Here’s a little history of how Slingerland got into the drum business. In the 1920’s the banjo was very popular in music of day. Up until 1927 Slingerland was a banjo company. Ludwig had been a drum company since 1909. Ludwig and Slingerland were both in Chicago and both used calf skin heads on their drums and banjos. They were always in competition for the best hides from the Chicago stock yards, this is where the rivalry begins! In the mid 1920s Ludwig decided to get into the banjo business. This was a big mistake. The popularity of the banjo was beginning to wane and the losses from the banjo production added to the financial problems and forced Ludwig to sell the company to Conn in 1929. Slingerland saw the decreased sales of banjos and decided to get into the drum business and purchased the Liberty Drum Company’s manufacturing equipment […]