My inheritance

[dschrammie]

So, I just aquired my inheritance. It's my grandfather's set that he purchased in 1939, an original Gretsch set. I don't know much about it really. It took me a while to even figure out how some of it was supposed to go together. All of the heads are orginal calf-skin heads...the only one that was broken was the bottom head of the snare. The kick pedal is an original WFL Speed King - I didn't even know they made the speed king back then! The hhat pedal/stand is still surprisingly smooth. The kick is 28x14...it's massive! The toms are 12" and 14" and have "permanent" bottom heads. I don't know what the snare is made of...I'm guessing mahogony. It's darned heavy. I think it's very cool that they'd even thought of interior reinforcement hoops back then. There's a stamp on the inside of the snare, 43. Don't know what that means either...guess I'll have to look into that a little.
The cymbals are mostly Zenjian. There are a lot of rumors about this brand and I'm going to have to do a little more research to find what's true and what isn't. They're all paper thin and I'm amazed they're still intact...I can't imagine they'd last more than 2 strikes by today's style of playing. Okay...I guess that's enough talk about the kit...now time to just show the pics.

http://edrumforum.com/picture.php?albumid=25&pictureid=209

http://edrumforum.com/picture.php?albumid=25&pictureid=210

http://edrumforum.com/picture.php?albumid=25&pictureid=211

http://edrumforum.com/picture.php?albumid=25&pictureid=212

http://edrumforum.com/picture.php?albumid=25&pictureid=217

http://edrumforum.com/picture.php?albumid=25&pictureid=213

http://edrumforum.com/picture.php?albumid=25&pictureid=214

[skadrummer]

Cool! and in such great shape.

[CaTaPulT]

Hi dschrammie.
Wow, that thing looks great considering how old that kit is, I love the finish and the huge bell on that small cymbal. That's quite a kit, I hope you manage to find out all the truths about the kit as you were mentioning, please keep us posted, that's what you call a blast from the past! thank you for sharing the pics! :)
Good luck with the research.
Take care

Regards: >>>> Jack <<<<

[Totally Plucked]

Looks really modern .....Not exactly what I would have expected for a 1939 kit.......but what did I expect? :rolleyes:

This looks fun. Shame I never received an inheritance like that.

[dschrammie]

yeah, honestly, I'm amazed at the condition of the kit and the hardware. granted the hardware has some rust and some pitting, but considering the age that's expected. The finish appears to be paint with some kind of protective laquer or something like that. There are a few scuffs, a few scratches...but all are really quite small.
My grandfather saved the original receipt and it even lists out the parts that he switched out and some that he added. The pedal being the thing that stands out the most. But there were also some cymbal holders and cymbals that he switched out as well. I'm sure that probably takes away from the dollar value of the set as it's not "original" equipment from the original set up. But that doesn't matter...it's the original equipment that my grandfather wanted and used, that's all that matters.

I sent an email to Gretsch to try to find some info about that stamped number in the snare.

According to "The Cymbal Book", Zenjian cymbals were a "side" brand from Zildjian that were made for Ludwig and Leedy...they couldn't put the Zildjian name on them because of a business agreement with another company. I want to look further into that though, because I can't tell where that information comes from...I only got that from the online excerpts from the book, so I don't know what references were used to come up with that info.

[skadrummer]

What was the original cost? I bet it was a small fortune back then. Just after the depression.

[Scorch Whammin]

Very Cool Inheritance....kit looks to be in very good condition, esp. considering its age...snare looks to be single ply walnut/mahogany with maple rings...bet it sounds nice...:)

[WildWes]

Cool kit D.

Early version speed king pedal, tacked on calf-skin bottom heads and clamp on spurs/stands. Nice bit of history and legacy passed on to you from your grandfather. WW

(Now gut it, paint it purple and wire it up with electronics :-)

[dschrammie]

What was the original cost? I bet it was a small fortune back then. Just after the depression.

It retailed for $168...after various parts substituted, and in great big letters "35% discount", he paid just over $100. I have no idea what that would equal today, but I'd imagine that $100 back then was a lot of money.

[skadrummer]

http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl
>$2600 retail
>$1500 discount

[TAKnipe]

Dave, Thats a beautiful kit, make sure you hold on to it and keep it preserved well. There are not many examples left in the world as nice as yours. A real beauty, Tom

[dschrammie]

Dave, Thats a beautiful kit, make sure you hold on to it and keep it preserved well. There are not many examples left in the world as nice as yours. A real beauty, Tom

Thank you very much; yeah, I'm pretty proud of it (if ya can't tell already! ;) ) I'm going to have to start looking into it, see if Gretsch may be willing to help/give advice as to how to preserve the kit. To my knowledge my grandfather didn't do much other than keep it in a cool dry place, always in their cases.

And yeah...this isn't leaving my possession. It'll eventually belong to Maddie or Lyla.

[CaTaPulT]

Something that kinda caught my eye, what are those two round metallic disks on the beater side of the drumhead?
Take care

Regards: >>>> Jack <<<<

[Scorch Whammin]

Something that kinda caught my eye, what are those two round metallic disks on the beater side of the drumhead?
Take care

Regards: >>>> Jack <<<<

I believe they are mufflers for the bass drum head..:)

[dschrammie]

I believe they are mufflers for the bass drum head..:)

Yep, that's exactly what they are. They're actually not the original. The original had a natural rubber muffle which now crumbles like a 5 month old biscuit. I didn't realize until after I'd put it on and took the photo that it's not the oringal...ah well!

[CaTaPulT]

Thanks for the info guys, first time I see muffles like those! :)
Take care

Regards: >>>> Jack <<<<