1977 Ludwig Acrolite Snare Drum : 6.5 x 14

1977 Ludwig Acrolite Snare Drum

Size : 6.5 x 14

Finish : Galvanized Aluminum

In 1971, Ludwig manufactured a special run of custom Acrolite snare drums for the NYC Board of Education. What made these extra special was the 6.5 depth in addition to 10 lugs which was not typically seen on Ludwig’s more affordable Acrolite line of snares. There have been a hand full of 1960s keystone badge examples of 6.5x14 Acrolites to surface. Typically, these would have been manufactured as 5x14 shells with 8 lugs. While it is not completely certain how many were made, it is believed that there were about 200 produced around 1971. These drums featured the standard aluminum shells, P-85 strainers, bowtie lugs, and were marked “Board of Ed. NYC 1971” on the inside of the shells.

Later in the 1970s, Ludwig made a few more of these drums. They may have been accepting custom orders or simply used shells remaining from the earlier production. There are only about 4 of these later Blue / Olive badge 6.5x14 Acrolites accounted for outside of the NYC Board of Education production drums. These 4 feature imperial style lugs with no markings on the interior of the shells. This particular drum dates to 1977 and is in top collector condition.