Snare drum
Maker
Charles A. Stromberg
Distributor
Thompson & Odell Music Company
Date1892-1904 ca.
Place MadeBoston, Massachusetts, United States, North America
ModelArtist Drum
Serial No.none
SignedPrinted on paper label with repeated triangle border, the corners cut: THE CELEBRATED / ARTIST DRUM. / THOMPSON & ODELL MUSIC CO. (rubber-stamped in black ink) / THOMPSON & ODELL CO., (printed on label) / SUCCESSORS (rubber-stamped in black ink) / NO. 523 (number double struck and “749” written in faded black or brown ink above) WASHINGTON STREET, / BOSTON, MASS. / Wallace Spooner, 17 Province St., Boston. / CHARLES STROMBERG (rubber-stamped in faded black or brown ink)Second, identical label, with the entire address line scrapped off, and the corners uncut, next to first.
MarkingsSnare strainer stamped: McINTOSH
Rod coupling sleeves stamped: PAT’D.NOV.29’87
DescriptionThis snare drum is the earliest instrument by Charles Stromberg known to survive. The addresses of the distributor, Thompson & Odell Music Co., and the label printer, Wallace Spooner, correspond to directory listings between 1892 and 1904. Charles Stromberg and his son Elmer are best known for their fine, large-bodied archtop guitars of the 1940s and 1950s. However, Charles began his career as a cabinet maker, and entered the drum trade sometime before 1900.
The drum utilizes Rudolph Wurlitzer’s single-tensioning system, patented in 1887 (U. S. Patent 373,873), but it is missing the knee rest which was designed to mount on two of the hooks. Stromberg patented his own separate-tensioning system on March 8, 1904, following a July 20, 1903 application (U. S. Patent 754,101) using cast, double-claw hooks similar to Wurlitzer's, but with two offset rods screwed into a center-mounted double bracket. He also applied for a snare strainer patent on the same date, which was assigned on April 5, 1904 (U. S. Patent 756,730). The drum currently bears a McIntosh throw-off strainer (U. S. Patent 911,605, filed Oct. 6, 1908, assigned Feb. 9, 1909), which replaced an earlier strainer, the outline of which is faintly visible on the rim. There is no evidence that this drum ever bore Stromberg’s own patented hardware, suggesting that the drum pre-dates its design or was a cheaper model.
Shell: plain maple shell with bird’s eye maple veneer and natural finish; vent hole lined in dark-brown stained maple
Tension: Single-tension; eleven nickel-plated iron rods and cast iron double-claw hooks; long, hexagonal coupling sleeve on snare end of rod to adjust tension; integral, cast hook-shaped shoulders on two double-claw hooks to accommodate Rudolph Wurlitzer’s patented knee rest, now missing; integral, cast loops on opposite double-claw hooks of the same rod for mounting of wire strap hook.
Rims: orange-brown stained and varnished maple
Strainer: nickel-plated steel adjuster attached to snare rim
Snares: twelve brown cord snares.
Heads: Calfskin
DimensionsShell Diameter (not including rims): 36.6 cm (14-3/16 in)
Shell Height (including rims): 13.5-13.8 cm (5-5/16”-5-7/16 in)
ProvenancePurchased from John Elsbernd, Oregonia, Ohio, 2007.
Credit LinePurchase funds gift of Jean M. Abramson Estate, 2007
Object number13539
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