Making Sense of "Pearl" Wrap Patterns and Names (Section
1)
© JamminSam. All rights reserved.
If you have noticed, there is some confusion concerning "pearl"
(mother of pearl) wrap names. In our experience in talking to thousands of
people (even in the industry), many are "in the dark" when it comes to accurate
terminology. We find different names are used interchangeably (in error), and
some distinct patterns are not even mentioned, much less identified. The reason
for this article is to expose the incorrect terminology that has been circulated,
and to correctly name pearl colors and patterns.
Nature of the Confusion
Today, when we consider sparkle finishes, it's pretty universally
understood that a sparkle
is a sparkle, and the same for glass glitters.
Note: Occasionally someone may get sparkles and glass
glitters confused, but once the difference is pointed out, the mystery
is over.
Solids are pretty straight forward, and when it comes to Satin Flames,
there is little variation from the term "Satins" or "Satin Flames", and most Satin
colors are called by the name of the color. However, when it comes to the pearl
finishes, there is little standardization of terms concerning patterns. What we
have been left with is a hodgepodge of terms and catch words. And with this
"free for all" naming practice, we have been left with much confusion concerning
names and patterns of pearl finishes. Actually, I was confused for a long while,
until I carefully examined vintage catalogs, factory product lists, and conversed
with factory representatives, before I came away with some clarification. And I
hope you will gain insight from this article that took years in the business and
detailed research, before I finally understood it well enough to write about
it for everyone else.
History of the Early Pearl Finishes & Terms
"How It All Began"
Pearl drum finishes first came on the scene in Ludwig’s 1928 drum catalog. In
that catalog, they offered "Emerald Green", "Marble", "Lavender", and
"Turquoise Blue". At the time, this was considered quite an array of choices
(since none had been available prior), but the appearance of these finishes were
poor (more of a marble look- not 3-D). Then Ludwig, in their 1932 and 1933 catalogs,
dropped all but "Lavender", and added "Avalon" and "Streaked Opal". However, all
these finishes were dropped by the 1937 catalog and were replaced with a "marine"
pearl and a "black" pearl- both of these had a pleasing 3-D appearance (a result from using
very flammable nitrate in the plastic). And these finishes were renamed in
the 1957
catalog to "white marine" and "black diamond"). Slingerland, in their 1940
catalog, offered "black diamond" and "marine" pearl- selling the same products
Ludwig sold. The lineup of these two pearl finishes became the standard, and
solely reigned as the only two pearl finishes until 1960. But in the1960 catalogs
of both Ludwig and Slingerland, more patterns became available, colors were in
vogue (remember, this was the 60s), and most were 3-D looking. Because of these
changes (in color and patterns), a great deal of excitement arose among drummers
to acquire these new looks, and even the old looks: bright colors, different
choices of patterns, and an actual 3-D looking appearance. In the 50s and early
60s there were several factories that made finishes for drum companies, but by
1966 one company emerged that reissued the finishes of the other companies and
became the main company (in the US) for pearls, sparkles, and later for glass glitters. This
factory (who wishes to remain anonymous) is still the sole provider for sparkles,
glass glitters, and pearls today (for the drum industry). However, this factory
did not give names to the combinations of colors and patterns (still their practice
today), but only a string of numbers and letters. The endless combinations of
materials, patterns, colors, etc., made name labeling inefficient- numbers (and
letters) had to be used. Because there were no proper names given at the factory,
the job of naming finishes was left to the drum companies.
Drum Companies' Terms
Leaving the job of naming drum wraps, up to the drum companies, has been an
interesting ride over the years, resulting in standardization for some
finishes, and no standardization of others. Viewing some facts of the past
will help us understand the problem and help us see where today’s terms came from.
Below is the history on how the four most recognized drum companies of the past
used terms to name (and re-name) their drum finishes:
- The Ludwig Drum Company in their 1933 catalog referred to sparkles as "Flakes".
In their 1939 (WFL) catalog, they referred to pearls as "Pearls", and sparkles as
"Sparkles" (departing from the "Flake" term) but also called all the plastic wraps
"Pearls". Then in 1969 changed the name of sparkle finishes to "Mists", but later
in the next catalog (1971) changed the name back to "Sparkles". In their 1969
catalog, they called satin flames "Astros", however, dropped all "Astros" by the
1971 catalog. And in that same catalog, dropped the term "pearls" from non-pearl
finishes. Ludwig also, in their 1976 catalog, offered a new pearl pattern which
they called "Strata" (sold in six colors), but was not the same finish Rogers called
"Strata" which they (Rogers) introduced in their 1965 catalog. (Are you confused
yet?)
- The Slingerland Drum Company, in their 1940 catalog, called both sparkle and pearl
wraps "Pearls" (like Ludwig). In their 1967 catalog, which included Satin
Flame finishes, they called those finishes "Pearls" as well. And the term was
used by them to describe all their plastic finishes until their 1980 catalog, when they
succumbed to the industry changes, and dropped the term from their non-pearl wraps.
Slingerland also sold "Agate" finishes (1967-1976)- the same finishes that
Rogers' sold as "Onyx". The Rogers' term is still used today for that pattern, the
Slingerland name is not.
- When it came to calling all plastic wrap "Pearls", the Rogers Drum Company
followed suite. This practice (from our records) lasted from their beginnings, until
their 1973 catalog. In their 1973 catalog they dropped the term "Pearls" from
all wraps that were non-pearl. Also, in their 1965 catalog offered "Stratas"
that were actually the same as Ludwig’s "Oyster" finishes, which Ludwig sold
between 1960-1968.
- The Gretsch Drum Company seemed to have the terminology down correctly in their 1966
catalog by calling satin flames, "Satin Flames", sparkle finishes "Sparkles",
and mother of pearl finishes, "Pearls." (Our hats are off to the Gretsch Drum
Company- Thank you to the late Fred Gretsch Senior.)
You might ask the question, "Why do drum companies seem to use terms indiscriminately?
My personal belief is it comes down to money. Drum companies seem to give finishes names
that they believe will help the color and/or drum-set sell better. Also, if one company
names a color, another company sometimes believes it is not best for them to follow suit-
it appears like they are a follower instead of a leader, so they choose alternate naming.
But sometimes the same name was used (a name comparison of the “Big Four” drum companies will
be given later).
It is easy to understand from the above information, that the "hit and miss" approach
of the past (naming and re-naming) left many people confused. When different companies call
the same or similar finish something different, many are going to be confused- and that is what
we see today.
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