Rare Original Billy Gladstone Gold Plated Vintage Snare Drum 7”x14” 3-way tuning

Description

Rare original Billy Gladstone Gold Plated Vintage Snare Drum 7”x14” 3-way tuning.
NOTE:  We are out of town until about April 26, and will be unable to ship or allow local pick up until then. I will be available to answer questions.
This is an extremely rare original custom-made Billy Gladstone snare drum, the only known surviving metal drum Billy made and one of very few that Billy kept for an extended period. Billy was a legendary musician and drum innovator. He custom-made only about 50 snare drums in the1950s after many years of performing at Radio City Music Hall. (He married a Rockette.) Only about half of these drums are known to survive. Most are very firmly entrenched in collections. Billy custom-made exceptional, innovative drums for famous drummers including Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson, Cozy Coleand Shelly Manne. Gladstone collector and expert Chet Falzerano tells the story of this amazing man and his drums in the 2007 book “Billy Gladstone.” The book opens with some prominent testimonials to Billy:
“My roll is probably the best roll in the world outside of one other drummer and I’m not modest. The greatest drummer I have heard in my life as far as rudiments and the roll is concerned is Billy Gladstone.” – Buddy Rich
“I can recall one time going to hear Billy at Radio City … he did something I never saw a drummer do and probably will never see again. The Rockettes were onstage, when suddenly Billy did one of those sforzando rolls that was so magnificent that the attention of the entire theatre audience was literally drawn from the stage to Billy’s corner of the orchestra pit. Something like that happens once in a hundred years and it demonstrates the kind of drumming magic this guy had. I only wish the kids of today had a chance to hear Billy Gladstone play.” – Louie Bellson (Modern Drummer October 1981)
“He (Gladstone) could do single stroke rolls at an incredible speed and stay relaxed. Frankly, I’ve never heard a snare drummer who had the control and speed that Billy had.” - Joe Morello (Modern Drummer October 1981)
Barrett Deems said Billy’s roll was so clean it sounded like sand pouring from a pitcher.
Harvey Mason, after trying Louie Bellson’s Gladstone in the 1970s, said “That snare drum, Lou, is the greatest snare drum I ever played on in my life. It’s just a magnificent work of art.”
“I’ll give you anything [for it]. I’ll even give you my wife!”
Charlie Donnelly of
Modern Drummer
magazine said: “Billy’s drums were the greatest drums ever made.Everything about his drums was perfect.”
In 1950 Radio City abruptly replaced their older musicians, including Billy, after many years of loyal service.
Heartbroken, he ramped up his custom drum business and later played for the hit musical My Fair Lady.
The rarity, special features, and history of long possession by Billy make this a unique opportunity to acquire avery special drum.
This drum is believed to be a prototype for the drum Billy made for renowned percussionist and longtime Julliard professor Morris Goldenberg, whose percussion books are still widely used after more than half a century. One expert speculates it may have been an early prototype for custom Gladstone drums more generally.
The inscription “ Billy Gladstone Radio City Music Hall 1932-1950” indicates this drum, unlike most of his others, was intended for his own use. He kept it in his New York City apartment until his death in 1961.
It was purchased in 1962 by one of Goldenberg’s students, Howard Van Hyning, who used it for performances with the New York City Opera (where he served for decades and was principal percussionist) and at Carnegie Hall. After Van Hyning’s death, the current owner purchased it from Howard’s widow in 2013.
After years of use there is significant wear and cosmetic damage to the gold plating, and some minor dents, as shown in the detailed photos. The heads, snares, and top rim have been replaced (details below). Arnie Lang (longtime New York Philharmonic percussionist who studied with Billy, owned a custom Gladstone drum, authored the book “The Gladstone Technique,” and manufactured reproduction Gladstone snare drums through his company Lang Percussion) examined this drum and prepared it for sale by Mrs. Van Hyning. He confirmed its authenticity, as did several other experts. Expert advise to resist heavy restoration, such as re-plating, has been followed to preserve the historic integrity of the drum. It sounds great, nice and crisp, or fat and juicy depending how the snare tension is adjusted.
Since I purchased this drum in 2013,it has never left my home and has been handled with utmost care. I have treasured it, blemishes and all, for its quality and history of long association with Billy, but it is time now for me to seek offers from interested collectors who feel the same way. Please understand that drums like this are extremely rare, highly collectible, and very expensive. I paid a high price and seek the full value of the drum. The offers I expect to receive over time as word spreads will help clarify what that is.
What follows is most of the write-up, lightly edited, from when the drum was offered for sale in 2013, including history and other information from the Van Hynings:
“This drum is one of the rarest Billy Gladstone snare drums. The only surviving gold-plated brass shell snare drum, this Gladstone prototype has several unique features and other signature innovations. Billy Gladstone was a leading percussionist of his era, playing at Radio City Music Hall from 1932 to 1950. After leaving Radio City he devoted much of his time until his death in October 1961 to the crafting of approximately 50 custom-made snare drums, of which only about 23 survive today.In 1981, Charlie Donnelly of
Modern Drummer
magazine said: “Billy’s drums were the greatest drums ever made. Everything about his drums was perfect.”  This drum is one of only two Billy Gladstone snare drums with a metal shell. The other, now lost, was crafted for Morris Goldenberg, who was mentor and teacher to Howard Van Hyning, who purchased this drum in 1962. This 7”x14”drum was a prototype Gladstone with a gold plated brass shell and 24K gold plated hardware. Because of its rarity and unique place in Billy Gladstone’s life work, the gold-plated drum deserves consideration by every serious collector.
Drum features:
This drum’s 24K gold-plated brass shell is  a Gladstone prototype that Billy the inventor experimented with on a limited number of metal shells designed by him and manufactured by Gretsch in the1930’s and1940’s. The consensus among experts is that no other Gladstone drum of this type exists. Some of this drum’s signature Gladstone features are:  the Gretsch-Gladstone single post tube style lugs, top and bottom tension rods,throw off, badge, air vent/adjustment tool above the butt, a three way BG tuning key, and a combination snare strainer and internal muffler system with a numeric gauge to allow for custom tuning. The butt plate is of a vintage Gretsch style, and the holes are appropriately placed for a Gladstone drum. The rims are the ‘stick chopper’ style favored by Billy.
The name plate above the strainer helps authenticate it as a Gladstone drum. It reads: “Billy Gladstone,Radio City Music Hall 1932-50.”
This Gladstone drum’s name plate is evidence that it is a prototype born of Billy’s relentless desire to improve snare drum design.  According to one expert, the name plate’s shape is unique among Gladstone drums, mounted in an unusual place with square head screws that Billy used on his throw offs and butt plates. The “Billy Gladstone, Radio City Music Hall 1932-50” inscription indicates that the drum was not built for another drummer but for Billy’s personal use.
History:
This drum had been owned by noted percussionist Howard Van Hyning since 1962, acquired less than a year after Billy’s death. Van Hyning bought it on the advice of his Juilliard teacher, Morris Goldenberg, who urged him “to always be on the lookout for a Billy Gladstone drum.” Van Hyning spotted the gold-plated beauty on a dusty shelf in a midtown Manhattan music store. Its oversized lugs and unique gadgets alerted him to instrument’s lineage. The drum remained in Van Hyning’s studio, used only for special occasions such as playing the national anthem at the New York City Opera’s opening nights or for solo appearances at Carnegie Hall. On his death on October 30, 2010 the Gladstone drum passed to his wife Marlene.
Condition:
The overall condition of the drum is good, although the shell shows some flaking of the gold plating, and small nicks and dents. Inthe1980’s Van Hyning had the original calf heads replaced with plastic and new gut snares installed. The original top hoop broke, but the drum’s overall sound quality is unmistakably Gladstone. Mrs. Van Hyning consulted a number of experts on what restorative repairs could be made while maintaining the drum’s integrity. Rather than risk harming any of the drum’s original parts, she chose instead to purchase a set of 1941 Gretsch Gladstone hoops. The holes for the tension rods/lugs were enlarged on the replacement rims by an expert machinist and fit perfectly, giving the drum an improved sound. A ‘new vintage’ synthetic top head also enhances the sound. Mrs. Van Hyning also employed an expert electroplating company that re-plated the replacement hoops in 24 karat gold plate to precisely match the shell and bottom rims.  Before these improvements a famous New York drum collector concluded: “We believe this drum would be amazing if fitted with a replacement top rim and calf heads top and bottom. However, no alterations are required.” The replacement rim and new synthetic calf head have substantially improved the drum’s sound and appearance.
Conclusion:
Since only approximately 25 drums that master drummer and inventor Billy Gladstone produced still exist, any Gladstone drum is incredibly rare and commands a significant premium in the marketplace. Most of those drums are already in the hands of collectors, and the opportunity to acquire one today comes along infrequently. As the only extant gold-plated Gladstone snared rum with a metal shell it is unique among all Gladstone drums. It deserves a place in a fine collection.”
End of quote from the Van Hyning sale.
This drum is offered from a smoke-free home in Fairfax, Virginia, near Washington, DC. My wife and I practice careful health precautions and monitor our temperatures (normal for months). I'm flexible regarding shipping/delivery. Local pickup with no shipping fee, 0 S&H within the 48 contiguous United States. International shipping available, inquire for quote. Delivery may be available, inquire for details.