Red Lettering "R" on an old Zildjian

[gsmithxa]

Looking for a bit of info here. There's a Zildjian EAK cymbal in my area that popped up and the owner showed me a picture of a red letter "R" on the top of the cymbal. Does anyone know what this is? I want to say I heard these were specially marked for a reason, perhaps it was a tuner for this particular line? 

 

[jptrickster]

Looks like a sharpie job. R - Right side?

 

[little rock]

I had a Gretsch 14X16 ft once that had an R stamped into the badge and on the inside also. Someone told me that is done to pieces of rental gear. IDK

 

[Blue Zurich]

I have a few custom stamps, maybe I'll mark my keropes and K Cons for future queries!

 

[hawker]

R for Ride possibly?

 

[Tama CW]

Never seen that before on any Zildjian.

That's probably not an EAK with that wide lathing. IAK (1988) or later imo.

 

[JazzDrumGuy]

R stands for reject. Tell him you'll pay him half price.....

 

[gsmithxa]

Thanks for the replies, I always learn so much here. CW was right it's an IF Serial # so 1996.

 

[John DeChristopher]

It might stand for “Reference,” but reference cymbals were generally referred to as “Tuners” so I don’t know.

 

[Ron_M]

Never seen that before on any Zildjian.

That's probably not an EAK with that wide lathing. IAK (1988) or later imo.

Agreed. There's no way that's an EAK - none of the characteristics.

 

[Cliff DeArment]

A red R is commonly stamped as a rental.

 

[1988fxlr]

Branding with a scarlet letter is a tradition where Zildjians are made going back to the Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony. I’m not sure what this cymbals crime was, but it knows

Either that or a rental company or school district put it on there