Vintage Black Beauty

[tpstudio]

I have a vintage 1926/1927 Ludwig Black Beauty. My father and I have been holding onto it for sometime now. It truly is one of the most beautiful drums I have ever seen (in that vintage way)... but its basically been sitting in our studio in a case.....been nothing more than a great conversation piece...........we've talking about letting it go...... i think it could deserve a really nice home.......not that we havent treated it great but im sure somebody else would get alot more use out of it.

Any idea on the worth of these things......and where to sell such a thing?

-rob

[chrisp2u]

Go here...
http://www.vintagesnaredrums.com/for...isplay.php?f=6

There's a guy by the name of Mike Curotto who is the resident expert on such things. He is a collector (believe he has the largest vintage snare drum collection... something like 400+), and he aslo does restoration. Very knowledgable and helpful. I had chatted with him about potential restoration of a Black Beauty that a friend of mine has.

If it's in *really* good original shape, it could draw as much as $3500+. The depth of the drum is also a determining factor here. The 6.5" depth is the rarest and thereforer worth the most. The one I was talking to him about was a 4" which is also semi-rare. The 5" is the most common. There are also a couple different patterns on them... the one I had was a "scroll".

I'd say contact Mike (http://www.vintagesnaredrums.com/forums/member.php?u=27) and discuss it with him... he'll be able to give you an idea of worth.

Good luck.
---
c

[DeathMonkey]

Why was I expecting pictures of Pam Grier?

[bigbone]

Originally Posted by tpstudio

I have a vintage 1926/1927 Ludwig Black Beauty. My father and I have been holding onto it for sometime now. It truly is one of the most beautiful drums I have ever seen (in that vintage way)... but its basically been sitting in our studio in a case.....been nothing more than a great conversation piece...........we've talking about letting it go...... i think it could deserve a really nice home.......not that we havent treated it great but im sure somebody else would get alot more use out of it.

Any idea on the worth of these things......and where to sell such a thing?

-rob

To get more than 3,000 $ for a black beauty, it got to be in mint
condition, that mean perfect bearing edge, perfect strainer, and not
one tiny mark of rust, and plus it got to sound great,
not all those vintage drums sound great,
but for a more than good shape snare,expect more to get bettwen
700 and 1,000 $,
lot's of peoples ask for top $$$$ on thoses black beauty, but not all
of thoses peoples get what they ask as far as $$$$$

best of luck

[chrisp2u]

Originally Posted by bigbone

To get more than 3,000 $ for a black beauty, it got to be in mint
condition, that mean perfect bearing edge, perfect strainer, and not
one tiny mark of rust, and plus it got to sound great,
not all those vintage drums sound great,
but for a more than good shape snare,expect more to get bettwen
700 and 1,000 $,
lot's of peoples ask for top $$$$ on thoses black beauty, but not all
of thoses peoples get what they ask as far as $$$$$

best of luck

The 1920's version are generally a different story than other Black Beauaties it seems. The one my friend has was valued at $2500. This one had a small dent in the side, as well as lots of pitting and the bottom rim was pretty scraped up. Apparently the pitting is not such a big deal according to Mr. Curroto (and I guess he should know... http://www.curottodrums.com/), as they can be refinished in restoration and apparently that doesn't degrade the value too much. Again, it pretty much depends on which version (depth), what design it has on it and then conditiion.
---
c

[blackwatch]

Originally Posted by tpstudio

I have a vintage 1926/1927 Ludwig Black Beauty. My father and I have been holding onto it for sometime now. It truly is one of the most beautiful drums I have ever seen (in that vintage way)... but its basically been sitting in our studio in a case.....been nothing more than a great conversation piece...........we've talking about letting it go...... i think it could deserve a really nice home.......not that we havent treated it great but im sure somebody else would get alot more use out of it.

Any idea on the worth of these things......and where to sell such a thing?

-rob

i'll take a trip over to NJ and take it off your hands for $1400