Mylar heads

[LimaPop]

So who really invented the plastic drumhead, Remo and Evans both claim originality but who is correct?

 

[cribbon]

Remo never claimed that he originated it:

https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/remo-belli
(02:00-02:35)

 

[LimaPop]

Some sources make the claims on Remo's behalf. Reverb said "...primarily for inventing the world’s first synthetic drum head in 1957 and then for continuing to provide the drumming world with innovative inventions for decades after...."

 

[DannyPattersonMusic]

From the different things I read Remo was the first with Mylar.

Evans was a different material (never mentions Mylar) but says synthetic/polyester.
Here is a snippet from an (broken link removed) "Chick Evans had invented a different plastic drumhead around the same time and encountered the same hesitations Remo did with musician acceptance." In that same article it mentions Remo as being the 1st.

Remo does have a patent from Aug 15, 1957 on the Mylar drumheads; I could not find a patent for Evans from the 50's.

 

[VintageUSA]

I've seen old drum catalogs that refer to the "new plastic" heads.

 

[bongomania]

I've seen old drum catalogs that refer to the "new plastic" heads.

Any brands or dates?

 

[shilohjim]

I read in an old Modern Drummer that Sam Woodyard had the first synthetic head back in 1953.

 

[Seb77]

From the different things I read Remo was the first with Mylar.

Evans was a different material (never mentions Mylar) but says synthetic/polyester.
Here is a snippet from an (broken link removed) "Chick Evans had invented a different plastic drumhead around the same time and encountered the same hesitations Remo did with musician acceptance." In that same article it mentions Remo as being the 1st.

Remo does have a patent from Aug 15, 1957 on the Mylar drumheads; I could not find a patent for Evans from the 50's.

Mylar is just a brand name (by the DuPont company) for polyester film, myabe it follows certain specs, but it's not a different material as such.

 

[DannyPattersonMusic]

From the different things I read Remo was the first with Mylar.

Evans was a different material (never mentions Mylar) but says synthetic/polyester.
Here is a snippet from an (broken link removed) "Chick Evans had invented a different plastic drumhead around the same time and encountered the same hesitations Remo did with musician acceptance." In that same article it mentions Remo as being the 1st.

Remo does have a patent from Aug 15, 1957 on the Mylar drumheads; I could not find a patent for Evans from the 50's.

Mylar is just a brand name (by the DuPont company) for polyester film, myabe it follows certain specs, but it's not a different material as such.

I know Mylar is a brand name. I was just stating Evans never mentions "Mylar" only synthetic/polyester/plastic on any of their website history which to me seems they (Evans) maybe using a different brand than Remo who does mention the name "Mylar".

 

[LimaPop]

Mylar was marked based on its consistency and range of sizes/thickness. Same stuff as poly film

 

[Markkuliini]

From the different things I read Remo was the first with Mylar.

Evans was a different material (never mentions Mylar) but says synthetic/polyester.
Here is a snippet from an (broken link removed) "Chick Evans had invented a different plastic drumhead around the same time and encountered the same hesitations Remo did with musician acceptance." In that same article it mentions Remo as being the 1st.

Remo does have a patent from Aug 15, 1957 on the Mylar drumheads; I could not find a patent for Evans from the 50's.

Mylar is just a brand name (by the DuPont company) for polyester film, myabe it follows certain specs, but it's not a different material as such.

Are you sure about this? According to Remo most of their heads are Mylar, but vintage ambassadors and vintage emperors are said to be polyester. And I only found out about this after I noticed a difference in feel and also in color of the film when I was comparing clear "normal" emperor and clear vintage emperor. Vintage version felt softer under the stick and are less see through, bit more hazy. They definitely feel and look and soynd different materials to me.

 

[Ron_M]

Mylar is polyester, but all polyesters are not created equal - there are different formulations which would account for the variety of responses and sonic qualities.

 

[Patrick]

Jim Irwin with 3m applied for a polyester film drum head patent in 1953 and was granted patent in 1955. There's some good history in the Encyclopedia of Percussion, with Evans working on polyester heads ahead of Belli. I imagine it's deeper and more complex.

I also think it was the development of reliable hoops that really established polyester heads. Not sure who got there first.