It is not very often that a collection centerpiece drum surfaces.
Drums like the few known Ludwig & Ludwig Triumphal models, or an unusually engraved and or burnished snare drum and, of course, the Ludwig “Deluxe” A.K.A. “Black Beauty” would certainly be included. A real prize might be a very rare “Black Beauty” like an anniversary model BB.
We think this recently discovered “White Avalon Pearl ‘Beauty’ ” could be added to this rarefied list.
As with some models that are considered extremely rare and sought after, one or two known examples appear then, maybe, another. But after years go by and no more examples surface, it is known that less than a handful exist. The Triumphal model drums or the Anniversary model BB have followed this pattern. To date this is the only “White Avalon Pearl ‘Beauty’” known to be in existence. This unique drum is covered in White Avalon Pearl with the 1920s 12 point Deluxe engraving pattern etched into the pearl and colored with rhinestones embedded in the center and at the end of each outer flower points (7 rhinestones per full pattern).
The drum is a 7”x14” “Super Swing” model from the mid-1930s. There are no catalog references to this version with the top rim being inlayed maple and the bottom rim being metal, however it can be found in the Spring Edition of the 1937 Ludwig Drummer magazine.
There are a couple anomalies with this snare drum. The shell is dated “3609” meaning September 1936. Yet the drum has lug inserts that one does not see on drums until late 1937. It is also a 7”x14” shell, which, according to the catalogs was not available for the “Super Swing” model until 1938. The 7” x 14” “Standard Swing” models appear a little earlier.
This is truly a remarkable drum that we are thrilled to offer on our humble site.
