SLINGERLAND FINISHES
The Slingerland Drum Company was originally a manufacturer of
banjos, banjo ukuleles, and guitars. Pictured below are a few examples of pearl
finishes that were applied to the early banjos ukuleles. Below are some
examples of Slingerland Pyralin
covered banjos, ukuleles and guitars in various finishes from the late 1920’s
and early 1930’s.
PHOTOS BY David E. Schenkman -
Turtle Hill Banjo Company
The Slingerland Banjo and Drum Company began offering pearl
covered drums in 1928. The first finishes available that year were White Marine
Pearl, Black Diamond Pearl, Brilliant Gold (sparkling gold), Sea Green Pearl,
and natural Walnut, Mahogany, White Enamel, and Black Ebonized wood. Like Leedy drums of this era, Slingerland
offered optional imitation gold hardware called “Artgold”
to add beauty and contrast to their finishes. Early pearl finishes often had a
fabric backing that can be seen through the finish. By about 1930, the use of
fabric as a backing was discontinued.
Example of the first version of Black Diamond Pearl –Note
the fabric backing
In 1929, more finishes were introduced including Opal
(Peacock Pearl), Lavender Pearl, and Rose Pearl.
1929-1934 ROSE PEARL TONE FLANGE ARTIST MODEL
1930 CATALOG ILLUSTRATION FEATURING ROSE PEARL
Lavender
Pearl from the 1930 catalog
1929 Lavender Pearl Artist Model with Artgold Hardware
Photo by Mike Curotto
1929 Opal Pearl Professional Model
Photo by Dave Zima
Slingerland also offered special hand engraved snare drums with
decorative imitation gold plated hardware. These beautiful instruments are
extremely rare today.
1928 SLINGERLAND ARTIST MODEL “BLACK BEAUTY”
6.5x14 Black Beauty (Dave Brown Collection)
Photo by Dave Brown
1928 Black Beauty Artist Model (totally reconditioned by Adrian Kirchler)
These beautiful
engraved drums were still being offered in the 1934 catalog but would soon be
discontinued.
FINISH CHOICES FOR 1934-35
1930 and 1934 CATALOG PAGES FEATURING OPAL PEARL
(Notice the
description on left says that because the finish is so complex, it could not be
captured on paper. Thus the black and white photo!)
1930 and 1934 CATALOG PAGES FEATURING SEA GREEN
PEARL
Early 1930’s Sea Green Pearl Artist model with Artgold Hardware
1928 SEA GREEN PEARL TONE FLANGE ARTIST MODEL (Liberty)
1934 CATALOG PAGES FEATURING GOLD FINISH AND
SPARKLING GREEN PEARL
Photo courtesy of Dave Brown
1
1930 CATALOG PAGES FEATURING TUTONE AND MARINE PEARL
FINISHES
1934 CATALOG PAGES FEATURING MARINE PEARL AND BLACK
DIAMOND PEARL FINISHES
1934 CATALOG PAGES FEATURING TUTONE AND REGAL
FINISHES
Top of the line drum outfits for 1934
The catalog
image below shows the 1933-34 Duall snare drum with
three color diamonds applied to the pearl shell. These multi-colored sparkling
diamonds could be ordered at extra cost and could even be applied to a drummers
existing drums.
Dave Brown Collection
Sparkling Gold Pearl Artist Model with Full Dress
Diamonds
A lacquer
painted finish known as “Antique” was also available in 1934. This less
expensive finish could also be adorned with sparkling diamonds at extra cost.
The addition of diamonds was often referred to as “Full Dress”.
Many exciting
finishes were also available on drum corps marching drums.
During the
middle 1930’s, a few more pearl choices were offered: Coral Pearl, Abalone
Pearl, and Sparkling Silver Pearl, Sparkling Green Pearl and Sparkling Red
Pearl.
ABALONE PEARL
Mike Curotto Collection
1935 SPARKLING GREEN PEARL BROADCASTER
1935 WHITE MARINE PEARL BROADCASTER
1935 SPARKLING GOLD PEARL BROADCASTER
By 1936, Slingerland was still offering lacquer finished drums
(“Antique”) in various two-tone colors and solid colors. The optional three color diamonds for the
“Full Dress” look was also still available.
LATE 1930’s “FULL DRESS” FINISH
Photo courtesy Bijan Oskouie/Rockin’ Robin Guitars and
Music
1936 CATALOG
Sea Green Radio King Set
Throughout
the late 1930’s and early 1940’s, White Marine Pearl proved to be the most
popular of all finishes, thanks to legendary Swing drummer Gene Krupa. Krupa
played White Marine Pearl Slingerland drums
exclusively throughout his career.
1930’s GENE KRUPA MODEL RADIO KING
Example of completely un-faded and original White Marine
Pearl
1938 BLACK DIAMOND PEARL GENE KRUPA MODEL RADIO KING
1930’s Black Diamond Pearl Radio King Tom Tom
Late 1940’s Black Diamond Pearl Radio King Snare
Drum
By 1937, Slingerland had eliminated their more exotic finishes and
only offered six pearl and sparkle finishes. As with all of the other drum
companies, special non-catalogued finishes were often available on request.
NOTE: Abalone Pearl was still offered and a separate page is devoted to this
finish in the 1938 catalog. However, it is not shown in the pearl finish sample
page as with the 1936 catalog.
1937 Sparkling Green Pearl drum with Full Dress
Diamonds
1940 Sparkling Green Pearl Radio King Snare Drum
Sparkling Silver
Pearl
1940 Blue and Silver Duco
1940 Sparkling Red Pearl Radio King Snare Drum
During World War
Two (1941-1945), drum production continued but on a very limited scale. The
basic finishes of 1940 were offered along with several Duco
painted finishes.
1943 Rolling Bomber Drums in White Marine Pearl
After the war,
drum production soon resumed and while all of the previous finishes of 1940
were still available, a few more were added. Joining the list of available
finishes were Sparkling Blue Pearl and Sparkling Silver Pearl (again).
POST WAR 1940’s Sparkling Silver (faded) Pearl Radio
King Snare Drum
Around
1947-1949, a unique light blue-ish gray version of
Black Diamond Pearl appeared for a while. This was just a “limited run” color
variation from the Pyralin manufacturer and was not
listed as a separate finish from Black Diamond Pearl. This odd and beautiful
variety can also be seen on some post World War Two drums. Below are two
examples of this finish. Note the 1949-51 badge on the drum at right. Also,
after the war, Slingerland offered blue pearl and red
pearl for a brief period. These finishes are not documented nor do they appear
in catalogs.
Below
is an example of an un-catalogued Blue Pearl finish. Courtesy of Dave Brown
Below
Left is an example of an uncatalogued Red Pearl finish.
From
the late 1940’s through the middle 1950’s no new finishes were added. Below is
an example of Sparkling Blue Pearl.
1956
Sparkling Blue Pearl
Around
1958, Slingerland dramatically improved their finish
line-up with some beautiful and unique new pearl options.
1958
Slingerland Catalog
1958
Sparkling Pink
By
1960, even more colorful finishes were introduced while some of the previous
colors were discontinued. Note the change of address from Chicago (1958
catalog) to Niles, Illinois (1960 catalog).
1960
Slingerland Catalog
1965 saw even
more additions to the Slingerland finish roster as
well as some colors being discontinued.
1965 Slingerland Catalog
1965 Blue Agate Set
1965 Blue Ripple Set
Rare 1968 Yellow Tiger Pearl
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