Nicely Tacked Drum by J.H. Phillips

eBay item no. 260355206037, a nicely tacked oldie with a partial label located in Waterford, CT and offered by pak-itshipping( 82) is described as follows:
Up for auction [with a starting price of $1,800 (it did not sell) was] a Civil War drum in great condition. It does show its age though, both drum heads are the original heads, one head has a small round hole in the middle of it and the other has a slash in it (see pictures). Other than those two things it is superb. There is a label in the drum [that] says "Made at J.H. Phillips Norwich CT" [probably the retailer, not the manufacturer.] The white thing [grommet] around the [vent] hole is intact and could be made of ivory. None of the rivets are missing and are all in good shape for their age. This drum is unrestored [and] measures 16 x 17 in size.

Civil War Grouping of Hiram F. Stover, Drummer

eBay seller heritageauctionsinc( 66) is auctioning a grouping (only the projection described below is shown here) of Civil War musician's items (eBay no. 260311304972) from its catalog "2008 NOV Signature Civil War Auction #6015":

57198: Civil War Grouping of Hiram F. Stover, Drummer

Civil War Grouping of Hiram F. Stover, Drummer, Co. C, 3rd Penna. Hvy. Arty. Stover enlisted on Feb. 11, 1864 and was mustered out Nov. 9, 1865. Great 2½" X 3½" tintype portrait of him in four button blouse and kepi with his drum, paint decorated with eagle and shield, suspended from a linen sling, sticks poised to play. Interestingly one of the sticks has clearly been broken and repaired. A few small abrasions at the top, otherwise excellent in the original walnut frame. Threaded spear point tip from a Civil War guidon/ flag pole top retaining 90% of the original gilt. A Civil War mother of pearl "sweetheart" pin, heart shaped, 7/8" X 15/16", with tiny neatly scratched letters "H. F. S./ Bat C/ 3rd Art/ Pa" filled in with ink and a red inked incised line around the edge. Early brass safety pin style back, pinned to a piece of sky blue uniform cloth, probably from an overcoat. Also a 16" X 20" post war "projection" image, obviously taken from the tintype, highlighted with water color and charcoal. Really one of the best of these we've ever seen. Interestingly it shows several modifications from the tintype including closing the coat, adding some buttons and a waist belt with rectangular buckle. Very nice Civil War musician's grouping.

Estimate: US $1,800.00 - US $2,200.00 [plus 20% buyer's premium]

Bidding Goes Wild on 1862 Civil War Bass Drum with Painted Star Spangled Banner, Possible Battle of Fort Donelson Veteran

Bidding went wild as this magnificent specimen broke the bank at almost $3,000 on eBay. Here's the play-by-play. You can see where the pros got in and took over. In the last 12 minutes of the auction, the price tripled and the drum ultimately went to a seasoned pro who out-sniped two other snipers in the last 9 seconds of the auction.

js580( 395) US $2,851.00 Jun-18-08 08:22:03 PDT
js580( 395) US $2,851.00 Jun-18-08 08:22:03 PDT
o***s( 648) US $2,801.00 Jun-18-08 08:22:02 PDT
c***t( 138) US $1,601.00 Jun-18-08 08:21:54 PDT
d***d( 103) US $1,470.00 Jun-18-08 08:21:59 PDT
a***l( 161) US $1,200.00 Jun-18-08 07:26:20 PDT
a***l( 161) US $1,160.50 Jun-18-08 07:25:48 PDT
e***e( 71) US $1,160.00 Jun-18-08 08:19:54 PDT
e***e( 71) US $1,110.00 Jun-18-08 08:18:25 PDT
e***e( 71) US $1,059.99 Jun-18-08 08:17:00 PDT
e***e( 71) US $1,009.99 Jun-18-08 08:15:42 PDT
e***e( 71) US $985.00 Jun-18-08 08:15:11 PDT
e***e( 71) US $965.00 Jun-18-08 08:14:37 PDT
e***e( 71) US $935.00 Jun-18-08 08:13:48 PDT
5***h( 4 ) US $910.00 Jun-18-08 04:35:13 PDT
a***l( 161) US $755.50 Jun-17-08 09:52:42 PDT
a***l( 161) US $655.00 Jun-09-08 07:25:50 PDT
r***c( 717) US $575.00 Jun-17-08 19:51:22 PDT
d***d( 103) US $500.00 Jun-08-08 18:42:28 PDT
js580( 395) US $165.00 Jun-08-08 21:16:35 PDT
m***e( 82) US $152.75 Jun-08-08 19:34:17 PDT
s***s( 99) US $10.00 Jun-08-08 17:51:27 PDT

Starting Price US $0.99 Jun-08-08 08:22:06 PDT

This big beauty (25" diam. x 20") appeared early last week on eBay in a 10-day auction as item #160248970372 and described as follows:

United States Union Army Civil War Rope Tension Bass Drum in well aged condition. There is a hole and a tear in one side of the drum. I think it is a bass drum that was carried vertically. A good portion of the original strap harness is still attached. The drum measures 20 inches tall and 25 inches in diameter. Most of the artwork has faded but you can still see the distinct remnants of the Star Spangled Banner on the side. I cannot make out enough of the art to describe. Please refer to the photographs. The drum is still very solid and sturdy. The history of this item is remarkable in that it came from Tennessee, the sight of the Battle of Fort Donelson where Ulysses S. Grant defeated the Confederate Army, one of the first major Union victories of the Civil War in 1862. However, this information cannot be confirmed. This item was discovered in early 2008 while taking inventory of an estate of a collector in Missouri who had recently passed. Along with the drum was found a Display Sheet (also included) which states the following.

This drum came from Fort Donelson - Feb. 6, 1862. The fort is on the Cumberland River at about the place where the State Line separates Kentucky from Tennessee. The Confederates surrendered to U. S. Grant.

The date on the sheet is in error because February 16 was the true date of the victory. This may have just been a transcription error. Either way, this is quite the collectable for any History or Civil War Buff.

Double Claw Rod Brass Snare Drum -- What Year?

Although described as "very early civil war ear", I am without any basis to put this any earlier than late 1800s. If any reader has better information please write.

eBay item #150254613278
Seller: littleshanno

For your consideration a wonderful 1800s Civil War Era drum. I recently purchased this drum at a local estate sale along with other items from the same period. I am not an expert on drums but I will try to describe this one as best as possible. I was told by the family members of the estate this drum came out of that this drum was used in the Civil War. I could not find any markings of any kind on the drum. The drum measures 16" in diameter and is 8" in width. The catgut on one side has been torn. The black bands around the drum are made of bent wood and are stenciled. The stenciling has faded some. There are a couple of cracks in the wood but they are very minor. There is a mounting devise in the side of the drum to hang it from the players uniform. The center band of the drum is metal. It must be brass or copper as it will not magnetize.

The "Streetor Drum" by William S. Tompkins at the Missouri Historical Society -- a Photo Essay

1863 Wm. C. STREETOR PRESENTATION DRUM
Wm. C. Streetor / Co. F 7th Inf'y E.M.M. / July, 1863
(Collection of the Missouri Historical Society)

These photos were generously provided by Jeff Meyers, Associate Curator, Missouri Historical Society. We have here photos of an original William S. Tompkins presentation drum from the collection of the Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis. (For another article in this blog on Tompkins' drums including this one, see Tompkins 1860-1863 Masterpiece Drums -- Where Are They Now? from which some of the discussion of this drum is taken.)

Note: E.M.M. stands for Enrolled Missouri Militia. Click here for a brief history of the E.M.M.

The drum has a silver plate on its face engraved “W.S. TOMPKINS / MAKER / YONKERS, NY”.


Also, inside the shell is handwritten in script “Wm. S. Tompkins & Sons / Makers / Yonkers, N.Y. / Drums of all sizes made to order / June 1st / 1863”.

Who was Wm. C. Streetor?

Sgt. Major Wm. C. Streetor's service record states that Sgt. Major Wm. C. Streetor was transferred from the 7th to the 13th Reg't, E.M.M. Sept. 25, 1864 in St. Louis and relieved of duty Nov. 3, 1864. The service record is online at the Missouri Secretary of State's website, Soldiers Database: War of 1812 - World War I, Record Group: Office of Adjutant General; Series Title: Record of Service Card, Civil War, 1861-1865; Box 80; Reel: s774.

The Snare Mechanism -- Original or "After Market"?

I am puzzled about whether the snare mechanism is original equipment.

Holes in the top rim:

The holes in the top counterhoop could be the result of a once-present military carry (after-market), or a snare mechanism (if the top counterhoop once served on the bottom of the drum). Or could those holes be from the compression portion of a snare mechanism, as below?

Troughs in the top Counterhoop:

Another mystery -- what are the troughs in the top counterhoop?

Robin Engelman of Toronto, Ontario, Canada emailed me June 21, 2008 with a possible answer:

"Dear Ellis,

I visited your web site today and was delighted by the presentation of
the materials I sent you. ***

Another reason for writing was to take a guess as to why the two troughs appear on the hoop of the Streetor Drum. Perhaps the drummer simply put his sticks in those grooves while otherwise unemployed. Of course the troughs would have to be logically placed to allow this when the drum was slung and they would have to be big enough to hold a normal pair of sticks."

Possible Assembly Error:

What is that metal (brass?) attachment on the top of the counter hoop? Sure looks like the bottom of a screw-type snare mechanism. If it is the bottom of a screw-type snare mechanism, it doesn't belong there (it belongs on the bottom counter-hoop facing inward; in every example we've seen, Tompkins' red, white (in this case clear) and blue counter hoops had red on the outside, white (or clear) in the middle and blue on the inside moving longitudinally along the vertical axis). Here the paint pattern would tell us that the counterhoops are installed correctly. Could it be that someone attached the bottom of a Civil War era snare mechanism upside down and confused the top with the bottom counter hoop?

Hand-painted Wooden Militia Bass Drum

Information from Cowan's Auction Website:
Price Realized Including Buyer's Premium: $2,300.00
Auction: 2005, Historic Americana / June 9-10

1046. HAND-PAINTED WOODEN MILITIA BASS DRUM, front side presents a gold-painted medallion-shaped painted image of a fierce eagle clutching a flag in its talons rendered in brown, black, gold and red. Another similar eagle placed adjacent is depicted on a smaller scale without gold medallion periphery. Both upper and lower wood headbands painted red. Complete with 13 black leather tension mounts attached to the original braided ropes. Side of drum with black leather carrying strap connected by two pieces of brass furniture. Brown leather pad attached to drum by domed brass tacks aligned in heart outline complete with waist-belt connector hook.

Interior of drum marked with inked date 1828 visible through ivory peephole. 26" height x 24" diameter. Top drumhead severed at the edges. Bottom drumhead with expected dark toning. Painted images are both very muted. One of the tensions severed in half. Part of wood rim severed from body. Some alligatoring forming on the wood in various areas. Fragment of wood rim detached. VG.

(EST $6000-$8000)
Provenance: Ex John Armiger Collection
Price Realized: $2,300.00
Price includes buyer's premium.

Cowan's Auctions, Inc.
6270 Este Ave
Cincinnati, OH United States 45232
513-871-1670

Regimental U.S. Infantry Eagle Drum

Information from Cowan's Auction Website:
Price Realized Including Buyer's Premium: $3,450.00
Auction: 2005, Historic Americana / June 9-10

1044. HAND-PAINTED WOODEN MILITIA SNARE DRUM, front with eagle with red banner with white shading in its beak Reg U.S. Infantry. Eagle bearing a patriotic shield on its breast with arrows in its left talon and an olive branch in its right. Stylized crenulated sunrays above with a star-filled blue sky. Painting is rendered in red, white, blue, yellow, green and brown. Domed brass tacks geometrically aligned to fasten the seam. Ten brown buff leather tensions with corresponding braided rope. Top and bottom headbands painted red. Bottom headband with device with tension screws for altering tautness of drumhead by six strings. 17" height x 17" diameter.Both drumheads with expected toning from aging, eagle has refreshed paint, mild paint loss along headbands. VG+.

(EST $1500-$2500)
Provenance: Ex John Armiger Collection
Price Realized: $3,450.00
Price includes buyer's premium.

Cowan's Auctions, Inc.
6270 Este Ave
Cincinnati, OH United States 45232
513-871-1670