REDUCED - Vintage Antique Bass Drum - Circa 1890's - $125 (Neptune Beach)

REDUCED - Vintage Antique Bass Drum - Circa 1890's 1 thumbnail

condition: good

make / manufacturer: Unknown

model name / number: Unknown

size / dimensions: 26.5 X 26.5 X 14.75

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This was my Great Grandfather's bass drum. Nicholas Lienard. He was an accomplished musician of many instruments. He organized and led a Brass Marching Band from McDonald, PA that toured Western Pennsylvania and Ohio in the late 1890s and early 1900s. He graduated from a music conservatory in Lille, France and attended Juilliard in NYC. For a time he played for John Philip Sousa... but the family story is, "he did not care for Sousa's approach to composition" and thus left his company. I am getting older and need to find it a proper home that will be appreciative of its history. There is a glass inlay on one side, as my mother turned it into a table top coffee table in the 1970s. The glass pops out easily to be cleaned. It is still fully skinned on both sides and is in relatively good condition for its age with a lovely mellow sound. Obviously greatly out of tune. A musician might find this an interesting coffee table piece. I also have the original mallet. OBO Price. The right person is more important than the money.

HERE'S A REVIEW BY AI:
That is a striking **vintage bass drum**, likely dating from the late 19th to early 20th century. It carries a heavy "field drum" or early orchestral aesthetic, characterized by its deep wooden shell and weathered patina.
## Visual Characteristics
* **The Shell:** A deep, cylindrical wooden body with a rich, dark mahogany or walnut-toned finish. It shows significant "character"—nicks, scuffs, and fading that suggest a long history of use.
* **The Hoops:** The top and bottom counter-hoops are made of thick, light-colored wood. They show visible wear, particularly along the top edge where the finish has thinned or chipped away over decades.
* **Hardware:** The drum utilizes long, metal **tension rods** that run the full depth of the shell. These are secured by simple claw hooks over the wooden hoops, a classic design before modern lug systems became standard. The metal parts have a dark, oxidized finish consistent with antique iron or brass.
* **Drumhead:** The top surface appears to be a traditional calfskin or older synthetic head, featuring a muted, off-white opaque finish.
## Historical Context
Drums of this scale and construction were common in:
* **Military & Brass Bands:** Often used as "rope-tension" or early "rod-tension" parade drums.
* **Early Jazz/Vaudeville:** These large-diameter drums were the precursors to the modern kick drum found in contemporary drum kits.
* **Orchestral Percussion:** Used for deep, resonant tones in symphonic settings.
The overall appearance is one of rugged durability, making it as much a piece of historical folk art as it is a musical instrument. It would be a centerpiece in any collection of Americana or antique musical equipment.

post id: 7931644806

posted: 2026-05-02 11:09

updated: 2026-05-25 18:34

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