A Gretsch (?) find, missing it's strainer. Can you figure out what's missing?

[goddboxx]

I found this WMP project snare at a yard sale this weekend, in pretty sad shape. No bottom head, just the calfskin hoop, and a torn calfskin batter head. I assume from the Rocket nickel lugs and the stick chopper style (and bent) rims that it's a Gretsch. No badge, no interior label, no engraving anywhere, although there are pencil marks indicating where the snare beds should be cut. All the other parts are present, although 2 of the tension rods are bent (any suggestions for replacement are welcome).

There was a strainer, engraved Made in England, that was screwed (not bolted) into what must have been the original strainer's holes. No other holes present. They are placed 1½" apart. I'd welcome any suggestions on what I could install, preferably without drilling additional holes.The Made in England strainer is useless as it has a bent and non-replaceable tension rod.

This is obviously not going to be a collectors piece, but I'd like to get it functioning and see what it sounds like.

Thanks in advance for any info or suggestions!

 

[dtk]

it looks a lot like my W/A (top left in the picture)...but my interior was painted black and oddly the lug screws were too long and have shims...which were in place when the interiror was painted. Mine sounds amazing but the throw is very different

 

[goddboxx]

Thank you!

Yes, it looks like the same drum. Pardon my ignorance, but I don't know what a W/A is. Would it be possible for you to send a pic of your throw? That might make it easier for me to hunt for a replacement (I'm not using the one in my pics, it's broken). Nice to know yours sounds good, that's encouraging.

 

[Geardaddy]

I think you will find a picture of the original throw-off for your snare on drumarchive.com. Follow this link to the Gretsch 1941 catalog:

http://www.drumarchive.com/Gretsch/Gretsch_41.pdf

Scroll down to page 14 to see a picture of what is likely your snare drum with the proper throw-off. It is the Gretsch "Renown" Wood Shell Snare Drum (bottom of page).
Then if you scroll down to page 61 you will find a picture of the 9150 throw-off snare strainer (top middle of page) with a description (top left of page) with the number 9151.
Hope that helps.

 

[Geardaddy]

Also, if you have all of the tension rods for your drum and the only issue is that a couple of them are bent, it is actually very easy to straighten them to the point that you won't be able to tell. A vice and a rubber mallet usually does the trick. Of course, that is provided that they aren't severely bent.

 

[goddboxx]

Wow! Ask and ye shall receive!

Thanks, Geardaddy- you are right. Amazing! I was surprised that the throw I have is what came with the drum. I was fooled by the 'Made in England" stamped on it, not thinking that Gretsch would farm out parts from abroad.

Guessing from the description that no "Gretsch-pearl" finishes are available, it seems the WMP wrap on my drum could have been added to the drum after it left the factory. In the photo I've included a reddish color (dark mahogany?) seems to be under the wrap. The fact that there's no badge might be another clue that it's an added wrap, and the badge went missing during the process.

I added a photo of two tension rods. The one on the right is bent right beneath the crown. I guess with careful positioning in the vise I might be able to straighten it somewhat.

Thanks again for your help and expertise. I live right down the road from the old Gretsch factory pictured on the catalog. It was one of the first existing buildings converted into condos at the beginning of the North Brooklyn waterfront building boom. Unfortunately for the hip pioneer occupants, it's now surrounded by new and even higher buildings, so no more view of The Williamsburg Bridge and the Manhattan skyline. Sometimes progress is a bummer!

 

[GrandpaCleve]

Here is a page from the Rogers 1939 catalog showing your throw off. Also stamped Made in England.

 

[goddboxx]

Thanks! Could Rogers and Gretsch have made/marketed the same drum? They look very similar.

 

[GrandpaCleve]

The pictures in the 1939 Rogers catalog are the same pictures from the Gretsch 1936 counter catalog.

 

[levelpebble]

and W/A is short for Walburg and Auge.

 

[K.O.]

"Rocket" lugs were used by companies other than Gretsch. I think they may have been produced by W&A and then sold to drum companies. W&A was primarily a hardware company that made most of the stands used with drums prior to the 1960s. They made drums too in small quantities using parts from various makes. I've heard they would trade hardware for drum parts. Their drums are often interesting with maybe a Gretsch shell with Rogers Lugs and somebody else's hoops.

 

[4MoreYearsOhNo]

According to Rob Cook in his Gretsch book, this Rogers drum and other entry level drums were made by Gretsch (see p. 161 in "The Gretsch Drum Book"). So according to Cook, OP drum was made by Gretsch, whether sold by them or Rogers: "It is evident that Gretsch did in fact make drums for other companies: all of the snare drums in the 1938 Rogers catalog pages shown here are Gretsch drums." Drum was probably not made by W&A since they seem unlikely to have imported a strainer when they made several of their own; though they certainly may have made the lugs for Gretsch.

BTW, you should be able to fully restore the throwoff you have. Unscrew it and straighten it the same as you are doing with your trods.

 

[goddboxx]

Thanks, people!

All this info is fascinating and useful. Yes, I was able to straighten out the throw enough with a judicious rubber mallet. Now I just need to find mounting bolts, nuts and washers. I have access to a vise tomorrow so I'll try straightening the t-rods. I'm not sure which end to put in the vise yet, but I'll figure it out. I don't want to damage the thread.

There's one dip in the batter side bearing edge. I'll try a quick fix using a little KwikWood wood repair epoxy. I doubt if I'll make it worse.

Thanks again, all.

 

[studrum]

It's interesting to hear of your journey with this drum.

 

[1988fxlr]

Thanks, people!

All this info is fascinating and useful. Yes, I was able to straighten out the throw enough with a judicious rubber mallet. Now I just need to find mounting bolts, nuts and washers. I have access to a vise tomorrow so I'll try straightening the t-rods. I'm not sure which end to put in the vise yet, but I'll figure it out. I don't want to damage the thread.

There's one dip in the batter side bearing edge. I'll try a quick fix using a little KwikWood wood repair epoxy. I doubt if I'll make it worse.

Thanks again, all.

Clamp the threads between two scraps of wood in the vice and use a drum key for leverage to bring the head back straight

 

[Formula 602]

I found this WMP project snare at a yard sale this weekend, in pretty sad shape. No bottom head, just the calfskin hoop, and a torn calfskin batter head. I assume from the Rocket nickel lugs and the stick chopper style (and bent) rims that it's a Gretsch. No badge, no interior label, no engraving anywhere, although there are pencil marks indicating where the snare beds should be cut. All the other parts are present, although 2 of the tension rods are bent (any suggestions for replacement are welcome).

There was a strainer, engraved Made in England, that was screwed (not bolted) into what must have been the original strainer's holes. No other holes present. They are placed 1½" apart. I'd welcome any suggestions on what I could install, preferably without drilling additional holes.The Made in England strainer is useless as it has a bent and non-replaceable tension rod.

This is obviously not going to be a collectors piece, but I'd like to get it functioning and see what it sounds like.

Thanks in advance for any info or suggestions!

I have heard from more then 1 person…. these drums sound real good!

 

[goddboxx]

Clamp the threads between two scraps of wood in the vice and use a drum key for leverage to bring the head back straight

Awesome! Thanks, I’m glad I read this before I performed surgery.

 

[dtk]

So here's the brother to your snare...8 lug. I love it and the W/A strainer.

 

[goddboxx]

OMG almost twins! Your's looks a little more lux, with a beefier throw plus a muffler. I've never seen a W/A badge before. Another thing I've have to look for! Thanks so much!

 

[dtk]

OMG almost twins! Your's looks a little more lux, with a beefier throw plus a muffler. I've never seen a W/A badge before. Another thing I've have to look for! Thanks so much!

They had a few badges but I think this drum predates the 'perfection' era....which was actually written on their badge. The older badges had a bass drum with an ampersand on the head and W/A on either side.