1930's - 1940's - 1950's - 1960's - 1970's

Olympic drums in the 1950's

By 1951 two colour choices were available, either Black or White lacquer. Photographs that were used in this catalogue were the same as the ones used in 1947. There was the addition of the "Bopman's Kit" which was the Ten outfit and included a floor tom mounted on what looks like a low snare stand but floor tom legs are listed in the price list.

A new 8 lug snare drum appeared and could be had in 5" or 6 1/2" depths but still had old Art Deco style lugs. Tom toms were still fitted with Premier 30's style lugs and straight rims. 10"x8" and 16"x20" toms wereintroduced with the floor tom being double headed.

1951 Ten outfit with new snare

1951 Ten outfit - text

The stylish twenty outfit

The stylish twenty outfit - text

Proud to have a Thirty outfit

Thirty outfit - text

Forty outfit - top of the range

Forty outfit - top of the range - text

1150 and 1151 double-flanged snare

1150 and 1151 double-flanged snare - text

83 84 - cheap but good snare drum

83 84 snare drum - text

1951 Olympic covers

Olympic chrome

1951 Olympic price list

1953

This catalogue shows that the kits are now numbered 60, 61, 62 and 63. Also a brilliant new finish, appears to be our old friend White lacquer and Black has been dropped again. A new style of lug was introduced and the first showing of the "82" snare drum.

The older style 1150 and 1151 snare drums are listed but not pictured with any of the kits. It states that these drums have a wood shell but in the last catalogue they had a spun metal shell. The 1151 is now 5 1/2 inches deep as opposed to 5 inches deep before. The 10x8 tom is now 10x7 and the 16x20 floor tom has been discontinued.

Olympic kit 60

Olympic kit 61

Olympic kit 62

Olympic kit 63

The new 82 snare drum

The 1151 soldiers on!

1953 bass drum

1953 bass drum - text

1953 price list

1958

The 1958 catalogue shows the same kit photographs as those used five years before and the set numbers remained the same. Several things had changed however, there was a choice of three new finishes. White Duroplastic, Marine Pearl and Sparkling Silver.

The 28 inch Bass Drum along with the 10 inch tom were now deleted. The 14x8 single headed tom was now added to the line up and the 12x8 and 16x16 toms could be ordered double headed. The shallow Discus snare was introduced and it seems the 1150 and 1151snare drums are now with a wood shell and the new style lugs.

This catalogue also shows a large selection of Military, Accessories and Percussion equipment. The Discus snare drum was too narrow to have the badge fitted to the shell so an identical rubber stamp was used on the inside of the drum. A cardboard oval badge was fitted to later Discus models (see badge page) and by the next badge change the shell was slightly larger and badge smaller so all was well!