Painted Calf-Skin Drum Head - Calf Drum Heads

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Painted Bass Drum Calf Heads from the 1920's and 1930's

This article will cover the different methods and paints required to duplicate painted calf drum heads of the 20's and 30's. The original heads can cost upwards of $200 just for the drum head. They are usually more valuable then the bass drums they are on.

Here is an example from the Ludwig Drum Company of the designs they were putting on calf heads in the 1920's (More examples at the bottom of the article.)

1928 Ludwig Painted Bass Drum Heads


Bass Drum Head	Calf Drum Head	Vintage Drum Head

and the 1928 Slingerland Painted Bass Drum Heads

These head scenes were enhanced by an internal light bulb with a solid light or colored lights with flashing bulbs.

Here is the 1938 Rogers Catalog Showing heaters and flashing light bulbs with some Rogers Head options.

Here is an advert about the techniques used to paint drum heads so the light shines through the head correctly. If painted with standard brush strokes the light will enhance the strokes and alter the look of the image. It also mentions that to thicken the strokes with more paint will hinder the look of the lights shining through the head and detract from the image.

The article mentions the "Stipple Method" of painting which requires the brush head to be cut straight so that the paint is not applied in strokes but in the daub fashion.

Def: To apply paint to (a surface) with hasty or crude strokes.

Here is some information from our drum forum from (Jeff -Snowdog) on the type of paints to use for calf and synthetic heads.

(There are other methods for synthetic heads which require a light sanding of the head and then mixing acrylic paint with flex additive)

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1920's and 1930's era calf-skin heads were usually done using oil-based colors.

"Tempera is usually applied in much thinner coats since it dries so rapidly, and as such it often won't have the same vibrancy or saturation. Also, tempera usually doesn't work well when applied to flexible non-rigid surfaces. The only benefit that tempera offers over oil-based colors is that it resists fading very well, whereas oils tend to fade & can become transparent over time.

Not saying that tempera couldn't be done or work, but odds are oils would be the better long-lasting choice. Tempera would probably work better on synthetic heads."

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Here is an excerpt from a advert for the G.B. Stone Drum Company Company catalog of 1926

"A line of painted bass drum heads is shown, all hand-painted in detail by skilled artists with transparent oils."

As we find more information and other examples of painted drum heads we will add it to this article. If you have any questions, please email us: sales@thedrumexperts.com

The Drum Experts

Photo: Harry Cangany

More Examples: Actual Drum Heads and Catalog Scans

Here are some real examples from the collection of Dave Brown.

Here are some other catalog examples if you are trying to ID a painted bass drum head from the 20's and 30's.

1928 Ludwig Bass Drum Heads

1929 Ludwig Bass Drum Heads

1932 Ludwig Bass Drum Heads

1933 Leedy Bass Drum Calf Heads


Bass Drum Head	Calf Drum Head	Vintage Drum Head

1933 Ludwig Bass Drum Heads	1935 Ludwig Bass Drum Heads

Slingerland Catalog Drum Head Pages

1928 Slingerland Bass Drum Heads

1936 Slingerland Bass Drum Heads

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Drum Heads is not affiliated with any of the drum head companies like evans, aquarian or remo. This website is a place for drummers and percussionists to get answers, learn history and shop for drum heads products. We encourage you to send in your drum head questions to The Drum Experts. If you need snare drum heads, tom head, bass drum heads, floor tom heads let us know what you style of music you play and we can help with the head choice.