Slingerland Geisler Snare Drum 4.5x14 1920s - Cast Aluminum

Slingerland 4.5x14 Geisler Snare Drum 1920s Cast Aluminum

Slingerland 4.5x14 rebranded Geisler cast aluminum snare drum. Twenty brass banjo clip “lugs”, tension rods, and washers (10 per side). Slingerland “Three-Point” strainer appearing in Slingerland’s first catalogue in 1928.

Original wire wrapped snares will be included but I do not believe they are usable due to fraying on the butt end. Otherwise, unoriginal heads and snare wires.

The drum has scratches and scuffs throughout. Casting imperfections and some tarnish on the strainer and butt. This drum is 100 years old.

Shipping available to the continental United States only.

Slingerland contracted with Geisler to private brand his snare drums to allow Slingerland to compete with Ludwig once they encroached on Slingerland’s banjo market.

This snare has undergone some modifications. The strainer and butt assemblies have been retrofitted with Slingerland hardware, and the batter side rim has been scalloped to allow room for the Slingerland strainer. Whether this was done by a player or by Slingerland I could not say. I sold a Geisler several years ago and the “additional holes” in the shell behind the strainer and the butt assemblies match the original Geisler strainer and butt assembly locations.

The following information is from The United States Patent Office, The Music Trade Review and Presto The American Music Trade Weekly.

April 29, 1917 Eugene Geisler, president of the Eugene Geisler Co., Inc., which manufactured drum heads stated that demand had greatly increased since the declaration of war.

May 12, 1917 advertisement states that the Eugene Geisler & Co., Inc., factory is at a new location, 4709-11 Aberdeen St., Chicago. Subsequent information indicates this location may have been in use as early as 1915.

October 8, 1924 Otto Geisler filed an application for a patent “Tension Means For Drumheads”. His invention was patented Dec 7, 1926.

May 30, 1925 article indicates Otto Geisler is President of the company. The article goes on to state that “the new Geisler drum is meeting with favor upon the part of the trade, as well as the musicians.” “One of the features of the of the drum is the snare strainer and muffler.” “The shell is made of cast aluminum used so that the drum will keep its shape. The polished Duralinum counter hoops which are stronger than brass and only a trifle heavier than aluminum are made with flanges which not only conceal the flesh hoop, but hold it in such a way that warping is impossible.” The article goes on to say that Otto began manufacturing drum heads about 40 years ago which would place the company’s origin around 1885. It also indicates that the plant at that time was approximately 10 years old.

May 1925 Ludwig & Ludwig obtained their banjo patent the same month Geisler introduced their snare drum.

November 14, 1925 “H.H. Slingerland , president of the Slingerland Banjo Co., announced this week that the company has purchased the business of Eugene Geisler & Co., Chicago, manufacturers of drums and drum and banjo heads.” The Geisler business was reorganized into a subsidiary of the Slingerland Banjo Co., and was known as Slingerland Bros. Inc. The drum and banjo heads were trademarked “Tenor-Brand” and came with a guarantee. The plant was to continue to be managed by Eugene Geisler, Jr. This was the first time I noticed a “JR” associated with the name Eugene. Not sue if this is E.A. or his son. The article emphasizes Slingerland’s purchase due to their superior drum and banjo heads but mentions that it will continue to produce the Geisler drum in five styles. This indicates there were at least five variations of the drum at the time. Also stated is that Otto Geisler, former president, established the company about ten years earlier. This appears consistent with the location at 4709-11 Aberdeen St., being in use beginning around 1915, but seems to contradict the earlier statement that Otto began manufacturing drum heads around 1885 unless he was working for another concern.

December 5, 1925 Warner Music Co., opens a new store in Youngstown, OH at 16 North Phelps Street. “The new store is unique in that only one agency of each musical merchandise line is carried, including Kimball pianos, Stewart-Warner radios, York band instruments, Penzel-Mueller clarinets, Peter Pan folding phonographs, Geisler drums as well as Washburn stringed instruments.”

A vintage drum timeline I have seen online indicates that in 1927 “H.H. Slingerland of the Slingerland Banjo Co. begins making drums due to Ludwig & Ludwig Drum Co. entering the banjo market.” I can only assume this refers to when Slingerland began manufacturing drums in-house or is incorrect. The timeline also indicates that in 1928 “H.H. Slingerland changes the name of his company from the Slingerland Banjo Co. to the Slingerland Banjo & Drum Co.”