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Drums
French Napoleonic Brass Drum (Calf Skin Heads)
Our replica is based on an original drum captured from the 34e Regiment de ligne at the battle of Arroyo de Molinos on October 28th, 1811. In that battle, the British 34th Regiment of Foot captured its French counterpart including the Drum Major and the Drums. To make this occasion, the British 34th Regiment's Drummers played the captured French drums throughout a good part of the 19th Century before being retired into the Regiment's museum.
This model of drum was used in the French Army from the American Revolution to the end of the Napoleonic era. Each rope tension snare drum has the attractive red/white/blue diamond design painted its hoops. Same size and construction as the originals, they are available at the unbelievable price of 375.00US (395.00CAN) each. If you are not a reenactor drummer, they make perfect coffee or end tables for the den of the Military Heritage Connoisseur.
click on image to enlargeShell
brass shell measures 15 inches in diameter and 11 inches in depth (add the size of the hoops to this measurement)
the brass used is referred to as musical brass as it has a small percentage of gold in its composition
Hoops
made of hardwood with 10 drilled holes
painted with a durable enamel
can be custom painted different colours or patterns if you wish
width of hoop is 1 3/4 inches
Heads
Comes with natural calf skin heads.
Price
MUS-001........... 375.00US (395.00CAN).
British and US Army Wooden Drums (Calf-Skin Heads included)
Other companies will sell you drums with 14 inch diameter heads and 12 inch deep shells, but they are too small for the time period! Do you want to spend all that money and find out it is not right? With our drum You get the RIGHT size at the RIGHT price.
click on image to enlargeShell
this hardwood laminated shell measures 16 inches in diameter and 16 inches in depth (add the size of the hoops to this measurement). A hardwood ply or laminate chosen over solid because of continual cracking problems experienced historically
air vent hole drilled, stained Walnut, and sealed
Hoops
made of hardwood with 10 drilled Holes
painted with a durable enamel
can be custom painted different colours if you wish
width of hoop is 1 3/4 inches
Heads
Comes with natural calf skin heads WITH the price.
Price
MUS-002............ 375.00US (395.00CAN)
Other Sizes of Wooden Drums (Calf-Skin Heads included)
If you wish a different size wooden drum we sell the following in the same quality as above (measurements of shell):
MUS-004- 14 inches
diameter X 12 inches depth 280.00US (410.00CAN)
MUS-005- 14 inches diameter X 16 inches depth 320.00US (475.00CAN)
Coming Soon British Brass Drums (1790-1870) Required by any regiment being stationed in India, the brass became favoured by other regiments and inspection returns and surviving examples show that a number were being used in the British Army both in North America in 1812 and in the Peninsular War and at Waterloo. We are presently studying a couple of originals for details. If you are interested and would like to keep informed on their development simply e-mail us.
Comments on Tuning
Normal conditions such as humidity will slacken the calf skin heads. It is necessary to tighten the calf skin heads to get a crisper sound. As any drummer will tell you, this is the sacrifice you make to get a historically sounding drum! Switching to plastic heads is an alternative for you but we do not sell them because they are not historically correct.
Bugles
Brass Light Infantry Bugles
Introduced near the end of the Napoleonic Wars, this bugle saw extensive use throughout the British Army for the entire 19th Century. When not in use this item makes an excellent display piece, particularly at Christmas time. Many reproductions are a combination of copper and brass, but the one we are offering is ALL brass. This style also saw service in the American Civil War. Comes with photocopies of British Napoleonic period duty calls from an original manual.
MUS-003.....................................60.00US (65.00CAN)
click on image to enlarge
Accessories
Shako Drummer's Badge
Since the introduction of the cloth mitre cap, drummers had worn a metal drum on the rear of their caps. By the Napoleonic Wars, shakos began to be worn by drummers on campaign, leaving their bearskin caps for the parade square. To make them distinct from the rest of the men's shakos, drummers wore a brass drum on the rear. This continued throughout the first half of the 19th century. Click here for an image of a fifer in 1828 wearing the brass drum at the rear of his shako. A great tradition to revive for your fife and drum corps! 12.95US (17.00CAN) each.
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