Pre-International Sizes: 12" = 30cm, 16" = 40cm, 20" = 50cm
European Drum manufacturers used metric as well as imperial diameters until 1968, some 10 years after the introduction of plastic drum heads. Many people are put off by pre-international sized drums, but there really is no need. Some manufacturers mixed international and pre-international sizes and Premier produced kits with all international sized shells.
Whilst in America a typical set would comprise 13", 16" and 22", the standard 'British Outfit' comprised of 12" Tom-Tom, 16" floor tom and a 20" Bass drum.
This is perhaps less strange when you realise that there is a uniform, decimal 10cm increment between each drum, whereas the US standard has a double increment - 3" then 6".
Whilst in America a typical set would comprise 13", 16" and 22", the standard 'British Outfit' comprised of 12" Tom-Tom, 16" floor tom and a 20" Bass drum.
This is perhaps less strange when you realise that there is a uniform, decimal 10cm increment between each drum, whereas the US standard has a double increment - 3" then 6".
Don't Panic - Remo still stock them!
There is no need to place a special order, Remo still offer them as standard items, and some British suppliers keep them in stock. They are available in Ambassador Coated, Ambassador Clear, Pinstripe Clear and sporadically in Ambassador Smooth White. The model number is the same as the standard size, with the suffix changed to '-PR'.
Snare Drum Warning
Sadly, Remo overlook pre-international snare drums and do not offer a 14" 37.5cm Coated Ambassador or Hazy. This single addition to their range would rejuvenate thousands of unloved vintage UK drums.
Typical Outfits
Two UK companies never made pre-international sizes:
- Boosey & Hawkes (Ajax, Edgware, Stratford), and
- Beverley (both early Deans and later Premier factories)
- John Grey (Autocrat, Broadway):
Dulcet, Orchestral, Savanna and Milwaukee snare drums are metric pre-international. As are all Barnett Samuel models.
Pretty much all bass drums are metric pre-international, usually 20" but others were available.
All the 16" floor toms are standard international.
Early 12" 6-lug toms (pre-1957) were standard international size, strangely, later 5-lug ones are metric. - Premier:
Most early snare drums are metric pre-international.
Generally kits all metric before 1968, but not always, many are a mixture. - Dallas (Carlton, President, Standard):
Almost always metric pre-international, even snare drums.
Top Tips
There is always a temptation to be different, but some combinations are just plain wrong. Years of experience and experimentation has taught me that vintage drums work best with traditional head choices - single ply, coated top and bottom.
Pinstripes just don't look or sound 'right' unless they are on later fusion sizes.
Pinstripes just don't look or sound 'right' unless they are on later fusion sizes.
Bass Drum 20"/55cm
Pinstripe Clear
(PS-1320-PR) Ambassador Coated (BR-1120-PR) |
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Even Standard International shells need caution...
Some standard UK drums are over-sized and struggle to accommodate modern heads and it can cause real problems. Aquarian American Vintage series are made for early Gretsh, they are slightly larger and are an essential choice for some British Hayman and Ajax shells.
These heads are also a good choice not just because of shell diameter, but hoop diameter. Early die cast hoops were made to fit larger wooden flesh hoops and there can be a 2mm hoop-gap (not shell-gap) when using modern heads. Unless centred correctly, the hoop can slide over the head and cause tuning issues or damage to head and hoop. I use temporary spacers when fitting heads, to make sure everything is true before final tuning and removal.
These heads are also a good choice not just because of shell diameter, but hoop diameter. Early die cast hoops were made to fit larger wooden flesh hoops and there can be a 2mm hoop-gap (not shell-gap) when using modern heads. Unless centred correctly, the hoop can slide over the head and cause tuning issues or damage to head and hoop. I use temporary spacers when fitting heads, to make sure everything is true before final tuning and removal.