So I found this old drum and upon first inspection it looked a lot like a Gretsch…as I investigated further I noticed it has a Rogers badge. Not the common chrome script badge similar to a car emblem and not even the older eagle badge with a baton in its mouth, but a unique badge that I would not have expected on this strange drum... Then interestingly enough I determined the strainer looked like a Leedy Presto two point strainer and with the help of Rich Kalinsky realized it was a Premier Olympic (Made In England) two point! Hmmmm, the plot thickens and then I began asking myself the big question. What is this drum? And how did this get put together?

As the vintage drum hobby grows one thing becomes very important, and that is the significance of knowing all of the parts of a drum to determine what is original and what parts are needed to restore a drum to its former glory. In trying to determine what lugs, badge, throw off and rims a drum should have it tells the story of what a certain company was using and when they were using it. Such questions as which parts were out-sourced? or which were made in the factory? become more significant in tracking the history around the company and the drums they were building at that time

Usually when I think of the first Rogers snare drums, with that draped rectangular Three Star, Union or Daisy Brand badge, I think 1940s. It was very common for early drum makers to use up all of the parts they had prior to switching to something new. No waste on the job, that was for sure. The drums you will see in this Rogers History section I have had in my collection for awhile but I was never able to place when exactly they were made. There is no catalog in print for the later examples. So…I started to compile a list of snare drum characteristics from the start of Rogers in the drum business, not just calf heads which they were well known for. It had to start somewhere, why not Farmingdale NJ?

Joseph H Rogers Jr. opened a second tannery in Farmingdale NJ in 1909. It was a small family like operation with only around 3-4 employees. It was Cleveland Rogers idea to be more than a hyde tucker. Cleveland returned from WWI in 1922 and it was his idea to diversify and gear up to start making drums as well as calf heads. When Cleveland S. Rogers father, Joseph H. Rogers Jr., died in 1929 he assumed control of the Farmingdale operation. In 1938 when they started selling Gretsch looking drums with Rogers heads and badges there were up to 8 employees. Then a full machine shop was added in 1939. This allowed them to work with brass. The first Rogers lugs were heavy brass and solid in construction. I interviewed Joe Megill, who worked in the Farmingdale factory in the summer of 1942 as a book keeper. It was a small town operation and he remembered his father worked in the Rogers wood shop from 1939-1945. Also he noted that his fellow Rogers employee, Don Conrow, was a friend since grade school. Mr. Megill is 82 currently. There was not much of a market for drums and the machine shop shut down in 1945. The last Farmingdale flyer advertising drums was in 1946. It featured the “R” lug design. Union Brand badges were used from 1938-1957. Cleveland Rogers died May 17, 1952 and the operation was sold to Grossman Music.

I felt the need to compile the following information as I’ve been looking for old Rogers drums for a few years now. I haven’t seen too many of these Joseph Rogers Jr and Son badge drums. One drum that was passed to me from another long time NSMDer and contributor, Kirk Higgins was thought to have a prototype throw off. Surprisingly, a few years later up pops another one with the same characteristics in green/gold Duco. As Mr. Cook says in the Rogers book, “It is a work in progress.” referring to the early years of Rogers history in his book. As more drums show up, things will need to change and be updated. I tried to come up with a comprehensive list of characteristics based on old catalogs, other drum books and actual snare drums to make this fuzzy early Rogers era more clear for all vintage drum enthusiast to learn from.

I gathered all the various vintage drum reference books in print, old Rogers ads, and Ebay auctions which I have been saving since 1998. Then I pulled a lug from 12 snare drums and personally interviewed Joe Megill a former Rogers employee. I even asked around to various Rogers friends who would possibly have more information and or an early Rogers drum from this era. Neurotic, yes, but organized because of it. Along with all of above I was only able to find two catalogs a 1938 Rogers catalog that mainly looked like Gretsch Drums and a 1940 Catalog with the “R” heavy brass lugs, and finally a 1946 flyer which shows drums with the “R” faced lugs.

You will see a chronological progression of the Rogers Farmingdale NJ era through Covington OH by visiting the History Section at the top of the page. The Hardware Section will give you a breakdown of the badges, strainers & butts and the different lugs Rogers used throughout the years from 1938-1954.

I hope you enjoy the information you see on this web site and if you have an early Rogers snare drum, I would surely love to see a picture. Also, if you have any early Rogers literature, information or anything related to these early Rogers drums, please email me at the contact link at the top of the page.

This is a work in progress, and I will be making changes and adding new found information as I go. So please check back and if you ever have a question, please feel free to email me.

Thank you and Enjoy

Gary Nelson
fltgrycleav@yahoo.com