Vintage Rogers questions

williamsbclontz

Silver Member
Could anyone help me with this. I'm trying to figure out which rogers kits used to have the double 45 edge and rounded edge. I know there was a rogers "holiday" line. I've also heard words like powertone and fullerton thrown around. Mainly I am curious as to which ones would have the double 45 edges and what tags in the shell I should look at

A lot of sellers don't post pictures of the bearing edges unfortunately
 
According to SteveMaxwell.com (here: http://www.maxwelldrums.com/steves-...d-qualities-from-thru-drum-c-194_134_554.html)...

Rogers started 45 degree bearing edges in 1964. Lots of good info at that link and the rest of Steve's website.

"Fullerton" is in California and the last of the 60s manufacturing locations. Before that there was Cleveland (oldest), then Dayton, Ohio.

Holiday, Powertone, Tower, were designations of models, kits or lug (Tower), or Series (Powertone). There are COB Powertone snares, wrapped wood shell Powertone snares, and I even have a 16" floor tom made in Fullerton with the old-school paper tag and "Powertone" listed as the model.

I also have a 12" tom made in Dayton that has "Holiday" written on the tag-but crossed out in Pencil with "Tower" written above it. This tom has The Tower single lugs on it...

Lots of little interesting things like this with the older Rogers kits...
 
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According to SteveMaxwell.com (here: http://www.maxwelldrums.com/steves-...d-qualities-from-thru-drum-c-194_134_554.html)...

Rogers started 45 degree bearing edges in 1964. Lots of good info at that link and the rest of Steve's website.

Great info, so is he saying that every drum from the year 64 and after had 45 edges? I also read somewhere that some guys prefer the pre CBS kits (which was their manufacturer in the 70s). They moved the company in 66, so does that mean that there are pre CBS rogers kits with double 45 edges? They would've only been made in 64 and 65 I guess, and I imagine they are hard to find... id like to see one and check it out

There's a music shop in dallas who says they have a mid 60s rogers bass drum in really good condition. I saw pictures and it looks good but I couldn't see the bearing edge and the tag inside said "holiday". The double 45 edge is important to me so if it's rounded edge that'll be a deal breaker
 
A couple things...

I am not familiar enough to know if the Rogers "45" degree bearing edge was what we know as a "double 45" degree bearing edge today. I am not sure the Rogers edge had the back cut or not. Mine are currently in storage, but I will try and get one out and check. I know for a fact that out of the following pieces-(2) 12" toms, (1) 13" tom, (2) 16" toms, (1) 20" bass drum, and (1) 24" bass drum-NONE of them have anything close to a rounded bearing edge. These drums are a mix of Cleveland, Dayton, and Fullerton (pre-1970), so this should be a good answer to your question on rounded edges on Rogers drums.

I am not aware of ever hearing truly negative things about Rogers-even after the CBS buyout, until well into the 70s. Even the cast vs machined Swivo hardware wasn't that bad, and was\is better than a lot of what was being offered at the same time and even after.

I do know that 20" Rogers bass drums-especially and preferably the Cleveland made ones, have a reputation for being one of the best sounding bass drums "ever", and this comes from within and without the Rogers fan club. I happened upon one quite by accident and I concur with this sentiment.

I wouldn't\won't go so far as to claim Rogers to be "superior" to every other drum out there, but I would go so far as to say if you get a Rogers kit in good condition there wouldn't be anything to complain about for a 50+ year old kit.

One last bit of anecdotal bragging before I let someone smarter and more experienced than I take over...

I played a "battle of the bands" my sophomore year of HS (1979). There were about 10 bands in a gym getting set up etc. I was at my Red Onyx Rogers kit (the only Rogers in the gym...) banging away when I looked up and saw about 5-6 guys standing in front of me watching. All I heard was "wtf kit is that man?!" and "those freakin' toms sound awesome!"

I still have that kit and I still relish that brief moment in time when I was able to catch the attention of several (much) better drummers than I just by the sound of those toms....

Like thunder I tell ya...like thunder...lol

ps-lots of good Rogers history here: http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/rogers_drumsets.html
 
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That's awesome man I bet those drums do sound great. I've just been listening to a lot of sound files on YouTube and from albums recorded with rogers drums, and the drums sound so nice. Especially the kick drums, there really is an audible difference I think and they just sound puncher and more full to me. And i think a big part of that is the 45 edges, so I really want to try one out to see if it lives up to the hype

Thanks for your help, those links did a lot for me
 
No problem-happy to spread the love for vintage kits around!

Good luck in your quest...
 
PM a guy named Ploughman, I think still on here... a human Rogers encyclopedia. He can answer many, very specific questions
 
I played a "battle of the bands" my sophomore year of HS (1979). There were about 10 bands in a gym getting set up etc. I was at my Red Onyx Rogers kit (the only Rogers in the gym...) banging away when I looked up and saw about 5-6 guys standing in front of me watching. All I heard was "wtf kit is that man?!" and "those freakin' toms sound awesome!"

I still have that kit and I still relish that brief moment in time when I was able to catch the attention of several (much) better drummers than I just by the sound of those toms...
Great 15 sec/min of fame story. Thanks for sharing Mongrel. I can hear that Brian Downey sound now. ;-)

PM a guy named Ploughman, I think still on here... a human Rogers encyclopedia. He can answer many, very specific questions
Just what I thought when I read the initial post... John would know these answers. Believe his username is JohnPloughman.
 
Could anyone help me with this. I'm trying to figure out which rogers kits used to have the double 45 edge and rounded edge. I know there was a rogers "holiday" line. I've also heard words like powertone and fullerton thrown around. Mainly I am curious as to which ones would have the double 45 edges and what tags in the shell I should look at

A lot of sellers don't post pictures of the bearing edges unfortunately

These are mine and they are for sale. 1964 in Black Diamond Pearl. Edges in mint condition, appear to be 45 degrees. 20/12/16. PM me with any questions.

32841511_10160346613330203_7312270048658194432_n.jpg



32679824_10160346613150203_384833832840331264_n.jpg


32676127_10160346612895203_5287453913627230208_n.jpg


32775953_10160346612850203_6501617223763755008_n.jpg
 
These are mine and they are for sale. 1964 in Black Diamond Pearl. Edges in mint condition, appear to be 45 degrees. 20/12/16. PM me with any questions.

32841511_10160346613330203_7312270048658194432_n.jpg



32679824_10160346613150203_384833832840331264_n.jpg


32676127_10160346612895203_5287453913627230208_n.jpg


32775953_10160346612850203_6501617223763755008_n.jpg


those could actually possibly be late '63 ... very early days of Beaver Tail
and most likely assembled by Jerry Harmon
 
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