A couple of years ago I added a 67 Acrolite to my arsenal of snares.  After cleaning it up and playing it for a while (I put a 42-strand snare on and was promptly assimilated by the Borg), I have developed an interest in older drums.  When shopping around for them, I've seen the words vintage, classic, antique, circa, rare and collectible used almost interchangeably.

I've been reading up on the subject (http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/ is a great resource) and there seems to be a certain ambiguity about the topic.  Are there any definitions or guidelines that have been established by the drumming community at large?

My Sainted Mother used to say that anything over 100 years old is antique, anything on the way there is collectible, and the rest is junk.

I'm into old cars, and there are specific definitions for vintage, classic, custom, etc. that have been established by various clubs, state DMVs, and insurance companies.

The only other parameter I know is in English usage, the word Vintage should be followed by a date (vintage 2001).  In the clothing world if it's old and trendy it is in a "vintage" clothing shop.

I recently bought a series 2000 Paiste blue label cymbal from the mid 80s on eBay that was listed as vintage.  Mid 80s is vintage?  That makes me collectible, and Louis would be...Well, Louis is great at any age!   

I checked out your webpage and they had sonor models listed as "vintage" from the early 90's.  That is not even 20 years.

Here's a definition of vintage from the net:

1. The yield of wine or grapes from a vineyard or district during one season.
2. Wine, usually of high quality, identified as to year and vineyard or district of origin.
3. The year or place in which a wine is bottled.
4.
a. The harvesting of a grape crop.
b. The initial stages of winemaking.
5. Informal
a. A group or collection of people or things sharing certain characteristics.
b. A year or period of origin: a car of 1942 vintage.
c. Length of existence; age.
adj.
1. Of or relating to a vintage.
2. Characterized by excellence, maturity, and enduring appeal; classic.
3. Old or outmoded.
4.
a. Of the best: played songs that were vintage Cole Porter.
b. Of the most distinctive: "Fatalism has coexisted with vintage American overconfidence" Thomas Oliphant.


So I guess if your kit is desirable and of particular excellence to the drumming community, out of production and retaining it's value or greater than to some degree then it's vintage.

If that's true, then all my drums are vintage. Me included! 

"snair"  LOL!

Thanks, AD.  That breakdown makes sense to me.

Good one.
I've seen ads like that many times.