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toddlittle827
Very well Known Member
This is an interesting bit from a Dec. 1961 article on cymbals (The School Musician) written by Morris "Arnie" Lang of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra
I don't think it's anything groundbreaking - says K. Constantinople stamped cymbals are pre WWII and K. Istanbul stamps are post WWII but very, very cool to see someone writing about the actual details of the metal stamps.
A couple things to consider on that point 1) the article comes 16 years after the end of the war - would take it with a grain of salt as far as drawing a line like that goes 2) My understanding is Turkey was neutral during the war so the stamps could've possibly changed to Istanbul between 1942 and 1946 before Gretsch started back to normal business post-war and no one in the USA noticed until ~ 1947. Or they could've changed a bit earlier than that, right before American got into it and Gretsch went to wartime footing and Mr. Lang missed the switch. (one thing that I'll point out here is that based on some of the research I've done, is that once the USA joined the war, Gretsch was essentially not in the drum business until it ended while some of the other companies seemed to still be continuing operations on a smaller scale.)
That said, a major change like this could've happened at this (~1947) point when Gretsch and K. Zildjian resumed their partnership and importation began again. Makes sense on some level. I would also say the same regarding the switch from the Type 0 to the Type I stamp. Possibly something that happened after WWI when Ks started to be seen in the US again in 1919. Or perhaps even a couple of years later when Ludwig & Ludwig became the US exclusive distributor in 1921.
That said, as mainly a Paiste guy, maybe there are more definitive sources for dating the various changes to the K. stamps that I'm unaware of.
I don't think it's anything groundbreaking - says K. Constantinople stamped cymbals are pre WWII and K. Istanbul stamps are post WWII but very, very cool to see someone writing about the actual details of the metal stamps.
A couple things to consider on that point 1) the article comes 16 years after the end of the war - would take it with a grain of salt as far as drawing a line like that goes 2) My understanding is Turkey was neutral during the war so the stamps could've possibly changed to Istanbul between 1942 and 1946 before Gretsch started back to normal business post-war and no one in the USA noticed until ~ 1947. Or they could've changed a bit earlier than that, right before American got into it and Gretsch went to wartime footing and Mr. Lang missed the switch. (one thing that I'll point out here is that based on some of the research I've done, is that once the USA joined the war, Gretsch was essentially not in the drum business until it ended while some of the other companies seemed to still be continuing operations on a smaller scale.)
That said, a major change like this could've happened at this (~1947) point when Gretsch and K. Zildjian resumed their partnership and importation began again. Makes sense on some level. I would also say the same regarding the switch from the Type 0 to the Type I stamp. Possibly something that happened after WWI when Ks started to be seen in the US again in 1919. Or perhaps even a couple of years later when Ludwig & Ludwig became the US exclusive distributor in 1921.
That said, as mainly a Paiste guy, maybe there are more definitive sources for dating the various changes to the K. stamps that I'm unaware of.
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