[COLOR="DarkRed"]Well...all I know is...the 18 alone would fetch a good $150-175 on eFlay...and the lugs if auctioned separately (NOT that you'd ever do that) would cover the asking price.....

So, you would at least recoup your investment if you didn't like the kit....

I, also, know nothing about that vintage of Camco....[/COLOR]

The Camco's in the picture are the Tama/Camco drums made after the breakup of Camco where DW got the machining lug rights, and Tama got the drums and pedal. I have a set, and they are quality drums, some people say they are birch as opposed to maple, but mine have rerings and looks very similar to the L.A. Camco's before the split.

Some persons say that Tama/Camco sold all the remaining shells from the split, but marked them with the badge shown on your drums.

[COLOR="DarkRed"]OK, so LA Camco went under and Tama got some of the mfr'g rights and DW some others, then ?

Kelly...are the shells in this kit re-ringed ?[/COLOR]

The shells are 5 or 6 ply. The stickers inside have serial numbers. I post a pic of the stickers when I get these back home. Backbeatkeeper, do you like your LA kit?

I am going to try and pick them up tomorrow. Very nice looking kit. So my gut tells me and I think you are too that it's a go ??? I would not not want to part it out though as that would certainly defy vintage drum doctrine :) Or is this kit not quite vintage enough?

More questions for you....DOH

Kelly

I have yet to play my kit. I bought it with other items for I think $200.00. 12, 13, 16, 22. The bass drum has a punch in the shell, repairable and on the bottom of the drum, so no big deal. Someone tried to refinish the set, but didn't bother to remove the outside badges, the insides have a small paper sticker and a serial number. Unfortunately, the kit is just sitting in my garage waiting for repair. No extra holes that I can see on them, but in need of cleaning, possible restaining and repair.

There was some old heads on the drums, and I did like what I heard when I first bought them. I'm sure with the right heads and tuning they will sing.

After the split of Camco, Tama sold off the rest of the shells left over, used Swingstar shells from what I've been told to use for the Camco line. Slowly realized that the pedal was the best thing they got. As far as DW goes, everyone knows that story.

The lugs that Tama/Camco used have a very similiar look to the original Camcos, and I don't think that was a mistake. Brilliant marketing, until DW caught wind. The shells that you have in the picture look like the same as mine, quality product, enjoy them.

Backbeatkeeper,

Thanks for the great info on the late Camco period.

Are these the Swingstar shells you were speaking of? They are 5or 6 ply and relatively thin. The lugs are a little different from the original Camco style with a small riser going to toward the hoops. Are these the Camco/Tama lugs that DW wan't aware of?

The badge is I believe, the last one before the total split and sell off to Tama and DW.

Got the whole thing for $340 with all decent Evans G1 and G2 with a Powerstroke 3 on the 18". They are very few dings or scratches and the finish is in fine shape for being over 30 years old...Just needs a real good cleaning. I think it will set up nicely as a Jazz kit. Clapping Happy2

Here's a picture of my Camco's

[IMG]http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii279/backbeatkeeper/Camco003.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii279/backbeatkeeper/Camco001.jpg[/IMG]

Same lugs as mine. My shells don't have re-rings.

kelly

I can't prove it, but if you look closely at my drums in another picture, there is a faint coloring of white in the grain. Camco shells were painted white on the inside. I've also seen pictures of other Camco sets, pre-split, and I have a hard time telling whether or not my shell was from old stock because of that light white in the grain. Luckily all my lugs are complete, a bit battered, but complete. Tama hardware fits for the mounting, as that's what was available.

One of these days, I'll get going on that, but my Radio Kings are first inline for restoration, maybe after I sell my Rogers.....

Keep me posted on the restoration.