Field Drums

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.

Labels: Brass, Civil War, Rod, Snare

This is eBay item #130225167268, offered for sale by eBayer bedrossianmusic, Warwick, Rhode Island. It is a good surviving example of short drum construction in the late 19th century.

A number of featuer are of particular interest, especially the claws holding down the top counterhoop. Similar claws can be seen in a drum in the CDV (photo below), said to be of an Indian War period drummer.

The leg rest also appears to be similar. And the drum in the CDV (below) also appears to have wood counterhoops and a metal shell.

However, the drum in the CDV appears to be slightly deeper (taller shell) judging by a comparison of the counterhoop width to the exposed metal shell in each drum, but that is difficult to determine (it might be possible that the CDV distorts the shell height making it appear taller than it is, but given that the drum in the CDV is photographed at an angle, the shell height should appear shorter than it actually is rather than taller).

Information from Seller:
METAL SNARE DRUM
Thompson & Odell started in the 1890's

DESCRIPTION: Calf skin head, Metal shell, Gut snares, Mahogany or cherry wood, Inside diameter 15 1/4", Outside Diameter 16", Height 7 1/8", 8 lugs/tension rods ( 1 pc.rods), bottom head is slightly torn/fatigued, Impeccable condition, photo shows the actual label inside the drum with the drum's history.[?]

Labels: Metal Shell, Rod, Snare, Thompson Odell

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?

Labels: Civil War, Inlay, Painted, Provenance, Rope Drum, Snare, Tompkins

Information from Cowan's Auction Website:
Price Realized Including Buyer's Premium: $345.00
Auction: 2005, Historic Americana / June 9-10

1394. INDIAN WAR ERA DRUM BY STROMBERG, wood body with eight leather tensions with both rims painted black. Braided rope cording interlaced 11 top rivets and 10 bottom rivets and a snare-tightening pin.

Interior of drum with original label which reads "The Celebrated Artist Drum Thompson & Odell Co. No. 523 Washington Street Boston Mass. Charles Stromberg Maker."

Complete with black-painted drumsticks 14" and 17". 15" high x 16.5" diameter. Top drumhead with 13.5" tear, bottom drumhead with 2.5" tear. VG.

(EST $300-$500)
Price Realized: $345.00
Price includes buyer's premium.

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

Labels: Indian War Era, Label, Rope Drum, Snare, Thompson Odell

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

Labels: Armiger Collection, Civil War, Eagle, Painted, Rope Drum, Snare

Information from Cowan's Auction Website:
Price Realized Including Buyer's Premium: $900.00
Auction: 2006, Spring Decorative Arts, June 17

787. HAND-PAINTED MILITIA SNARE DRUM,front presents image of an eagle perched upon an oval device with a national shield inside. Background with a panoply of flags and military trophies, resting upon flourished scrolls. Right side of image is flanked by a vertical shield with the initials D.C.B. with intricate scrollwork border. Drum paintings rendered in orange, blue, red, white, brown and gold. Twelve buff leather tensions with corresponding braided rope. Top and bottom wood headbands painted dark brown. Bottom headband with tension screw device and ten wires for altering tautness of drumhead. With pair of 17" drumsticks. 14" high x 17.5" diameter.Orange paint ca 95%. Alligatoring present throughout.

(EST $3000-$6000)
Provenance: Ex John Armiger Collection
Price Realized: $900.00
Price includes buyer's premium.

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

Labels: Armiger Collection, Eagle, Painted, Rope Drum, Snare

Information from Cowan's Auction Website:
Price Realized Including Buyer's Premium: $184.00
Auction: 2006, Spring Americana, May 10, 11 & 12

540. WWI LUDWIG SNARE DRUM W/ STICKS, with interior printed paper label, made in Chicago, with all hardware and original strap and sticks, 16" x 14.5". Includes letter from the manufacturer stating that the only this drum was part of an order placed by the U.S. Government in 1914.One head with split (6"), and normal wear from use, VG-.

(EST $200-$400)
Price Realized: $184.00
Price includes buyer's premium.

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

Labels: Decal, Ludwig, Rope Drum, Sling, Snare, Union Shield, WWI

Information from Cowan's Auction Website:
Price Realized Including Buyer's Premium: $180.00
Auction: 2004, Fall Historic Americana / Dec 2-3

475. INDIAN WARS ERA DRUM WITH EAGLE & FLAG, late Indian Wars militia drum with original varnish finish, polychrome decal of spread winged eagle clutching flag pole in talons with U.S. flag with 12 stars; interior printed paper label that reads Henry Eilese [sic, Eisele] / Bass And Snare Drums / 209 & 211 Grand Street New York / N.B. Drum Heads, Sticks, Cords, etc. Constantly On Hand; with scroll decorated top and bottom bands; 17.5"diameter x 12" high. Missing heads, else VG.

(EST $400-$500)
Price Realized: $180.00
Price includes buyer's premium.

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

Labels: Eagle, Eisele, Flag, Painted, Project Drum, Provenance, Snare

Information from Cowan's Auctions Website:

Price Realized Including Buyer's Premium:
$660.00 Auction: 2004 Spring Historical Americana, May 20, 21

474. LABELED CIVIL WAR ERA DRUM, with interior label Abner Stevens...Springfield Mass.; in original red and cream paint with skin heads, older replaced cordage and leather slide tighteners; 14.5" high x 24" diameter.

As above with minor flaking paint, VG.

(EST $300-$500)
Price Realized: $660.00
Price includes buyer's premium.

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

Labels: Abner Stevens, Drilled Holes in Counterhoops, Rope Drum, Snare, Tacked Seam

Information from Cowan's Auctions Website:

Price Realized Including Buyer's Premium: $780.00
Auction: 2004, Fall Historic Americana / Dec 2-3

473. ID'D CIVIL WAR 126TH OVI SNARE DRUM, belonging to Joseph Harper. Bent wood snare drum with original band in red wash, skin heads and rope strapping with sinew snares bands on bottom and cut leather tighteners and original turned hickory sticks; no label on interior; 8" high x 15.5" diameter. Includes a copy photograph of the extended Harper family in which Joseph is identified in 1910, letter from the heir who consigned the drum to us and printed soldier's and unit history.

The 126th O.V.I. saw considerable action during the war including at their 1st encounter with the enemy at Martinsburg, W.V. in 1862 losing an entire company captured, Bristoe Station, Spotsylvania, and at Cold Harbor, at which Joseph, our drummer was severely wounded and later discharged for disability. The unit lost 9 officers and 111 men KIA. Untouched, EXC.

(EST $400-$600)
Price Realized: $780.00
Price includes buyer's premium.

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

Labels: Drilled Holes in Counterhoops, Provenance, Rope Drum, Snare, Sticks