T

info    updated 26/2/2010

Tacton

http://www.drumarchive.com/Tacton/

Tama

Hoshino Gakki began manufacturing drums in 1965 under the name "Star Drums". Hoshino, the family name of the founder, translates to "star field," thus the selection of the "Star Drums" brand name. The drums were manufactured at Hoshino's subsidiary, Tama Seisakusho, which had opened in 1962 to manufacture Ibanez guitars and amplifiers. While the production of guitars and amps was moved out of the factory by 1966, the production of drums there continued to grow. The two higher lines of drum models, Imperial Star and Royal Star, were introduced to the American market and were successful lower-cost drums competing against more expensive American-made drums offered by Rogers, Ludwig, and Slingerland at the time.

By 1974, Hoshino decided to make a concerted effort to make high-quality drums and hardware and start marketing its drums under the Tama brand. Tama was the name of the owner's wife, and means "jewel" in Japanese. In keeping with its heritage, "star" continues to be used in the names of Tama's drum models to this day.

Tama and Drum Workshop (DW) jointly bought the bankrupt Camco Drum Company. As part of the deal, DW received the Camco tooling and manufacturing equipment while Tama received the Camco name, designs, engineering and patent rights.

At the time, Camco was producing what was thought to be the best drum pedal on the market. DW continued production of the pedal using the original tooling, rebadging it as the DW5000. Tama began production of the same pedal under the Camco name. The Tama version of the Camco pedal is commonly referred to as the Tamco pedal to distinguish it from an original Camco pedal. Tama integrated all the engineering from Camco into their production process and the overall level of quality of their drums increased virtually overnight. The original plan was to market the low end Tama drums to beginners and use the Camco brand to sell high end drums to professional musicians. However, even the professionals were starting to use the Tama drums because the low cost of the Asian made drums with the (now) high quality of hardware was a great combination. [Source: wikipedia]

http://www.vintagesnaredrums.com/tama.html

Dating Tama Guitars

Only Tama Starclassic Maple Drums have serial numbers that indicate the age of the drums. With the Starclassic Serial number system, you apply the "subtract 10 system" to the first two digits of the number to get what year they were made in. This is easier to explain by example than describe, so here goes:

Example 1: If the number on your Starclassic drum was 1102401, subtracting 10 from the 11 (the first two digits) leaves you with "01" which translates into 2001, the year of manufacture.

Example 2: If the number on your Starclassic drum was 04091809, subtracting 10 from 04 (the first two digits) leaves you with "94" which under this interesting system translates into 1994.

In the case of other Tama drums, unfortunately, the serial numbers do not indicate the time of manufacture. Take a look at our Historical Section to pinpoint when different models and series that were made to help you identify your kit. Failing that, you can send pictures of your kit to: Tama Drum Identification, Box 886, Bensalem, PA 19020. United States snail mail inquiries only. Please do not send one-of-a-kind photos as we cannot guarantee their return. Naturally, the more the pictures clearly show the set’s lugs, spur brackets, tom holders, badges and anything else that will help identify your kit the better.

Tama Starclassic Performer Drums are not subject to this serial number system. [Source: Tama forum at the internet archive]

http://www.tama.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=534&PN=1

http://www.drumarchive.com/Tama/

http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/

http://www.vistalites.com/other/Tama.htm

Rockstar 1990 http://www.tama.com/history/full_size/106-ROCK-RK.jpg

Tama catalogs

Big Tama catalog collection

2005 Tama drum and hardware pricelist

Tama forum

Images eBay:
 

Taye

Taye Drums, The Taye Manufacturing Company, a family owned business, was established in 1975 to make drums and hardware for other musical instrument manufacturers.  By 1999, Taye™ Drums started their own line. Chino, California, USA

Image eBay:

Tempus

There is an excellent bio of Milestone percussion/ Tempus at the Company website.

Three Star Brand

Joseph Rogers Jr & Son

Three Star Brand was from 1938-1952/53. [Source: Vintage Drum Forum]

Thunder

Found the Thunder brand on eBay UK. Badge reads: Thunder, Made in Taiwan R.O.C TAY-E CO., Ltd. ? late 1980s - lugs apparently similar to those on a Maxwin (by Pearl) kit, which were also made in Taiwan in the 80s.

TJS Custom Drums

"TJS Maple Passion Custom Drums" founded by Tom J. Schultz. in 1992.

Toledo

Toledo drums, Made in Japan.

Image eBay:

Tom Cat

UK built, custom snare drums.

Image internet archive:

Torodor

Torodor drums, made by Pearl in a Chinese factory.

From eBay the following image and text: "Katsumi’s eldest son, Mitsuo, joined Pearl in 1957 and formed a division to export Pearl products worldwide. To meet increasing worldwide demand for drum kits following the advent of Rock and Roll music, in 1961 Pearl built a 15,000 sq. foot factory in Chiba, Japan to produce inexpensive drum kits which bore the brand names of over thirty distributors like Maxwin, CB-700, Crest, Revelle, Revere, Lyra, Majestic, Whitehall, Apollo, Toreador or Torodor , Roxy, and Coronet."

Trak

http://www.drumarchive.com/Trak/

Traps

Tribes

Boulder, Colorado, USA

Trick

Trick Percussion, Arlington Heights, Illinois, USA.

"I founded the company in 1989 with Trick Drum Polish. In 1992 I started making the Kodiak T6 snare drums, until the material was no longer available. In 1995 I introduced the full kits. Foe a while we did serial numbered badges, but later discontinued them. All Trick products are made in Chicago Illinois, USA." [Source: Mike Dorfman, President, Trick Percussion Products, Inc. email 2/2/2009]

Interview with Mick Dorfman

Trixon

Karl-Heinz Weimer (1917 – 1997) Founder of Trixon Drums. Production commenced in 1957. [Source: USA Trixon site ]

Trixon at wikipedia

Trixon badges

http://www.vintagesnaredrums.com/trixon.html

Trixon catalogs 1960s

http://www.drumarchive.com/Trixon/

Images Trixon Telstar 2000 snare from 1966 eBay:

TRX

TRX cymbals from Turkey

Truth Custom Drums

Truth Drums started in 2001 in Rancho Cucamonga, California. The company is dedicated to crafting high end drums. After 5 years, they relocated to Beaverton, Oregon. in late 2006 where their current shop resides.   [Source: wikipedia]

 " business since 2001, Out Of Beaverton Oregon USA, Snares are dated on
the inside and signed kits, there's things we've changed over the years
so the kits have been dated that way but no physical date or serial
number. Started in California but moved to Oregon in late 2006. [Source: Truth, email 25/2/2010]