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Hi all,
Here’s a very rare and unique snare drum that just entered the collection. I got this drum (and another) off of EBay a few months ago from a European seller. Since I am dealing with a European drum and metric dimensions/heads etc., I hired my friend and new “French Connection”, Emmanuel Giraudon of Old Drums, Vintage & Custom www.oldrums.fr If you need a European drum restored with the correct of-the-era parts along with correctly tucked metric calf heads and a thorough research then your man is Emmanuel. He does excellent work that is true to the era, fairly priced AND his work is delivered on time as promised. Emmanuel allowed me to quote his description of this snare drum so here is the data straight from the expert:
“Seimatone Chromatic snare drum - 14" / 5.90 - circa 1948 :
the brand : Seimatone was the export branch of the brand P. Beuscher. This is a very old name in the world of music in France, because this musical instrument factory was created in 1850 !! The Beuscher brand has always existed and still exists since 2015 ... Today the brand no longer manufactures its instruments, but is a reseller of instrument and a great music editor, like "La Vie en Rose" by Edith PIAF.
the shell/bearing edge/snare bed/wrap/reinforcing rings : This is a very original snare in nickel-plated brass , and chromatic tension system is very ingenious !! Invented by Roger SELLER (Beuscher's boss in the 50s) and probably inspired by the Knob Tension created 1 year before ... But with this snare, only two tuning knobs are necessary to adjust the tension, one by a head ! The internal chromatic system is very complex but works perfectly, and allows you to change tone while playing ... By cons, this snare is very heavy : 15.7lb or 7 kgs !!
The hardware :the lugs are not lugs because the hoops are fixed. Only the internal system is doing tension on the natural skins ... Therefore, the 45° bearing edge and the snare bed had no utility... Very original conception !!
A bientôt, Emmanuel
olDrums Vintage & Custom
www.oldrums.fr”
Enjoy! Mike Curotto