Knob Tension Drums
In 1952 Leedy & Ludwig unveiled its brand new series of drums called the Knob Tension. Unlike the contemporary drums and even today's drums, the Knob Tension series did not use rods and lugs. Instead the bass hoops were kept on with tightening knobs, and instead of rods the drum was tuned with six sets of knobs resting on the white marine and black diamond pearl finishes.
The knobs actuated aluminum toggle links inside the shell. The links pressed interal rings against the underside of the heads.
And despite all the advertising hoopla, there was a one word description for the project. It was disaster!
A lot of drummers didn't like the look. And those who did shell out the $500 for the set found out that the mechanisms simply broke. The aluminum bent, the threaded knobs stripped and the public wanted to return them.
For drums put on the price list of July 25, 1952, they were removed on the next printing of May 4, 1953.
Rumors of the eventual demise of Leedy & Ludwig often mention the Knob Tension project as a cause, if not the cause.
Two times before drum companies tried alternate tensioning--once with Cecil Stupe in about 1930 after Leedy was sold, and then again with Stupe at WFL as World War II was starting.
There were two other Leedy employees watching those designs--George Way in the sales department and Roy Jeffries in engineering.
It was the beginning of the end for the company that proudly announced they build "The World's Finest Drummers' Instruments."
If you'd like to learn more about Leedy and other vintage drums, then I invite you to order my book from Modern Drummer, The Great American Drums. |
|
