today (in the top image) while underneath it is my replica kit which is nearing completion and will exactly match Phil's classic kit.
1930s Ajax Fidelity Console
1930s AJAX BOOSEY & HAWKES NEW FIDELITY DUAL CONSOLE
DRUMS:
28x12" Bass Drum
14x12" Tom Tom
12x9" Tom Tom
14x6.5" New Fidelity Dual Century Snare Drum #13393
CYMBALS:
1 x Chinese Cymbal
1 x Splash Cymbal
2 x Sizzle Cymbal
1 x Crash Cymbal
1 x Hi-hat Cymbals* These 1930's Hi-Hat cymbals I have added to the outfit.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS:
1 x Console with Drum Arms & Cymbal attachments.
1 x Boosey & Hawkes Bass Drum Pedal
1 x Ajax Traps Table
4 x Temple Blocks & Ajax Clamps
2 x Swan Neck Cymbal Arms with tassels
1 x Wood Block
2 x Cow Bells
1 x Bass Drum Damper & Arm
1 x Internal Bass Drum Period Light Fixture
1 x Decorated From Resonant Bass Drum Head
BACKGROUND:
I purchased this kit on the 7th November, 2015 and it was my Holy Grail for the Ajax collection and a one that I never thought I would find, let alone one of this condition!
When I started to collect vintage drums, I had seen an almost identical kit which had been sold a few years prior and I could only dream of owning such an exquisite piece of drumming history, however, some years later, I was on tour in the UK when I received a call a phone call on the tour bus as we were driving from Scotland to South Wales.
I was intrigued from the start and multiple lengthy conversations followed over the next few hours as my excitement grew.
That that evening, I checked into the band and crew hotel and immediately set off and drove deep into the night, certain that I would only be disappointed upon arrival and find it either not to be genuine, perhaps in very poor shape or even out of my financial reach.
To my extreme delight and surprise, it was like a prayer answered and I returned many hours later with this truly wonderful kit having completed the deal at midnight!
My first sight of the kit at that late hour can be seen below.
At this time, sadly I know nothing of the history as the previous owner or their seller who I dealt with, unfortunately did not wish it to be known.
Certainly it looks astonishingly like the actual kit I had so wanted to own which had been formally owned by 'Sir' Alan Buckley and as seen at Nick Hopkin's Emporium however, the seller told me that the owner says that is not the same kit and that he had owned this for many many years.
There are certainly some small differences, but it has been maintained it to the highest of standards to such an extent that it looks brand new and you could perform show nightly with this kit as clearly was intended.
At the end of day, whoever owned this kit, it is a dream come true for me to own it now and perhaps one day, some history may reveal itself!
If you have any information about the kit or indeed any questions, please contact me.
If you have any information about the kit or indeed any questions, please contact me.
1945c Ajax Jack Parnell DeLuxe
DRUMS
1945c AJAX BOOSEY & HAWKES JACK PARNELL DE-LUXE DRUM KIT
21x11" AJAX 'De Luxe' Bass drum. Serial #23920. Circa 1945/46.*
16x18" AJAX 'De Luxe' Floor tom. Serial #23795. Circa 1945/46.
14x18" AJAX 'De Luxe' Floor tom. Serial #23794. Circa 1945/46.
12x8" AJAX 'De Luxe' Tom. Serial #59129 Circa 1950-1955.
14x5" AJAX 'Poplar' Snare drum. Serial #TBC
*with calf skin heads
PURCHASED JUNE 2015
This kit was a remarkable find.
It was always hard to believe it could be the original finish, especially as my research currently indicates that coloured and glitter wraps appear not to have been introduced by Ajax until the the mid 1950s.
Certainly though, 3 of the drums are from the same period, with the 12" tom and snare (a lower graded 'Popular' model) being added later.
A month after obtaining the kit, my findings appear to confirm the above with information comming from drummer James Yates which led to additional research.
It would seem that the kit was originally owner by the drummer Ted Alexander and was originally Cream Cellestoid.
Below are some details about Ted and also appear to show part of the kit.
Ted Alexander
Musician. Born 1912. Son of Eddie and Ada Alexander.His father was a stage and theatre technician, his mother a teacher and pianist. At the age of eight he joined his father's White Eyed Ted Alexander Minstrel Show playing the bones and singing 'Mammy' songs, solo. In his spare time he learned to play drums and by the time he was twelve he was a freelance drummer. He formed his own groups at fourteen called Teds Four and later, Teds Five. In 1935 he joined Lambert Wilson's Stage Orchestra, having done a season with Chapmans Circus. Then came a season with Monte Carlo Ballet Company, followed by sessions with George Shearing and Stefan Grapelli.
Ted married Mary Way, 4 June 1939, in Llandudno. He was playing summer season in the resort at Payne's Ballroom with the Tommy James Band. Issue: One daughter, Christine (1956) and one son, Michael (1958). Ted played drums and took part in broadcasts with the British Band of A.E.F. etc and many stars of the entertainment world. After demob he joined Henry Hall's Stage Orchestra being featured in a big drum spectacular for over two years. After Henry disbanded, he played for periods with many West End orchestras - including Joe Loss, Bert Ambrose, Roberto Inglez, Al Tabor, Kenny Grahame Afro Cuban, etc etc. Much freelancing which led eventually to recordings with the group Alien Sex Fiend, led by Nik Wade who happens to be Ted's son-in-law and who is a grand nephew of Sir George Robey — yes George Robey - real name Ed Wade, founder member of Chelsea Lodge.
It's an odd world!
He suffered three heart attacks in later life and, in February 1989, a fourth heart attack meant an end to active service in music and Masonry.
*The original snare shown above on Ted's AJAX is currently owned by drummer James Yates.
Quite incredibly, in 1987 Ted aged 75, played drums on a couple of tracks in his daughter band, the English 'deathroc'k outfit, Alien Sex Fiend!
Perhaps he even used this very kit based on the photo?
It Lives Again - https://youtu.be/Epn4OD1aKOI
Drums, Percussion – Ted Alexander
Engineer – Helen Woodward Paul Samuelson
Producer – Youth
--------------------
Hurricane Fighter Plane https://youtu.be/gl2viALq6BA
Drums, Percussion – Ted Alexander
Engineer – Helen Woodward, Paul Samuelson
Producer – Youth
Written-By – Barthelme*, Thompson*, Cunningham*
Sadly Ted has since passed away.
Additional information has also come to light as it was accurately pointed out to me by the legendary Roy Holliday, that the bass drum has just 7 lugs and therefore, no doubt is had been a larger drum originally and cut down to this odd 21" size.
That then leads me to believe that, given the above fact,s that this kit was originally:
Circa 1945 'JACK PARNELL' AJAX
Bass Drum - De Luxe Model 24" x 11" in Cream Cellestoid.
Toms - 16x18", 14x18" with a 12x8" tom
Far from being a fragile 70 years old, it is ready to gig and tour now!
If you have any questions about the kit or wish to express an interest in it, please contact me.
If you have any information about the kit or indeed any questions, please contact me.