First advertised in 1922 as the "All-Weather Drum",
George B. Stone & Son's newly introduced flagship snare drum was renamed the "
Master-Model Drum" later that year. Described as a "Combination Dance and Theater Model", the All-Weather Drum was initially offered in only one size, 5 1/4" x 14". The example shown here dating from August of 1922 precedes the adoption of the Master-Model name.
There are several characteristics of the All-Weather Drum which distinguish it from the vast majority of the more than 800 Master-Models produced from the early 1920s through the late 1930s. The earliest shells such as this one are formed from single-ply maple with a series of four reinfircing rings which span the entire depth of the shell. By mid-1923 this design would be supplanted a 3-ply, 5/8" thick maple shell which was used on all Master-Models and
Separate Tension Orchestra Drums moving forward.
Geo. B. Stone & Son Advertisement, September 1922 | 
Geo. B. Stone & Son Advertisement, December 1922 |
Most Stone drums of this era feature a metal badge affixed to the batter side counterhoop. Interestingly, while this drum has a makers label with a strong date stamp and serial number, it has no badge. This is likely because Stone was in the process of changing over from an older version to a newer badge which included lettering noting their recent incopration. Also, the Master-Model specific badges installed on most examples had not yet been introduced. While there are pencil markings present inside of the shell and underneath the counterhoops, they are not consistent with the
numbering system later used by Stone to keep track of the total number of Master-Model drums produced.
The drum features an elongated, inverted version of
William F. McIntosh's
Patent Snare Strainer and Muffler which was standard on all Master-Model drums. The butt end seen here is patented design by
Charles A. Stromberg which was used on Master-Model drums until about 1925.
Do you have a drum made by Geo. B. Stone & Son? I would love to hear about it! Feel free to drop Lee an email at
lee@vinson.net. And for more on the early 20th century snare drum makers of Boston, Massachusetts please visit
BostonDrumBuilders.com or follow
@old_boston_drums on instagram.
