Drouyn Drums

Drouyn...
anyone heard of them, my only runin with a kit was about 4 years ago, i still own the kit but its in Sydney, kind of looks like a Premier. But was, according to a quick google search, made in Brisbane. will try and get a photo of it soonish, but tricky since its in AUS!
anyway since you guys seem to be vintage nuts thought i should ask.

Yep, they produced drums out of brisbane – they stopped production in the 80's but kept supplying sleishman with shells. From all accounts excellent sounding and well made. I myself have never seen one. If you ever get them over here i'd be keen to check them out. PICS!!!!!

I was supplied a kit of Drouyns for the Australian leg of the Gene Pitney/Bachelors Tour in 1965, with the Mike Perjanik Group. They initially gave me an 18" bass drum, which, for a "pop" tour, was totally inadequate, especially when there wasn't a mic to be seen. The band had to balance themselves on stage in those days. I finally persuaded them to get me a 20", which was what i used back here in NZ on my Ludwig Downbeat outfit, which i still own today.
When the band moved to Sydney in late 1966, I met an old mate Johnny Dick from Hastings, who had moved to Sydney previously with Max Merritt and the Meteors, and was playing in a weekly TV show called "It's All Happening" fronted by Billy Thorpe. He had a "custom-made" set of Drouyns which included a 20" x 20" bass drum, one mounted tom, and two floor toms. Well ahead of its time by todays standards.
They were fine drums as i recall, well-made, and equal to anything else available. Their lug castings were stylish but heavy, similar to early Gretsch units. Their hardware was a similar design to Ludwigs.
I have a photo of him on the TV set behind the kit somewhere, and if I can find it I will post it for you.

MPG

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v118/granstar/MPGroup.jpg
Couple locals in here ...
Wally Scott ( Invaders)guitar, MP on Hammond B3 organ, Bass guitar is Peter Skerrett (Keil Isles)

links to some history
http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?p=8445

http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=2637


Dandy catologue
http://www.drumarchive.com/


badges
http://www.jedistar.com/jedistar%20drum%20dating_d.htm

wow,
i had no idea...
maybe i will try and get them over here.
would need a bit of restoring, the finish is faded as... and i think the tom holders leave something to be desired for a working kit of any standard

One man's junk, another's treasure
Mate has an Aussie made guitar. At the time (60's) they also were not very popular and now a collectors item, and is rare. Sorry can't remember it exactly (think a Maton Fyrebird), he had no idea until i looked up the web for him, and still uses it regularly.

This photo is the MPG at the Sydney Latin Quarter soon after i left the group and returned to NZ. New drummer is still a great mate and working drum legend -Doug Gallacher, now based in Brisbane. Sax player is George Barna (retired), and the trumpet player is another Kiwi - Pat Crichton, who went on to be head of Jazz studies at Perth University, where Frank Gibson Jnr also taught for some years.

Thanks for the pic info.

Frank Gibson Jnr is down our way this week. He is a great jazz drummer, i still dig out play clasic "The Ballad Of Crazy Horse" (J.D Blackfoot) from time to time, his drumming on that track is awesome (and that was in his early days).

I sold a white marine pearl Dandy snare not long ago. The lugs were made of old melted down war amo after the 2nd world war cast in Japan. They used Australian hardwood & Premier use to supply hoops & tension rods to them in Brisbane.