Also worth mentioning as part of the unique shells are the fact that the shells seem just a bit undersized and they have totally different bearing edges...

The edges aren't sharp like modern drums, but they're not quite as round as most vintage drums... They are really a perfectly "narrow oval" of sorts. This seems entirely made possible because the re-rings are ply and not solid, and thus not as chunky as Rogers/Ludwig/Slingerland...

A drum-builder/friend (who's been at it for a long time) told me, and I forget the explanation, that no one can (or does) cut edges like that anymore.

I have seen back-cut/roundover edges on some LA drums (more than one kit) that seemed original - though I can't say for sure. Definitely fatter and not as Camco-y (but still really nice!) - but I have also seen/owned LA Camcos with the traditional edge.

Camcos have always struck me as a well-built almost "modern" style drum shell (or more modern, relative to their contemporaries)... but now they've aged 30-40-50 years... If only someone would make a modern floor tom bracket that fit them!

Interesting Kb. That describes the edges on the 78' Camco/Tama bop kit I posted but without the re-rings. Still trying to find out where the shells came from.

I wrote the same in another forum for a while, I was allmost affraid to tell it loud, but since one more did it here , I will do it too:

When I play my LA Camco after been playing my 70:s Slingerland, late 60:s Ludwig or 2008 Pearl, i feel like sitting in a Rolls Royce , and those other dums I play few days before, are like a Mazda 232 from 80:s

My other sets sound very good too ( to my ears ) , but, when I can to my Camco... wooooww... I will NEVER let them go.

I've only had 4 complete Oaklawn kits in almost 25 years of collecting.......

BDP 22,12,12,16..not sure if it had matching snare or not.........it was around 23 years ago!

Silver Sparkle 18,12,14,matching snare

Champagne 18,12,14,matching snare

Purple Satin Flame (Moire) 20,12,14,matching snare....sold to Dave Mattacks years ago.....

I thought the 12 and another drum in the kit sounded like caca! He later sold them too.........

Bingo! This really is the key factor to sound and where the true "alchemy" rests.

I used to play with a bassist in Santa Barbara who had a few of his late brother's Camcos set up as a rehearsal kit (13-16-24 if I recall correctly). Even though they had not been properly maintained and were still in '70s mode (no bottom heads), I could tell that they had something going on.

He had another full set stored in the garage. I offered to maintain them and help him sell them but he was still in mourning and couldn't bear to let them go.

Wow - this is the same/similar (can't recall for sure) finish I saw on a kit for sale at Long&McQuade Victoria BC a few years ago - but bigger drums - larger BD anyway. I almost bought them - $1900. I think there were more drums too. They looked so solid and had an almost N.A. Indian Art vibe I thought...very nice

Now you have to help me with those late Camcos..

Is that "really" Camco MADE Camco or are they Tama made Camco?

Is there some Camcos, as on the picture, with those lugs , badge and that script ( or how to call it- tatoo ;)) on the middle of the shell, with Keller shells and Camco bearing edges?!?!

Or are all those just simply Tama with Camco badge?

I found those allways really sooo nice, but I was beleving all the time, that it´s Tama , but just at that time still labeiling Camco on them. Nice or not, If they are TamaCamso - they are not, to me, wotrh those money....

How is it with those Camcos?

Damn, but I'm old. I was there at the beginning. I bought the pictured blue sparkle (glass glitter?) set of Oaklawn Camcos in 1964 or 1965. Remember, I'm old. The memory isn't quite as sharp as it once was. I thought that the drums sounded very good--as good as my 1961 Rogers set that preceded the camco set. My only problem with the Camco set is that it proved to be too large for me, and relatively uncomfortable to navigate. This is the largest drum set in number of drums and drum sizes that I have ever gigged with. The sizes: 14x22, two 9x13", 14x14, 16x16, matching 5x14. I bought it because there were a lot of drums for a relatively low price. I also thought that the turret lugs were distictive looking. I never even checked out the Chanute Camcos because I was happily back to playing Slingerland when the Chanute drums were being sold. I absolutely hated the LA Camco drums that I tried. I have mentioned before that I do not get hung up on the technicalities such as the number of plies in the shell or the alloy used in the manufacture of the lugs and hoops. My drum preferences are based on appearance, sound, and feel. The feel is of utmost importance to me. It is also the most subjective aspect of a drum.

http://www.spinner.com/2011/08/25/fanny-june-millington-play-like-a-girl/?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl3%7Csec3_lnk3%7C89839

Check out the vintage Camco drums in the vintage 70's clip of a great band known as Fanny. The first video has them playing a Stephen Stills song. I'm glad that I saw this clip because I couldn't remember what the dual tom holder on my 60's set looked like.