Over the years of collecting and refurbishing drums of all makes, we have had the pleasure of coming across and owning several Leedy Broadway “Parallel” model snare drums. The most commonly missing, stripped, or broken parts include the two snare adjustment thumb knobs, and in the earlier models, the extension arms and their thumb screws.

Original parts for these Parallel mechanisms are nearly impossible to find, so Olympic Drums & Percussion decided to have them reproduced in all era-correct finishes. Luckily we found an accommodating machinist who was excited about the project and created the parts for us at a reasonable price. When we get an inquiry about replacement adjustment thumb knobs, we need to know which generation the mechanism is in order to identify the version needed. We have also been asked many times to help identify the generation or version to help with dating the drum in question. So to help readers with this question, we decided to present the following description and details of each Leedy Parallel (and Dual) generation and version.

First Generation Parallel:

This model first appeared in the July 1930 issue of the Leedy Drum Topics along with the 1930 Leedy Catalog and continued through the 1932 Catalog. (Interestingly this is about the same time as the Ludwig “Super-Sensitive” model came on the market.) The throw-off mechanism handle falls away from the drum releasing the snares for both the bottom snares, on the Parallel model, and bottom and/or top snares on the Dual model. (Dual model pictured above) The extension arm(s), which were spoon shaped, were held in place, and in any extended position, with a small thumb screw (the same thumb screw Leedy used for their “Speedway” strainer extension arms). For the Parallel models (bottom snares) the shorter version of the extension was used, and for the Dual model, the upper mechanism used a longer extension arm. The snares threaded through or were tied to a 12-hole gut plate at the end of the strainer. The upper snares for the Dual were the same as the Ludwig & Ludwig version that clipped to receivers for the internal snares.

The Second Generation, 1st version Parallel:

This first version of the second generation of the Leedy Parallel and Dual model (Parallel model pictured) appeared in the 1933 Leedy Catalog “T,” but also is pictured in the March 1932 Leedy Topics publication. For whatever reason, Leedy decided to rework the mechanism, perhaps because the first generation had a tendency to break. We have seen evidence of this several times and seen the old repairs to this first generation mechanism. If your drum mechanism is broken, there is not much that can be done, unfortunately.

This second generation moves side to side like the Super Ludwig and Super-Sensitive mechanisms. However, the design was quite different overall. The common piece between the Leedy and the Ludwig is the slide that travels along a flat metal piece that allows the snares to be tightened with the thumb knob. The thumb knob and its threads are one difference between this version and the next version (second generation, 2nd version). In this 1st version of the second generation, the shaft the knob seats in tapers down midway to where the threads start (see photo below). The threads are 8-32 and tend to break off, strip out, or the end of the thumb knob breaks off where the threads end. We’ve seen all three of these occurrences.

This second generation 1st version still has the extension arm(s) (two different lengths) with the small thumb screw holding them in place.

The “The Automatic Tension Snares” introduced for the second generation Parallel drums are mounted in a spring-loaded box. This was a new invention for these models.

If your drum still has these original snares, it is considered a plus. However, many of the drums from this period do not retain their original snares. Perhaps a strand or two would get stretched out and the player would replace the snares with regular snappy wire snares. The same snare design used for the Ludwig & Ludwig Super-Ludwig model fits the Leedy Parallel model, but the Leedy snares are slightly shorter when compared to Ludwig snares from the 20s to mid-30s. If your set of Ludwig snares does not fit, Olympic Drums & Percussion can make a new Ludwig style set of snares for your Leedy drum or modify your existing set to fit. We also have reproduction thumb knobs for this version along with the extension arms and thumb screw.

The Second Generation, 2nd version Parallel:

The 2nd version of the second generation throw-off appears in the 1937 Leedy catalog; however, evidence from date stamps on the interior of drum shells date this 2nd version of the second generation to mid to late 1935. (Although both 1st and 2nd versions are pictured in the 1937 Leedy Catalog “42-A”) There were two changes made in the 2nd version. First, the extension arm(s) were replaced with cast “trigger” style arms eliminating the extension arm. Second, the internal threaded piece of the throw-off thumb knob was redesigned to have a straight fully threaded shaft instead of the step down design the previous version had. See below for a picture comparing the two versions. We can speculate that the reason for this change is to help prevent the breakage mentioned above.

Second Generation snd Version
Above pictures courtesy of Mike Curotto

Third Generation Parallel:

In May 1939, Leedy introduced this third and final generation of Leedy Broadway Parallel snare drums. The Broadway Dual no longer appears in the catalog and over the years I have never seen a third generation Broadway Dual snare drum with snares under the top head.

This version, having been discontinued in 1942 during WWII, is the hardest to find. The snare throw-off mechanism has been greatly reworked, and the snares are now individually adjustable, similar to what Ludwig offered for years.

The snares fit into a “box” which had a thumb knob adjustment for overall tensioning of the snares.

We don’t often see this generation of the Leedy Broadway Parallel and when we do, usually the snares are still intact. However, if your third generation Parallel is missing its original snares, Olympic Drums and Percussion can provide a replacement set.

Bill Wanser

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