<p>This snare drum was made by Duplex Manufacturing Co. in St. Louis, Missouri, around 1897-1910. It has a stained wood shell with skin heads. The hoops are made of wood and have 20 sets of tensioning rods attached with screws on the inside of the hoops. The drum has a metal screw device to active the gut snares. There is a cast metal label on the top hoop that is inscribed:</p>
<p>This drum was used by William T. Armstrong (1879-1965), orchestra leader and musician in vaudeville and silent film theaters. Armstrong grew up in South River, New Jersey and began playing drums at the age of 14. He continued his musical career through the mid-1910s, after which, Armstrong began work in banking and finance. This artifact is part of a collection of drums, sound effect instruments, and other percussion instruments used by Armstrong.</p>
Location:
Currently not on view
Credit Line:
Gift of Pamela A. Carlin and Evelyn A. Mark in memory of William T. Armstrong
