Stone Separate Tension Orchestra Drum, ca. mid 1910s

The Separate Tension Orchestra Model was George B. Stone & Son's premier snare drum offering through the 1910s and into the early 1920s. The example featured here, dating from the early to mid 1910s, is typical in many ways but quite uncommon in others. Immediately noticeable is something not often seen from Stone & Son - a mahogany shell.

The overwhelming majority of Stone drums feature maple shells. Mahogany, however, as well as oak and walnut were offered in early Stone catalogs including Catalog H, circa 1915. By the time Catalog I was published in 1919, only maple was listed.

Also in contrast with later Stone drums is the recessed rosewood grommet intended to prevent obstructing the flesh hoops as the heads are tightened. Lastly, the single-ply maple counterhoops are stained around the outer face to approximate the color of mahogany.

Though badly torn, an original Stone "SPECIAL TRANSPARENT" snare side head remains intact. A well-preserved makers label inside the drum is consistent with other Stone drums from the early to mid 1910s. The drum has no metal badge as the practice had not yet been adopted by Stone & Son. The snare mechanism is William F. McIntosh's 1909 patent snare strainer and muffler and the original "Wire Wound Waterproof Snares" are held in place on the opposite side by a simple leather anchor. Do you have a Geo. B. Stone & Son drum? I would love to hear from you! Feel free to email Lee at lee@vinson.net. And for more on Stone and the other turn of the century Boston-based drum makers, please visit BostonDrumBuilders.com or follow @old_boston_drums on Instagram.

William F. McIntosh Snare Drum, ca. 1908

William F. McIntosh (1876 - 1950) lead a varied professional life working as a machinist, drum maker, musician, radio repairman, and electrician. He is perhaps best known for his snare strainer and muffler patented in 1909 and used extensively by Boston's George B. Stone & Son through the 1910s and 1920s. McIntosh's output as a maker was small but ranged across the first several decades of the 1900s and is known to include snare drums, bass drums, xylophones and traps such as whistles and ratchets. The separate tension snare drum featured here was likely produced around 1908 or 1909.

Lettering stamped into the snare mechanism indicates that a patent has been applied for but has not yet been granted. This helps pinpoint the likely date of manufacture to a narrow window of time between October of 1908 and February of 1909. Of course the drum could have been assembled later using earlier components, but the snare machanism at least dates to this very speicific timeframe. A superbly well preserved makers label inside the drum reads "Wm. F. McIntosh / MANUFACTURING DRUMMER, / HIGH GRADE / Drums, Traps and Drum Findings / Professional Xylophones & Orchestra Bells / a specialty, 6 ELWOOD STREET / CHARLESTOWN, MASS."

The drum is outfitted with twelve single-post tube lugs, slotted tension rods, and cast brass hooks all of which have been nickel plated. Of note is the somewhat crudely formed metal shell with rolled over bearing edges and a soldered seam. A wooden band mounted inside the shell offers additional reinforcement while providing a sturdy backing for the mounting hardware. The counterhoops are single-ply maple with the exterior painted to emulate the look of a more exotic wood.

Do you have a drum made by William F. McIntosh? I would love to hear about it! Feel free to send Lee and email at lee@vinson.net. And for more on the early 20th century snare drum makers of Boston, Massachusetts please visit BostonDrumBuilders.com and follow @old_boston_drums on instagram.