Vintage Videos - Rogers Drums - 10/15/13

[@badhabits25]

The drum sound on the beginning is awesome. .Thanks for your videos, I love them. I had a blue onyx Roger's kid probably early 70s. The finish was beautiful.

[@RICHN1]

I love your passion for Rogers Drums. The swivomatic hardware was great and I can't understand why we don't have it available today. Light weight and sturdy without looking like my houses plumbing!

[@kenposhedly3395]

Got my own blue sparkle Rogers kit at Music Manor at the Mapletown Shopping Center in Maple Heights, just outside Cleveland in March 1966 and I still have and occasionally play that kit. I was 16 at the time and with only an afternoon paper route for $10 a week, I couldn't afford a full kit with a floor tom or Zildjian cymbals, so I settled on the three-piece "Viking" kit with a 14x20 Holiday kick drum, 8x12 Holiday ride tom, and a 5x14 wooden Powertone snare. Got it all for just under $400 -- a fortune in those days. My dad (a factory worker) took out a loan to help me out and I settled for Zyn cymbals (never did like them). I finally bought a nearly correct Rogers floor tom in about 2000 or so along with period-correct Zildjian cymbals and sold off the Zyns. Luckily, mine is a true Cleveland-era kit (that is, pre-CBS). I've always wondered how and why they named the kits as they did? By the way, mine still sounds super and gets lots of admiring looks. At that time, Music Manor was huge and a lot like Guitar Center stores are today. Now it's located across the street from the shopping center and nowhere near the size that it had been all those years ago.

[@BobSmith-eq9vs]

I started out on some old Ludwig drums many years ago while taking lessons from the legendary Joe Raynor at Brocksteins music. Progressing rapidly thanks to the most wonderful teacher, I had the good fortune to have parents that sacrificed to buy me a new red onyx Rogers 5 piece kit. Selling those drums is among the stupidest thing I have ever done. Rip Mr. Raynor.

[@bellamiso1]

Steve, thanks so much for all your videos. We truly need the expertise and wisdom you so kindly give us. I would like to offer one small consideration. I was one of the drummers on the Upbeat Show based out of Cleveland on air, from 64 through 70. I owned a set of Silver Sparkle Rogers that I purchased at Prospect Music. The show was sponsored by Rogers. One Friday night some of my Rogers were stolen while loading them to a gig. We taped on Saturday afternoon. After the gig the lead singer and I drove from Cleveland to Dayton and arrived at the factory at 8:00 a.m. The producer of the show Herman Spero made the call and the Rogers' rep basically said 'help yourself to whatever you want.' An experience I'll never forget. We got back to Cleveland before taping the show at around 1:00 p.m. The reason I mention this to you is that you mention Rogers left Dayton in 67, at 3:40 on the video. I can tell you for a fact because of above, I was in the warehouse in early 69. I would tend to believe Rogers didn't leave Dayton until at least early 70. Walking in that facility was absolutely amazing, They treated me like gold and I will always be in deb to their kindness and professionalism. You are absolutely correct, they were the benchmark of that era. Many thanks. Mike M.

[@fredrickbreen8307]

Thanks

[@TheHeadlessHorseman]

Bellamiso Nesario what all did you leave the factory with and did you get to keep it after the show?

[@thomasmoje5926]

Rogers drums were manufactured in Covington, Ohio until shortly after the purchase of Rogers by CBS. The sales offices were in Cleveland, Ohio then moved to Dayton, Ohio.

[@commonsense1649]

my grandma worked at the covington plant

[@TheZomba1965]

Thanks again Steve, I have 2 sets from late 60's, very happy w/ both.

[@shraunbone]

Very informative. I love these videos. I learn a lot from them.

[@willshaughnessy8515]

Rogers started as a tannery in NYC from Dublin. Ireland 🇮🇪 Uncle Ed played them and I do as well ..love my Holiday..with Wood Dyna and 7 line .

[@MechatohMxCentraL]

I got a 1967 Rogers kit and I absolutely love it!

[@jeffbow5780]

Rogers Big R was the first brand new kit I bought in 1974. 5 piece in New England White was beautiful and sounded phenomenal! Kick my arse for selling them in 92! Lol

[@Darrylizer1]

I have my dad's late sixties Roger's kit. Lovely thing.

[@barberjeff67]

Loved this video, Steve! I just got a big R transition set and love it! It has memriloc hardware for the mounted toms but swivo hardware on the floor toms. One floor tom has a script logo, big R badge without a serial number, and the interior paper label with the serial number! I love the sound of these drums! I look forward to more of your videos!

[@commonsense1649]

My grandma worked at the covington, ohio plant. My uncle still has his set like the white one in video.

[@Rogersdrumvideos]

what was your grandmothers name? I know some of the Covington employees who are still living and we get together every April in Covington for a Rogers drum show. we are always looking for former employees or family member of former employees to connect some dots. hit me up when you can . I have a list of all the Covington employees and would love to see if she is on the list

[@philipnestor5034]

Great videos Steve. Besides, vintage Gretsch and Ludwig sets I have a 1965 Rogers,20,12,14,and a matching wood Powertone in Champagne sparkle. Also a mid- late 60's Rogers kit 18,12,12,14, with Londoner tom mount in White Marine Pearl.Both kits look and sound great, all original no extra holes. I use them on gigs, they were meant to be played!

[@cdsorvinyl]

A friend had a Roger's Blue Satin Swirl set that was awesome, but dirt would settle in the swirls.

[@ThDirtyCurfDrummer]

I have a Brook Mays era drum kit that I absolutely love. It's all maple, with beavertail lugs, and it sounds phenomenally good. I know Yamaha bought the Rogers brand after Brook Mays went bankrupt about 8 years ago or so. It's a shame Yamaha wasn't able to turn Rogers around. Someone here in the U.S. needs to buy Rogers back from Yamaha and make the company what it used to be in the 1960s but with today's innovations.

[@albitcapinigro1107]

Kids, if you want to learn how to play drums, watch this man's video's.

[@loucontino4804]

Awesome Steve! You covered it all. I was always a Dayton, OH man myself. Once CBS bought them...jeez, you had a ton of shoddy workmanship. Different size washers on the interior lug screws, different size interior screws on the same drum, crazy stuff. CBS screwed up Baldwin, Fender and Rogers.

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

Lou Contino Hi Lou. Yes, the CBS initiative was terrible for those companies. Classic case of a big company making an acquisition in a market they don’t understand, and then trying to change it for ‘more profit’, and the end result is loss of quality, which then creates loss of customers, then loss of revenue, and then ‘less profit’, not more.

[@chriskarp1877]

Steve is the man!!!!!

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

Agreed!

[@brianchisnell1548]

Pre CBS swivo pedals had needle bearings, not bushings. The one to get!

[@jungdrummer4028]

Very helpful!

[@michaelchehak990]

I have a 59 4pc set is there any to fix the lugs

[@jesseroman3]

Had a blue sparkle kit, best drum I ever owned!

[@sierragold]

I have a Powertone in WMP.... serial number on paper badge is: #2005. Again, that is #2005. Can anyone tell me what year this was made? Cleveland badge with a penciled "H" in upper left hand corner, beavertail lugs, solid matte grey interior. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[@yeoldepirate783]

Hi Steve, I have a Bif R set of singles no snare, bass floor and bass mounted tom , any idea of value ?

[@roybeckerman9253]

Buddy Rich played Rogers from 1960-66. They wouldn’t agree to Buddy’s endorsement request, so they parted company. Rogers loss.

[@brianchisnell1548]

And CBS would not record his band.

[@JKahanovitch1]

Poor sound

[@Orfeodrumshit]

Great info Steve! My 16" Holiday has cracked B&B lugs but my 12 & 20 Tower's are in perfect condition. Just wish they made center lug 16's.