Leedy Drum Company 26”x14” Bass Drum Restoration

This Leedy Drum Company 26”x14” bass drum recently underwent a full finish restoration. Originally finished in White Lacquer, much of the original coating had been removed by a previous owner, leaving the shell bare.

To revive the drum, I carefully sanded the shell to remove the remaining traces of the old finish and prepare it for refinishing. The shell and hoops were then re-lacquered, bringing back the drum’s original elegance. I chose to apply a satin finish rather than a high gloss, as it complements the natural patina of the hardware and gives the drum a more balanced, cohesive look. The result is a beautifully revived example of a classic Leedy bass drum.

Here is a write up from the 1949 Leedy Drum Company Catelog.

WITH BEAUTIFUL STREAMLINED "BEAVER TAIL" CASINGS, 100% SELF-ALIGNING RODS (An Original Leedy Creation), 3-PLY LAMINATED SHELL (Genuine Mahogany), ROCK MAPLE PEARL INLAID COUNTER HOOPS, FAMOUS LEEDY Own Make "HARDWHITE" HEADS.

*Contrary to what was listed in the catalog, this drum features a maple shell without inlays on the bass drum hoops. This was a common variation found on lacquer-finished drums, as the paint adhered more smoothly on maple compared to mahogany.

Source: https://drumarchive.com/Leedy/leedy_1949.pdf