NMM 13539. Snare drum by Charles Stromberg for Thompson & Odell Music Co., Boston, ca. 1892-1904. The Artist Drum. Board of Trustees, 2007.

This snare drum is the earliest instrument by Charles Stromberg known to survive. The addresses of the distributor, Thompson & Odell Music Co., and the label printer, Wallace Spooner, correspond to directory listings between 1892 and 1904. Charles Stromberg and his son Elmer are best-known for their fine, large-bodied archtop guitars of the 1940s and 1950s. However, Charles began his career as a cabinet maker, and entered the drum trade sometime before 1900.

---

The drum utilizes Rudolph Wurlitzer’s single-tensioning system, patented in 1887 (U. S. Patent 373,873), but it is missing the knee rest which was designed to mount on two of the hooks. Stromberg patented his own separate-tensioning system on March 8, 1904, following a July 20, 1903 application (U. S. Patent 754,101) using cast, double-claw hooks similar to Wurlitzer's, but with two offset rods screwed into a center-mounted double bracket. He also applied for a snare strainer patent on the same date, which was assigned on April 5, 1904 (U. S. Patent 756,730). The drum currently bears a McIntosh throw-off strainer (U. S. Patent 911,605, filed Oct. 6, 1908, assigned Feb. 9, 1909), which replaced an earlier strainer, the outline of which is faintly visible on the rim. There is no evidence that this drum ever bore Stromberg’s own patented hardware, suggesting that the drum pre-dates its design or was a cheaper model.

Printed on one paper label (left) with repeated triangle border, the corners cut: THE CELEBRATED / ARTIST DRUM. / THOMPSON & ODELL MUSIC CO. [rubber-stamped in black ink] / THOMPSON & ODELL CO., [printed on label] / SUCCESSORS [rubber-stamped in black ink] / NO. 523 [number double struck and "749" written in faded black or brown ink above] WASHINGTON STREET, / BOSTON, MASS. / Wallace Spooner, 17 Province St., Boston. / CHARLES STROMBERG [rubber-stamped in faded black or brown ink]. Second, identical label (right), with the entire address line scraped off and the corners uncut, next to first. Snare strainer stamped: McINTOSH. Rod coupling sleeves stamped: PAT'D.NOV.29'87.

Description

Birdseye-maple-veneered, plain maple shell with natural finish, vent hole lined in dark-brown stained maple, 135-138 mm (5-5/16"-5-7/16") x 366 mm (14-3/16"). Single tension. Eleven nickel-plated iron rods with cast-iron, double-claw hooks and long, hexagonal coupling sleeve on snare end of rod to adjust tension. Integral, cast, hook-shaped shoulders on two double-claw hooks to accommodate Rudolph Wurlitzer’s patented knee rest, now missing. Integral, cast loops on opposite double-claw hooks of the same rod for mounting of wire strap hook. Maple rims stained orange-brown. Later, patented McIntosh throw-off strainer.

Iron Tension Rods Front View	Iron Tension Rods Back View

McIntosh Strainer	McIntosh Throw-off Strainer	Snare Anchor

Go to Checklist of European and American Rod-Tension Snare Drums

Go to NMM 10045. Snare drum by J. B. Treat for Thompson & Odell, Boston, 1905

National Music Museum
The University of South Dakota
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD   57069

©National Music Museum, 2008-2015
Most recent update:   May 2, 2015

The University of South Dakota
Return to Top of Page