no joke here, this is awesome ... ive never seen one this old with so many parts matched for the age.  id LOVE to own a kit like this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=920124374

I have several of those Ludwig Chinese Toms ... exactly like the small mounted one seen in this photo. Sure wish I had the entire kit. I with you guys ... I'd love to own this complete kit.

Yep, and that's the charm.  If I were as much into cars as I am into drums and percussion, I'd love to own a Model T.

I've got a partial set of Leedy drums from the 1940's, made with only a few metal parts (back when non-military metal use was severly limited due to the war effort).  Snare drum, bass drum, one mounted tom (tacked on bottom head)...I gave the other mounted tom to a friend of mine, someone who I knew would keep and appreciate it as a historical item. The bass drum (26", IIRC) ended up being great on a couple of "orchestral" gigs I did (not with a full orchestra, but that style of music) - the lack of metal parts, outside of the tension rods and the nuts within the lug casings, makes for a very light drum to carry, and eliminates just about all rattles.  The snare drum needs to have the strainer replaced, and the mounting hardware for the toms was missing when I got the kit (which is why I gave away one of the toms - I don't have the time, the money, or the inclination to really restore these to mint condition), and these aren't (for the most part) the kind of drums I'm going to take out on gigs, but I love having them in my collection.

it certainly wouldnt be my main kit, and id rarely gig with it (local non-bar gigs only ).  but im a firm believer in being a playing collector.  so i wont ever own anything that wont get played.  id use it for sure as a studio option.  im afraid i would have to change that front head though  maybe get someone to do a maxfield parrish or n.c. wyeth on it.

hey andrew (and whoever else cares really) those lights werent just for effect.  with the size of those calf skin heads they were highly subject to the effects of the environment.  those internal lamps would heat the heads and keep 'em snug  

i found another ... not quite the model t, but still very cool ... and that wrap! yum ... sorry ... ive been in old school mode lately

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=923139225

(they say 12" tom, but looks like a 10" to me)

Wow Acro, I can just picture those drums on a stage with the psychodelic amoeba footage going on behind them. Wasn't that Jefferson Airplane? I'll go ask Alice, she'll know