1945c Ajax Jack Parnell DeLuxe
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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
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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.
