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Drum Sticks

« on: January 03, 2006, 02:14 AM »

I was just curious as to where and how the first sticks were made. Today we have a huge selection of models...with every angle covered ( more or less ) Does anyone know what the first size was and when they were first produced?


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Ranman

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Re:Drum Sticks

« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2006, 03:15 AM »

I had a fellow soldier that knew I was in the Battalion band "whittle" me a pair while we were on exercise miles from anything. It was touching actualy.


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Re:Drum Sticks

« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2006, 04:49 AM »

I know vater was one of the first major stick companys.


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Jon E

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Drum Sticks

« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2006, 07:02 AM »

I think the first drumsticks were made by a company called Zog. Named after its founder, Zog Zogstein in the year 2,000,000 B.C.

Zog needed sticks to bang on a log with with. Unable to find anyone making sticks to fit his needs, he began making his own. Nylon tips weren't introduced until 1,000,000 B.C. however.


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Drum Sticks

« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2006, 07:08 AM »

Most drum makers had their own line of sticks befor the influx of "drumstick companies" in/arond the 50's. Here are some dates of company foundings:

Vater 1956
Promark 1957
Regal Tip (nylon tip introduced) 1958
Vic Firth c.1965
TruLine 1981

I personally think Ludwig still "makes" (I don't reelly know where they come from) a great stick.


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Drum Sticks

« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2006, 07:37 AM »

Quote from: Jon E on January 03, 2006, 07:02 AM

Being a Geezer myself, I have to say I really liked his natural line: the ones with the bark still on them. And didn't he experiment with granite tips before the nylon?


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Christopher

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Drum Sticks

« Reply #6 on: January 03, 2006, 07:51 AM »

I had a pair of ZogÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Saber Toothed Tiger tipped GBs (Great Biggies, it was before numbers were invented you know) that lasted a good millennium or so.

Wink


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Re:Drum Sticks

« Reply #7 on: January 03, 2006, 08:01 AM »

Zog's entire product line was excellent, especially in the durability department. I particularly liked how his RexSkins heads (he branched out around 500,000 B.C. or so) held up to heavy use of the PorcuQuill brushes.

DaveFromChicago, what was your favorite bark? I found cedar to be a bit grippier for my hands.


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Re:Drum Sticks

« Reply #8 on: January 03, 2006, 12:58 PM »

Cooperman seems to have the first models covered (as we know them, please, though I guffaw ever so politely at the speculation in this thread Wink

).

A look at a facsimile of a 1923 Sears Roebuck catalogue I have reveals two models, both listed as 15 1/2" and "orchestra size", for sale in both hickory and turtle ebony.