Field Drums

Dedicated to research, study and comparisons of old field drums. Our purpose is to collect information about historical U.S. drums (manufacture, preservation, conservancy, repair, market) for use by scholars, collectors and others. Photographs of drums, and anything related, together with educational and informative narratives, are welcome. If it's on the web, it should be here. Interested readers will find archived postings a good resource. Bookmark the blog URL for easy return.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

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]

Labels: Civil War, Drum, projection, Tintype

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Tintype of Union Drummer with Regimental Drum

Information from Cowan's Auction Website:
Price Realized Including Buyer's Premium: $2,520.00
Auction: 2006, Spring Americana, May 10, 11 & 12

1176. DOUBLE QUARTER PLATE TINTYPE OF AUTHENTIC UNION DRUMMER, with companion image of the unidentified drummer and two pards, one man’s face deliberately obliterated. Wearing a nine-button frock coat and kepi this Union musician pretends to beat a full regulation drum with unusual painted spread eagle, banner and shield motif and partial “INFANTRY” visible in reverse. A correct heavy canvas drum sling hangs from his neck and the drum is complete with its twisted rope dress cords. No regimental insignia is visible. The drummer with light moustache but no goatee is the first man standing on left in the companion tintype. He wears partial uniform with civilian jacket suggesting either early war or veteran’s furlough in ’63 or ’64. This image is a case study of an authentic Civil War military drummer, not the usual five-year-old child dressed up for play as a drummer found online!

Drummer plate with halo of tarnish around mat opening, scattered hairlines in field, and minor mat abrasions, else near VG. with above average clarity. Companion image on the dark side with far right subject partially rubbed out. Housed in a slightly warped gutta percha figural case with cracked lower hinge and minor edge wear.

(EST $1000-$1500)
Price Realized: $2,520.00
Price includes buyer's premium.

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

Labels: Drummer, Photo, Tintype

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This website is a non-commercial, non-profit, non-revenue-generating work developed and maintained by Ellis Mirsky, an attorney working in New York, solely for the purpose of gathering information about field drums for use by hobbiests, researchers, reenactors, students, collectors and enthusiasts. Any suggestion or information that you may have is welcome.

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For the lawyers out there, this is not a scholarly journal. It's an amateur collection of information about field drums, a subject given precious little attention. On the theory that the "fair use" doctrine of copyright law allows such use for non-commercial educational purposes, we've taken photographs and text freely and without express permission from various sources on the Internet. Whenever possible, work created by others is set in italics so as to distinguish it from original writing. However, if at times we fail to do so, there is no intent to take credit for someone else's work. It is merely the result of a lack of perfection, something which we readily admit. Photographs and italicized text should be considered attributed to the sources identified near them, even if not expressly so stated. If you believe that anything written here is incorrect or if you can add to our learning, please feel free to email us. We guarantee a prompt and courteous reply as well as express attribution for any information or photographs provided.

"I have gon, and rid, and wrote, and sought and search'd with my own and friends' Eyes, to make what Discoveries I could therein. * * * I stand ready with a pencel in one hand, and a Spunge in the other, to add, alter, insert, expunge, enlarge, and delete, according to better information. And if these my pains shall be found worthy to passe a second Impression, my faults I will confess with shame, and amend with thankfulnesse, to such as will contribute clearer Intellence unto me." Fuller's "Worthies of England," 1662. Increase Blake of Boston, His Ancestors and Descendants, etc., Blake, Francis E., Boston, Mass., 1898, Press of David Clapp & Son.

The drums on these pages were here long before we arrived and, with care, should be around long after we've departed. We have the privilege of taking care of them for a short period. As such, we are self-appointed caretakers of a small slice of our country's rich heritage. By sharing knowledge and information, we will all be better suited to discharge our responsibilities with skill and good judgment. Ellis R. Mirsky, Blogmaster@FieldDrums.com

Field Drums

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Civil War Grouping of Hiram F. Stover, Drummer

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Tintype of Union Drummer with Regimental Drum

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