Ludwig serial numbers & mfg. dates (2025)

I am trying to date some Ludwig B&O drums by serial number, and I keep seeing the same information from the Ludwig site and other sources. (See image)

If we take this at face value, then I see that Ludwig produced ZERO drums in 1973, 74 & 75?!?!?

I know their numbers are incorrect because I have drums with six digit serial numbers, bought as a factory set in 1974, that start with 957, 958, 959, 961 and 969.

Has anyone ever researched or questioned what appears to be erroneous information?

The drums I am trying to date are seven digits and start with either 1024, 1028 or 1755. I know they are later than 1974.

Thanks.

Prolly worth contacting them and letting them know what you've got... as it would help them calibrate the list, which apparently is very much a work in progress from what I've read.

Ludwig must have been especially sloppy in the early 1970's, because as you said:

I know their numbers are incorrect because I have drums with six digit serial numbers, bought as a factory set in 1974, that start with 957, 958, 959, 961 and 969.

See Also

Help me read Ludwig serial numbersLudwig Classic Maple, Best Drums Ever Made?Ludwig 60s Cataloged finishes - Common to RarestHelp me decide - Pearl Masters Maple Complete vs Ludwig Classic Maple Fab 22

Click to expand...

For just this one kit (if we go at face value), 12,000 drums were produced between the "first" and "last".

Are these 6-ply or 3-ply? What are the interiors painted like?

-Ryan

RyanR said:

Are these 6-ply or 3-ply? What are the interiors painted like?

Click to expand...

Both groupings mentioned are Vistalites.

there are many charts and references in the drum community that are inaccurate. some help and some dont. ludwig wasnt really into tracking their serial numbers at all.

mike

6 digit are early 70's...70, 71 ,72,

I would suggest that the chart is incomplete, particularly for the 70s. It appears that most of the effort on Ludwig drum dating focused on the Keystone badge drums. I think that most sources are in general agreement when it comes to this era of drums. It does not appear that as much effort went into gathering serial numbers for B/O badges. Of the three Ludwig dating charts presented on the vintagedrumguide (http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/serial_numbers.html), only the one you cite even addresses the 70s drums. Whether this is because of lack of interest, lack of interior date stamps, or some other reason, I am not sure.

I have the same frustration with the Standard series. The vintagedrumguide has the following statement: "If you are trying to figure out the serial number with a Ludwig serial number dating guide, it will not work. The Standard drums do not fit the serial numbers." Although several people have been frustrated by this issue, I do not know that anyone has compiled a database of Standard serial numbers. This is likely because of lack of available data. The dates appeared either stamped on the shells or on labels inside the drums. On the labels it appears that sometimes the dates were straight forward and at other times a date code was used. It appears that the same date code was put on the label for a large number of drums, making me think that it was not really a datecode at all.

This same issue existed for Gretsch, which discontinued interior date stamps prior to starting the use of serial numbers. Without date stamps, one must rely upon a number of other varaibles to produce a reliable estimation tool. I collected information for several years before I published a Gretsch dating guide last month. Hopefully someone with a high level of interest in 1970s Ludwigs will take on the project. If anyone is interested, I will be happy to share some hints that I have picked up.

Rick

This is somewhat OT, but is very interesting about why serial numbers started.

Were American Drum Manufacturers Required by Law to Use Serial Numbers During the 1960s? — Not So Modern Drummer

In the 9 1/2 years since this post was started, we have figured out a lot about Ludwig's use of serial numbers. In 2013 I wrote a serial number based dating guide for Ludwig drums which addresses the shortcomings of the initial dating guides for the 1970s Blue/Olive badge drums and provides a fresh approach. http://www.gretschdrumdatingguide.com/ludwig-drum-guide.html
I also wrote the article referenced above by kdgrisson and, directly on point, this article: https://www.notsomoderndrummer.com/...icas-bicentennial-impacted-ludwig-drum-dating

The 1970s were not as confused or disordered as originally perceived. People just relied on the somewhat sparse and flawed information which was available. There is much better information available today.

Just wanted to add this low number b/o to the fray

(broken link removed)

754xxx

Yup old thread but why start a new one?
Update for the geeks and statisticians on a recent jazzfest grab, cool drum for sure ! Matches my 12 and 14 perfectly still seeking the 20 bass- beuller?
Here she is
5 1/2+ shell (measurement taken from inside of tight reso head to top of batter)
Nov 4 1964 or is it Jan 4 1964?
Serial 35094
Brass hoops
K1 badge
zero fade
All original except bottom head
Plays smooth like buttah

This drum has an interesting #

https://Reverb(dot)com/item/72457219-1970-ludwig-acrolite-rare

cornelius said:

This drum has an interesting #

https://Reverb(dot)com/item/72457219-1970-ludwig-acrolite-rare

Click to expand...

Indeed,
The badge manufacturer put the numbers on, I'm guessing missprint of some sort. Might be connected somehow to the no number badges that they had around that same time...I suppose we'll never know.

The brand new and totally different badge design would have required a reworking of whatever machinery was used to stamp the numbers. It would have been mechanized in some fashiom to step up one number with each stroke.

So MAYBE there were a batch or two of badges run off without numbers while they worked on getting that set up and then some odd numbers as they were testing it out before they started producing "real" production picking up where the keystone numbers ended. Anything they shipped to Ludwig would have no doubt been used.

I suppose we'll never know.

Has the company that produced the badges ever been identified? Probably Chicago based.