Duplex Snare Drum

Object Details

Description (Brief)

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:

DUPLEX DRUM
MADE BY
THE DUPLEX
MFG. CO.

(and a metal badge around the vent hole that is cast):

DUPLEX
PAT. 83-87-97

There are three United States patents associated with this drum:

U.S. Patent #274900 – “New and Improved Tension-Rod for Drum Heads,” Emile Boulanger, April 3, 1883

U.S. Patent #371415 – “Drum,” Emile Boulanger, October 11, 1887

U.S. Patent #578198 – “Drum Construction,” Emile Boulanger, March 2, 1897

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.

Location

Currently not on view

Data Source

National Museum of American History

date made

1897-1910

Credit Line

Gift of Pamela A. Carlin and Evelyn A. Mark in memory of William T. Armstrong

Physical Description

wood (overall material)

metal (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 5 in x 16 1/8 in; 12.7 cm x 40.9575 cm

Object Name

drum