The History of Slingerland Drums
Slingerland is an iconic drum company with close ties to jazz drumming. Founded in 1912, Slingerland has produced instruments for both amateur and professional drummers. Famously endorsed by legendary jazz drummer, Gene Krupa, as well as Buddy Rich and Louis Bellson, Slingerland was once one of the highest-profile drum companies. In the 1970s and 1980s, however, Slingerland went from being a successful, family-owned business to a company with different corporate owners. Although on a smaller scale, Slingerland continues to produce drums and drum equipment today.
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Early History
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Slingerland was founded in 1912 in Chicago by Henry H. Slingerland and his wife, Naomi Solick Slingerland. Initially, the company imported ukuleles from Germany, but soon started its own production of the instrument, as Germany could not meet the demand. Slingerland was soon producing banjos and guitars, and finally began manufacturing drums in 1927. The first Slingerland drumset entered the marketplace in 1928.
Early Slingerland Drums
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Starting in 1928, Slingerland began producing several models of snare drums. These included the Fancher and Tone Flange models. The "flange" was a metal ring placed on the edge of the drum that eliminated overtone. According to an early Slingerland catalog cited by Coopersvintagedrums website, the Tone Flange "rejuvenantes and clarifies the tone and staccato notes 'pop' out like the crack of a machine gun."
Slingerland also introduced snare drums with metal shells. One of the first examples was the "Black Beauty Artist Model." In 1935, Slingerland introduced the "Broadcaster" snare drum, which was made of a solid maple shell, new threaded lug casings and the "patent-pending" adjustable snare gates. The Broadcaster was the forerunner of perhaps the most well-known line of Slingerland drums, the Radio Kings. -
Radio Kings
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Slingerland introduced the Radio King line in 1936, and they remained the most popular Slingerland snare drums and line of drumsets. Radio King snare drums were made from a single piece of maple, while the bass drums and tom-toms were made from mahogany. The snare drums usually had ten lugs and there could be no mistake that the drums from this line were, indeed, Radio Kings: "Slingerland Radio Kings" were stamped on the hoops, and the earliest drums from this line had the name actually engraved on the rims.
From 1937 to 1938, the best-selling snare drum was an eight-lug, solid maple drum. It was the Gene Krupa Radio King.
Gene Krupa
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Gene Krupa, the legendary jazz drummer and showman extraordinaire, was the first (and most famous) Slingerland endorser. Renowned for his "flashy" playing style and use of two bass drums, Krupa was featured on the cover of every Slingerland catalog until 1968. In addition to the Gene Krupa Radio King snare drum, his name was also attached to the Black Diamond Pearl Gene Krupa model, and in 1965, to the Gene Krupa Sound King Chrome snare drum. Krupa remained a Slingerland endorser until his death in 1973.
Rolling Bomber
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During World War II, the "Rolling Bomber" drum line featured drum parts made from wood, instead of metal, due to the high demand for metal in the war effort. The lugs, previously made from metal, were now made from rosewood and walnut. This line continued until the end of the war.
Death of H.H. Slingerland
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In 1946, Slingerland founder and president, H.H. Slinglerland, died. He was replaced as president by his brother, Walter Robert Slingerland. Slingerland continued to make drums and drum equipment throughout the '70s, and introduced the unique "Set-O-Matic tom-tom holder." According to the Drumsetfun website, this feature allowed for a "180 degree rotation, to allow for a quick right-to-left hand set up switch."
In the 1980s, however, competition from Japanese drum companies financially crippled Slingerland, and the company was forced to sell. Gretsch, another drum company, first acquired the company, but was facing financial problems of its own, and "did not promote the new Slingerland division," according to the Drumsetfun website.
In 1994, Slingerland once again changed hands, when it was purchased by the Gibson guitar company. Gibson still owns the company today, and drum production is based in Conway, Arkansas.
Death of Walter Robert Slingerland
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Walter Robert Slingerland died on March 23, 2008 after a battle with Alzheimer's disease. Although the Slingerland family "terminated its interest" in the company after it was sold, Walter Robert continued to "monitor the family fortune," and visited the Gibson facility for a first-hand look at the operation," according to the Mikedolbear website. He also acted as a consultant for the publication of the book, "The History of Slingerland" by Rob Cook.
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