Well, it’s not actually a drum, but…
I got this email from DrumSellers.com user, Ken Warren:
“HI George - here’s pics of the Canister throne i picked up. It was made
in the 50's !!...Sent pics of it to Donn Bennett in Washington, He’s
never seen one, or even knew PEARL made a canister throne..I sent Pics
of it to PEARL headquarters to see if they have record of them making
it in JAPAN in the 50's as this Clearly Was !!..2 Collectors in
Australia looked at it - One doesn’t believe its real ?? And neither have
ever seen one, or knew PEARL made one ???.........Tried to Sell
it, but i dont think anyone believes its Real ???....When i get
confirmation from PEARL Headquarters, I'm hoping people believe its
real !!. I bought it out of Delaware Ontario/Canada, with a load of
antique/vintage drums/hardware/cymbals/accessories from the estate of
an OLD Drummer !!..........Ken”
He had it up on DrumSellers.com for sale but took it down when people started questioning it.
So, I contacted Joey Morasse and Ray Massey at Pearl in Nashville. They passed pictures on to Pearl in Japan. Nobody at Pearl has any info on it. I showed it to collector Jim Pettit at Memphis Drum Shop. He’s never seen another one and said it may be counterfeit. But no one knows for sure.
I tend to think the evidence leans toward it being legit. The badge is era correct. The shell is made of luan and maple reinforcing rings which was standard shell construction for Pearl back then (and many other Japanese drum companies). The pearl is yellowed and aged. But the only thing I can think of that would verify it as genuine is if there is another one out there?
So, does anyone have info or leads? Pictures of another one? Ken doesn’t want to list it again until he has proof that it is the real deal. I can vouch for Ken. He’s the real deal and wouldn’t have any reason to try to pull the wool over someone’s eyes.