Robski Posted October 25, 2020 Share #1 Posted October 25, 2020 Greetings Bought this Marine Snare Drum this at a local Auction last week. It was suggested it was from the Spanish-American war. The drum head is cracked but it is in pretty nice condition with what appears to be the original drum sticks. I have exhausted my online efforts to research it so I turn to the community for advice. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Best Regards Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warguy Posted October 25, 2020 Share #2 Posted October 25, 2020 Yep you have a nice original USMC Span Am vintage drum. I have one very similar in my collection. You will find them with both black rims and red rims.i have not been able to determine the reason behind the different colors. One collector suggested the black rims might have been used for mourning purposes such as funerals, etc, but I am not sure about that. There is one with a red rim on display in the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico. I will post some photos in a bit. Congrats, they are not easy to come by! Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warguy Posted October 25, 2020 Share #3 Posted October 25, 2020 Rob, here is my drum on display in my Marine room. It is also depicted on page 116 of Timothy Klies book USMC Eagle Globe and Anchor emblem, 1868-1963. It is attributed to long time Marine Corps collector Greg Beck in the book. I acquired the drum from him about the time the book was published. I have never seen another come for sale. It is apparent that the tensioners are different between the two but I suspect that could have been the case during the period. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warguy Posted October 25, 2020 Share #4 Posted October 25, 2020 Found a few more shots on my iPad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warguy Posted October 25, 2020 Share #5 Posted October 25, 2020 Here is the one on display at the Marine Corps museum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted October 25, 2020 Share #6 Posted October 25, 2020 Gentlemen those are fantastic items! Here is the Globe and Laurel’s drum, said to be off the USS Oregon and used during the Boxer Campaign. It’s by Horstmann. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warguy Posted October 25, 2020 Share #7 Posted October 25, 2020 Thanks Dirk, I swear no matter the topic, you come up with something fantastic to add. What a great drum. Thank you sir! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted October 25, 2020 Share #8 Posted October 25, 2020 Funny Kevin, I was thinking the same about your collection! You have some stunning stuff in that Marine Room! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6th.MG.BN Posted October 25, 2020 Share #9 Posted October 25, 2020 Great find on an early Marine corps item. Thanks all for sharing pics/info. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted October 25, 2020 Share #10 Posted October 25, 2020 Have never seen one of these before. Thank you guys for this information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robski Posted October 25, 2020 Author Share #11 Posted October 25, 2020 Wow I knew I came to the right place. Thanks for the Help!! Cheers Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robski Posted December 15, 2020 Author Share #12 Posted December 15, 2020 Greetings All I feel a bit foolish. I have been out of town so.... Took a closer look at the Marine Drum and I found some period engraving with what appears to be a name and Cincinnati O. at the bottom. Some of the engraving appears to be polished away. There are Three Lines but the name and the second line are hard to figure out. I have used raking light to try and decipher it. Looks like Pvt W ???. Second line is Mamuf?? 'Pvt' W___ P_________ of B__ Mamuf'_ Cincinnati O. Anyone have any ideas?? I will keep trying to get better pictures but... Best Regards Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted December 15, 2020 Share #13 Posted December 15, 2020 I am thinking that’s maybe the markers name - Washington & bro ————————— Cincinnati o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warguy Posted December 15, 2020 Share #14 Posted December 15, 2020 I agree, makers name but I think it is Wurlitzer and Bros. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warguy Posted December 15, 2020 Share #15 Posted December 15, 2020 Wurlitzer, Rudolph, Cincinnati. Included Rudolph and Anton Wurlitzer. Established in 1857, and included a general line of musical instruments including drums. They employed 30 workmen, and contracted for 100 drums 5-23-1896 and as Howard W Wurlitzer 500 drums in 1898. My bet your drum comes from this time period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robski Posted December 15, 2020 Author Share #16 Posted December 15, 2020 Holy Crap!! You are correct. It is Wurlitzer and Bros!!!! Great eye. Can't thank you Gents enough. Cheers Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robski Posted December 15, 2020 Author Share #17 Posted December 15, 2020 And the Second Line is "Manuf." for Manufactured/er Makes sense now. Thanks Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warguy Posted December 15, 2020 Share #18 Posted December 15, 2020 You are welcome, who knew the name sake of 1950’s juke boxes was making instruments in the Civil War? Let’s hope their instruments were far better than their engraving eh? Nice drum, I have never seen one maker marked. Thanks again for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted December 15, 2020 Share #19 Posted December 15, 2020 Kevin great read! I think you are spot on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted December 16, 2020 Share #20 Posted December 16, 2020 .... a great thread! Thx to all for their contributions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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