Slingerland Vintage Drums

The Slingerland Drum Company is said to be a very historic drum company which was supposedly linked to the vibrant history of jazz drumming. The company was founded in 1912 by H. H. Slingerland according to information obtained. Mr. Slingerland is said to have won a correspondence school of music in a card game while on a gambling boat which cruised Lake Michigan at that time.

Having an interest in music he opened a music school in Chicago and eventually it is said started to manufacture instruments. The company imported ukeleles from Germany, then started to manufacture their own to meet the high demand according to research. They also produced banjos and then stsrted to manufacture guitars.

The production of drums began in the year 1927 because as the story goes, Ludwig and Ludwig Drum Company entered the banjo market. The Slingerland's first drum kits were introduced in 1928. The company established according to information obtained an extensive dealer network in the United States as well as Hawaii and in China.

After Mr. Slingerland died of a stroke, his wife Nona and one of their children,
Henry, Jr., ran the company. Manufacturing of the product line was moved from the heart of Chicago to the outer suburbs. The company remained in the family according to research until the year of 1970. Slingerland changed ownership multiple times in the 1970's and 1980's until it is said it was acquired from Gretsch by the Gibsdon Musical Instruments Company in 1994.

Slingerland still exists and offers a variety of different drum sets including the Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa signature sets. The company operates out of Conway, Arkansas and produces drum kits there as well. The Slingerland early vintage drums are coveted by collectors and music enthusiasts all over the world. Many of the Slingerland vintage and antique drums are being sold in many retail stores on-line and in the market place. Prices vary according to condition, age and rarity of the piece or pieces.

The Vintage Drum Center features Vintage Slingerland Drums featured as a 4 piece Drum Set with a Pearl Finish from the 1960's. This set is priced at $1,200. The company also offers Slingerland Vintage Drums in a 4 piece Drum Set in White Marine Pearl with an 18 inch Bass Drum according to the ad, from the 1970's. The set is in the Buddy Rich style with Two Floor Toms, 14 x 18 Bass, 8 x 12, 14 x 14 and 16 x 16 Toms. Stock number VI-2946, it is priced at $2,000. Vintage Drum Center also has Vintage Slingerland Drums, which is a two piece set from the late 1950's, in Black Diamond Pearl according to the advertisement. The Bass is 14 x 22 and the Tom is 9 x 13, both have the original logo heads. This Vintage Slingerland Drum Set is offered for sale at the best price over $500.00. Stock number VI-805A2.

E-Bay features a set of Slingerland Vintage Bongo Drums in Blue Sparkle, from the 1970's era. The Bongos are 6 inches and 8 inches. The price for the two is $275.00 plus a $16.00 shipping cost. Additional Slingerland Vintage drums are for sale on E-Bay include a Vintage Slingerland Radio King Bass and Tom set. The Bass Drum is 12 x 24 and the Mounted Tom is 8 x 12 according to the advertisement. The set is said to be from the 1953-56 era. Both drums have calf heads as advertised and both are marked Radio King. All of the hardware is said to be complete. The Tom mount has an extra bracket for a cymbal stand. The color of the set is Blue and Silver Duco Lacquer. The selling price is $125.00. DrumsForLess advertised the set to be sold on E-Bay.

Slingerland Vintage Drum Kits are sold in various price ranges. DrumsForLess features a Slingerland Vintage 1970's era seven piece Blakrome Drum Kit at a selling price of $500.00. On the E-Bay website there is offered a Vintage Slingerland 14 x 5.5 Snare Drum Set Kit for $30.01. Also on E-Bay is a 1960's Slingerland Vintage Drum Kit, in the color of Aqua Flame, Drum sizes are 12, 13, 16 and 20 inches. The Vintage Slingerland Drum Kit is selling for $899.00. There is a Vintage Slingerland Drum Kit, for sale on E-Bay, 1966 era in Midnight Pearl. The set has seven pieces and cymbals with stands as per the photograph shown with the advertisement. The cost of the Vintage Drum Kit is $1,499.99. A featured Slingerland Vintage drum is advertised as a Vintage Slingerland
Snare Drum in Chrome with eight Lugs made during the 1960's according to the advertisement, and selling for a price of $332.00.

Lesser priced Vintage Slingerland Drums are being offered on E-Bay, one which is featured is a Vintage Slingerland Ludwig 10 Tension Rod Snare Drum for $5.95 plus $6.50 shipping cost. There is a Vintage Slingerland Pro Snare Drum, 5 x 14 COB, in excellent condition as per the ad, from the 1960's priced at $1.00. Also a Vintage Slingerland Snare Drum, made in the U.S.A., selling at a cost of $5.50 plus $20.00 shipping cost.

Collectors look for quality Slingerland drums and this Antique Slingerland Snare Drum appears to be such a piece, It is advertised by Blues Twins and is an Antique Slingerland Drum, a Light Tan Snare Drum, a Marching Type according to the ad. The drum is 8.5 inches tall, and 12.5 inches across the head. The badge puts this drum at the 1928 to 1941 period. Of solid maple construction on the head and the rings. The snares are old and need to be replaced according to the information obtained. The bottom head is said to be old but can remain. The drum as per the ad
is tight and solid all around so it can refinished nicely. The piece has normal usage wear, with the hardware completely intact. The drum is said to have not been touched since the 1970's. The price is listed at $56.55, E-Bay is handling the sale.

Classic Vintage Drums is featuring an early 1960's Vintage Slingerland Jazz Drum Set
in Silver Sparkle Gold. The Bass Drum is a rare 12 x 20, the Tom's are 8 x 12 and
12 x 20. The Bass Drum is from 1962, the Small Tom from 1963 ane the Floor Tom is from the year 1964. The bass Drum is the only one with a badge which it is said is correct for that era. There is no wing screw for the cymbal L-arm mount according to the ad.

The most famous line of drums by Slingerland is said to be the Radio King series of drums. They were introduced in 1935 according to research and remained the popular
seller of Slingerland until 1957. Older Radio King's are sought after by many collectors it is said. Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich, both great drummers of their time endorsed the Radio King series.