Civil War Bass drum made by an unknown manufacturer.
This bass drum is 23-1/2"tall and 23-1/2" across the rims. This one has a wooden body with wooden hoops. The original top head is still on the drum and has one tear and one repair. The bottom head is damaged, having a very sizable hole just off center. There are no repairs that have been performed on the wood body, it is in very good condition. The original bent wooden hoops are still present and in good condition. They are red on the outside and inside of the hoop. The tension rope looks to be original, two of the leather tugs are definitely original to the drum, six are obviously later replacements. The leather thongs that secure the tugs to the rope are broken on the two original tugs, but they are still present. The air vent hole ring is securely in place. There is no makers label on the inside of the drum, so I have no idea who made it. There are two rows of19 brass tacks, one on either side of the vent hole. Two concentric circles of brass tacks surround the vent hole, with a row of 7 tacks above and below the circles. Although there were over 32,000 regulation drums manufactured from1861 to 1865 for the Union Army, these don't become available very often. Drums were made primarily in the industrialized centers of the Northeast: Boston, New York and Philadelphia.
The leather beater is in rough shape with wear and a crack in the wooden handle (shown in photo).
I bought this from Harry Ridgeway (Civil War Relicman) 20 years ago and paid more than twice what I’m asking for it now. At the time Harry told me it came from a New York estate.
It is a very attractive and handsome display!
THIS IS A DEEP DISCOUNT FOR A NICE, ORIGINAL CIVIL WAR BASS DRUM!!!!!!!
IF YOU LIVE WITHIN 100 MILES OF ME I COULD MEET YOU HALFWAY TO DELIVER.