1920s Ludwig ‘Theatre Model’ 15x5” Nickel over Brass

Legendary nickel over brass heavy two-piece shell - the same shell as the original Black Beauty but with nickel coating.

10 lug design.

This drum has original single flange hoops, claws, tension rods, butt end and strainer.

This drum came to me with contact paper wrapped around the shell with a painted copper bead, with most of the hardware also painted copper. Underneath the contact paper was a few layers of cream paint and underneath that was scratching to the shell. Of course, it’s hard to say what has happened and when, but I suspect the owner wanted a copper/gold finish so attempted to sand back the nickel to reveal the brass. When this didn’t work, I think they must have painted it, (or attempted to, a few times) but when that didn’t look good they wrapped it!!

It goes without saying, that whilst this is a rare drum, it is not a collectors example. There is scratching to the shell, exposed sections of brass, but regardless of what it’s gone through, this drum sounds absolutely delicious! There is a reason these two-piece brass drums are so sought after and these 15” models are really not often seen!

This is a 100 year old drum, as well as all the DIY that this drum has suffered, there is of course some minor aging. The nickel coating has worn thin on some of the hardware and so the brass does show through in places, mostly on the claws but everything works as it should.

Catalog scan from 1922/1923.

The last photo is as the drum came to me.

Please see photos for condition.

Freshly cleaned up in my workshop March 2022.

Fitted with brand new Remo Vintage Ambassador batter, a slightly used Ambassador reso and brand new Puresound Custom 15” wires.